Linn County names 9 to waste agency working group

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nine elected officials, city staff and industry experts have been tapped to discuss the future governance of the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency.

Linn County supervisors on Friday appointed a nine-member working group to discuss the topic. Any recommended changes are due by the end of the month for review by area government officials.

The working group will be:

The group was created through a memorandum of understanding between the solid waste agency, Linn County and the cities of Cedar Rapids and Marion.

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The goal is to increase regional representation on the agency’s governing board as it works to meet the area’s waste needs. Any proposal from the working group would require that “no single entity … constitute a majority or a controlling voting interest” of the governing board.

As part of its proposal, the working group also will establish expectations of governing members, proposed term limits and rules for meeting attendance and participation.

The agency is currently governed by a nine-member board that includes one representative from the city of Marion, two from Linn County and six from the city of Cedar Rapids who work with agency staff to guide waste management operations.

Any changes would require discussion and approval by the governing bodies of Marion and Cedar Rapids, Linn County and the current solid waste agency board.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com