Local Government

Thursday was the deadline for nominations.

Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly was named the Iowa mayor of the year Wednesday among cities with a population of more than 2,000, according to a news release from the city of Marion.

The City of Cedar Rapids is moving forward with the process of selecting a new police chief after being without a permanent chief for five months. Assistant to the City Manager Amanda Grieder said in a meeting Monday that the city hopes to have the job opening posted by the end of the week.

Also, filing deadline this week for local candidates to get on November ballot

As a first step to repurposing the closed golf course at Jones Park in Cedar Rapids, the city has opened 10-court pickleball complex in the park, 2901 Fruitland Blvd. SW.

Expected improvements will increase landfill diversion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand accessibility for composting

In an effort to expand equitable access to nature nationwide, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack came to Cedar Rapids Thursday to announce $6 million toward Cedar Rapids’ effort to reforest the city after the 2020 derecho. The city is among 385 recipients of $1.1 billion toward tree planting.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors unanimously advanced on second consideration tighter restrictions in its ordinance governing utility-scale solar projects Wednesday. That leaves one more week for the supervisors to hear public input and make changes before voting to adopt the ordinance Sept. 20.

Tiffin voters overwhelmingly approved a 1-cent local option sales tax Tuesday with half the money to go toward projects that could include a new recreation center, fire station and park.

The city of Cedar Rapids will become an anchor tenant of Alliant Energy’s Community Solar Garden with the City Council’s approval Tuesday of purchasing 900 solar blocks.

Work remains underway to transform a once-vacant office building in Wellington Heights into affordable housing units. The building, now known as “The Heights,” is slated to be turned over to a nonprofit to own and maintain next March.

The lawsuit over Alissa Van Sloten’s 2021 appointment as city clerk by the Cedar Rapids City Council is one of several lawsuits Bob Teig, of Cedar Rapids, has filed against city officials.