Local Government

Nearly one million of the trees felled in the 2020 derecho were in Linn County alone, and the damage left rural and urban communities alike with gaping holes in their tree canopies. Five years later, The Gazette is revisiting what’s been done to fill the gaps.

The controversial rezoning of a northside Iowa City property, which would allow for an 84-unit apartment complex, has been delayed once again after the city council unanimously voted to defer the third and final consideration to a meeting later this month.

Grant Harper is the first Marion City Council candidate to formally announce an intent to run in the Nov. 4 city election.

The Iowa River Powerhouse dam, which includes a pedestrian bridge that connects Iowa City’s Peninsula Park to Coralville near the former Iowa River Power restaurant, is set to undergo $675,000 worth of repairs.

In collaboration with Alliant Energy, the smart streetlight project aims to enhance energy efficiency and offer additional amenities in Mount Vernon’s uptown area.

The Marion City Council voted Tuesday to approve a $54,500 agreement with Pete Lammer, a Marion firefighter who was demoted in November from battalion chief to firefighter and paramedic.

City officials call it a “proactive” move aimed at maximizing future earnings.

City of Iowa City to convey land as part of Iowa Finance Authority grant terms

Over 20 people spoke in favor of the resolution during public comment Tuesday in Iowa City.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to approve an $850,000 settlement with the mother of a woman who died in the Linn County Jail in 2022.

The Iowa City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday that will put a 1 percent local-option sales tax on the ballot this November. The proposal is part of an effort to diversify the city’s revenue sources in light of property tax reform at the state level that limits the amount of revenue the city can collect.

Linn County officials this week approved funding for three studies to learn more about current water quality conditions.