Local Government

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will formally ask the Iowa City Council to form a joint law enforcement authority for the purpose of exploring the possibility of a new law enforcement facility to be shared by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Jail and the Iowa City Police Department.

There’s plenty of interest and attention toward the city of Marion’s proposed aquatics center project. Now, city officials are asking if there’s enough time.

More than 74 percent of Johnson County residents would support a bond measure to build a new county sheriff’s office and jail, according to draft results from a community survey commissioned by the Board of Supervisors.

For decades, the Riverside Roundhouse was a staple of Cedar Rapids’ historic Czech Village neighborhood. The circular structure, built in 1963, served as a neighborhood center for farmers markets, weddings and community events. Then came the flood.

Also in this week’s Government Notes, Marion officials will discuss a proposed aquatics center project this week.

Cities across Eastern Iowa are contemplating how best to promote transparency and community engagement in policing in light of a new state law outlawing most citizen review boards.

According to a report presented to the Johnson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee this week, a joint law enforcement facility shared by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa City Police Department could cost around $106 million.

Johnson County’s Temporary Redistricting Committee is preparing to submit its precinct plan, the first step in the process of changing how county supervisors are elected after a new state law requiring the change was passed by Republicans earlier this year.

The City of Fairfax will consider a change to its zoning code that would provide a path for Alliant Energy to site a gas-fired power plant within city limits, near The Eastern Iowa Airport.

The City of Coralville will put a 1 percent local-option sales tax before voters in the November general election. The ballot language was approved this week by the City Council as a way of funding property tax relief and revenue for capital projects like a new recreation center.

Air quality tests conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have identified the source of an odor that some Iowa City residents feared was causing harm to their health.

William Zamastil was fired Nov. 1 for violating portions of the employee handbook related to retaliation and dishonesty.