Linn County juvenile court project on track

It will take a petition drive to block Linn County supervisors' plan to issue up to $2.9 million in bonds to cover the gap between state flood aid and the cost of a new juvenile justice center in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Monday afternoon's public hearing on the proposed bond issue drew no members of the public and was gaveled to a close within minutes. Barring a petition drive over the next 15 days, supervisors may issue the bonds for up to $2,995,000 in costs not covered by the state's I-JOBS program.

There's no immediate plan to do so, but with the hearing out of the way supervisors can issue the bonds when the state money runs short.

“We're supposed to spend the I-JOBS money first,” said Supervisor Jim Houser.

Supervisors expect about $4 million in I-JOBS funding for the project. When bids were opened June 1, the lowest was from Kleiman Construction of Cedar Rapids, for just over $5.3 million.

Supervisors plan to formally accept Kleiman's bid June 30, after the 15-day petition window closes. They're acting under legislation after the 2008 floods that authorizes local governments to issue up to $3 million in debt for flood-recovery projects without the usual referendum.

The new building at 801 Third St. SW will house juvenile court and support services that had been located in the lower level of the county courthouse. The 23,000-square-foot structure will include three courtrooms with room for a fourth  and offices for juvenile court clerks, probation and county attorneys.

The building will be elevated four feet to keep it above 2008-level flood waters.

The site is the former location of the Freeway Lounge, whose operators leased the building from the county.