116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Meeting next month will discuss cancer rates in Linn County
Also, Marion seeks to regulate metal detecting in public parks
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Area residents will have an opportunity to learn more about Linn County cancer rates, risk factors and other related data at an upcoming presentation from the 99 Counties Project.
The free, public presentation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. on May 29 at Linn County Public Health, 1020 Sixth St. SE in Cedar Rapids, or attendees can tune in virtually via Zoom.
In February, the Iowa Cancer Registry released its annual Cancer in Iowa report that showed Iowa has the second-highest age-adjusted rate of new cancer cases in the country.
The 99 Counties Project formed in response to those findings in an effort to enhance cancer education across Iowa. The Linn County stop is one of the 99 county-specific presentations to be made statewide. A Johnson County event will be held, although an exact date has not been set.
The presentation will cover:
- Cancer data specific to Linn County
- Information on risk factors
- Local resources for support
- Potential policy strategies
Registration is required for both attendance options, and space is limited. To register, visit canceriowa.news/linn.
Marion seeks to regulate metal detecting in public parks
The city of Marion is looking to regulate metal detecting in public parks to minimize ground and infrastructure disturbance.
Marion City Council members last week approved the first reading of an ordinance that would disallow metal detecting in public parks without express permission from the park board.
The ordinance will require two additional rounds of approval at future meetings before it can take effect.
Assistant City Manager Kim Downs said the ordinance was drafted after several people were seen metal detecting and digging in Central Plaza, prompting concerns around potential disturbance to the park grounds and underground irrigation systems.
If passed at subsequent meetings, the ordinance would require anyone wanting to metal detect in public parks to get approval from the city park board.
“We really do want to have some understanding of where they would go, what they would be doing and if there are things they need to be watchful for (prior to metal detecting in a park),” Downs said. “This type of activity is not abnormal, but it is something we want to regulate in certain areas.”
Metal detecting is a recreational hobby that gained popularity in the 1960s. Hobbyists are typically searching for old coins, historic artifacts and other unique metal items.
Marion evaluating results of EMS study
Marion officials are mulling over potential improvements to the city’s emergency response program after receiving a report on the current state of EMS operations.
Marion City Council members last week heard results of the study, which was completed by Public Consulting Group to evaluate operations at Marion Emergency Medical Services.
The study involved a mix of interviews and meetings with area residents and other stakeholders, as well as analysis of quantitative data related to response times and call volume.
Data indicates that call volume growth correlates with the city’s steady population size with projections for 2025 and 2026 calling for a roughly 4 percent increase in call volume.
To better handle the increasing call volume and improve efficiency, Public Consulting Group provided several recommendations, including:
- Updating and aligning countywide EMS protocols
- Expanding emergency medical dispatch (EMD) capabilities for a more resilient emergency response system
- Increasing interagency planning and collaboration with other Linn County partners, particularly for plans related to emergency response to large-scale events
- Evaluate the current 28E agreement with Area Ambulance Service to ensure shared resources and cost efficiencies that align with community needs
City Manager Ryan Waller said findings from the study will inform future conversations around various projects and planning. Each recommendation will be reviewed to determine which are feasible in the near future and which are long-term goals.
“In the true Marion way, we’re going to be collaborative. We’re going to look at the data and have our touch points with (City Council) as we develop recommendations on what we should do and what may not make sense here and now,” Waller said.
The full report is available on the city website for resident review.
Over $300K in grant funds distributed to Linn, Johnson county manufacturers
The state of Iowa has issued over $300,000 in grant funding to five manufacturers in Linn and Johnson counties for productivity enhancements.
The funding was announced Friday in a news release from Iowa Economic Development Authority outlining the roughly $2 million distributed among 33 manufacturers statewide through IEDA’s Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Program.
The program aims to enhance productivity and efficiency by helping small- and midsize Iowa manufacturers invest in the adoption and integration of smart technologies.
Local Manufacturing 4.0 allocations include:
- $75,000 to Ledford Engineering Co., of Cedar Rapids
- $75,000 to Rieckhoff Family Businesses Inc. (doing business as Almost Famous Popcorn), of Cedar Rapids
- $58,355 to Betender Manufacturing Inc., of Coggon
- $50,000 to US Nameplate Co., of Mount Vernon
- $49,784 to EMS Detergent Services Co., of North Liberty
Linn County to launch seed library to promote homegrown foods
A community seed garden will open this week thanks to a partnership between Linn County Master Gardeners and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.
The library will launch Friday, April 25, and will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Linn County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Office, 1770 Boyson Rd., in Hiawatha.
A kickoff celebration is planned for 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and officials will be present to help attendees learn more about the program and its offerings.
The seed library will include free seeds and educational materials to help people learn how to grow their own food. Per a news release, the goal of the program is to increase the Linn County community’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
For more information, contact Linn County Master Gardener Program Coordinator Garnet Stranger at garnets@iastate.edu.
Open house for Linn-Mar’s new Educational Leadership Center
The public is invited to visit Linn-Mar Community School District’s new Educational Leadership Center, 3556 Winslow Rd., in Marion, Wednesday, April 23. There will be a ribbon-cutting and brief remarks at 4:30. The space will be open for tours until 6 p.m.
The Educational Leadership Center was built in 2024 to make additional space on Linn-Mar’s high school campus for high school learning. The building houses district departments including the superintendent office, communications, teaching and learning, student support services finance and payroll, human resources, volunteer coordinator and technology.
District departments formerly were located in a building across the parking lot from the high school, 2999 10th St., Marion. The building, now named the Academic Excellence Center, provides additional space for Linn-Mar High School classrooms and houses the district’s project based learning program called Venture Academics and COMPASS Alternative Center for 11th-12th graders.
Prairie agriculture teacher named Iowa Ag Educator of the Year
Prairie High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Laura Brecht received the 2024-25 Iowa Ag Educator of the Year Golden Owl Award this month at the 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames.
The Golden Owl Award, presented by the Iowa FFA Foundation and Nationwide, recognizes agricultural educators across Iowa for their tremendous contributions to helping the next generation of agricultural leaders. This award measures the impact an educator has had during the past school year.
Brecht has significantly expanded Prairie’s agriculture program during her tenure. In less than five years, the program has grown to become the 4th largest FFA chapter in Iowa, with student enrollment rising from about 146 to 250.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Grace King and Grace Nieland contributed.
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