Local Government

How much would someone need to pay you to pack up your life and move across state lines? The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and its partners are hoping the answer is the amount now offered to remote workers willing to relocate to Cedar Rapids, Marion or Hiawatha.

Feedback gathered from attendees will be used to shape the future direction of the Pars & Recreation Department’s therapeutic programming.

The settlement, approved last week by the Cedar Rapids City Council, is meant to help the city “avoid the further cost of litigation” without admitting legal liability.

Also in this week’s Government Notes, beginning Monday, the Boyson Road bridge over I-380 and all four ramps will close for 20 working days.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors in many ways is a lesser known cog in the local government machine with a broad purview over issues affecting Linn County residents. And for the first time in over a decade, it’s made up entirely of first-term members.

Marion residents were able to meet Wednesday evening with four candidates who the city has identified as candidates to fill the position of police chief, vacated by Chief Mike Kitsmiller when he retired in the spring. The candidate who is ultimately selected will lead the department of 48 sworn officers, 10 dispatchers and six civilian employees.

Around a dozen community members showed up for public comment at the Coralville City Council meeting Tuesday night to share their concerns about resident privacy should the city begin using license plate reader cameras.

Johnson County’s three most populous cities are moving forward with plans to put a 1 percent local-option sales tax on the ballot for the November general election in an effort to diversify revenue sources in light of property tax reform at the state level.

Get to know the Gazette’s Linn County government reporter

Nearly 50 people are set to be laid off from CommUnity Crisis Services in Iowa City later this month after federal funding was canceled for the LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention hotline, part of the national 988 suicide and crisis hotline.

Cedar Rapids city leaders are investing upward of $5 million into a series of building renovations that will lead to the relocation of several city departments in the name of space optimization.

Don Thomas, who served as Cedar Rapids Streets Commissioner for 12 years, is being remembered for his dedication to Cedar Rapids, which took different forms, from roller skating at farmers markets, to providing a vision for a network of trails throughout the metro area.