LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA

MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015 9:00 A.M.

The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. 

Present: Chairperson Langston, Supervisors Oleson (via phone), Harris and Houser. 

Absent: Vice Chairperson Rogers (personal business). Board members voting “AYE”

unless otherwise noted.

Motion by Harris, seconded by Houser to approve minutes of January 14 & 16, 2015 as 

printed.

A public hearing was called to order for amendments to the Linn County Public Health 

Air Quality Ordinance. Proof of publication was presented. There were no oral or 

written objections.

Motion by Houser, seconded by Harris to close public hearing.

Motion by Harris, seconded by Houser to approve upon first consideration amendments to

the Linn County Public Health Air Quality Ordinance.

John Brandt, LCCS Dir., met with the Board to discuss contract with Schulte Consulting

to assist with the Options day habilitation program restructuring. The contract is in

an amount not to exceed $10,000 (Jan. 1, 2015 – Dec. 31, 2015). The Board will 

authorize John Brandt to sign contract on Wednesday.

Brandt also stated that Phase II of the Options Advisory Committee recommendation is 

providing support to the families. The first meeting is scheduled for January 30th.

Chairperson Langston stated that she placed on today’s agenda a follow up to action

that the Board took on January 2nd regarding postcards that are sent by the Auditor’s

Office prior to an election. She stated that Asst. County Atty. Gary Jarvis indicated

that there were many issues involved but the mailing of postcards was an administrative

cost and not a required election cost. She also chose to check with ISAC’s legal

counsel who was in agreement with Jarvis. Supervisor Houser had also suggested that

the County Attorney ask for an Attorney General’s opinion. Based on a variety of

elections coming up, Langston stated that it seemed that they should resolve this issue

and noted that there is nothing in the budget to cover this cost.

Auditor Miller stated that he wonders if it could be addressed under Home Rule. He

estimates a cost of $33,200 for the 2015 School Election and $25,000 for the Municipal

Election to send postcards this fall. He started sending postcards when receiving

complaints that people didn’t know about the elections and he stated that it is good

government to continue. He stated that they have too many elections (10 last year) and

it’s confusing. The postcards seem to increase the turnout and generally speaking, the

small cities and small school districts have a larger turnout than Cedar Rapids.

Auditor Miller stated that to his knowledge, the only person that did not want to pay

for the postcards is the Linn Mar Superintendent. Miller offered to go before the

school board and his request was denied.

Supervisor Oleson stated that he is OK with asking for an Attorney General’s opinion

but is not convinced that the program is that successful.

Chairperson Langston summarized the following: 1) If they send the postcards, it has to

be paid from the county’s budget. 2) If they proceed, in the interim, direct the County

Attorney to ask for an Attorney General’s opinion. 3) They have to address the money

already spent (for the next two elections) and reimburse Center Point School for paying

for their election last April. 4) Talk to legislators to address this issue

specifically in the Code. 5) Auditor to include the cost of postcards in his FY 16

budget - $58,000 (for elections that he is aware of).

Motion by Houser, seconded by Harris to direct the County Attorney to ask for an

Attorney General’s opinion regarding election notice postcards. Are they an

administrative cost or election cost billable to entities.

Auditor Miller stated that he is not willing to lay off someone in his office in order

to absorb the $58,000 in his budget. They make no assumptions about the number of

elections that will be conducted in a year.

Dawn Jindrich, Budget Dir., asked if they could get the entities to agree to pay for

the cost.

Chairperson Langston asked Auditor Miller to confer with Gary Jarvis on a letter to go

out to entities asking if they are willing to pay for the costs of the postcard while

they seek an AG opinion. She also asked Auditor Miller to talk to the school boards and

city councils to discuss this issue.

Miller stated that he has no problem talking to legislators and would make an effort to

visit with all schools and cities before the fall.

Motion by Houser, seconded by Harris to approve Liquor License Renewal for The Rut on 

Mt. Vernon Road (retroactive to January 14, 2015) noting all fees have been paid.
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January 19, 2015

Motion by Houser, seconded by Harris to approve Employment Change Roster 

(Payroll Authorizations) as follows:

TREASURER/MOTOR VEHICLE

Universal Clerk Christine Garity Step increase/contract 01/13/15 56D $20.82 – 56E $21.94

IT DEPT

Network Security Analy/Serv Assoc. Peter Davis Step increase/contract 01/20/15 40B $34.06 – 40C $35.92

Application Support Analyst Mechelle Carter Step increase/contract 11/25/14 40A $27.12 – 40B $28.50

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Intern Stephanie Schrader New employee 01/19/15 $12.50/hour

Intern Arnal Eltahir New employee 01/19/15 $12.50/hour

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Targeted Case Mgr. Tina Smith Step increase/contract 02/25/15 36C $22.47 – 36D $23.71

Options Director James Nagel Termination/retirement 01/30/15

Center Aide Jessica Johnson Step increase/contract 02/03/15 51B $13.01 – 51C #13.68

Center Aide Andrea Edwards Switch from on-call to PT 01/19/15 $10.00 – 48B $10.52

20 hrs/week Fills new position

Center Aide Victoria Riley Switch from on-call to PT 01/19/15 $10.00 – 48B $10.52

20 hrs/week Fills new position

JUVENILE DENTION

Tracker Jacob Belay Step inc/contract 02/15/15 56C $19.76 + $.25 – 56D $20.82 + $ .25

ENGINEERING

Heavy Equip Oper Nicholas Boren End of Probation 01/20/15 19A $20.47 – 19B $21.29

Engineering Tech III Michael Annis Termination/retirement 01/30/15

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health Nurse Tricia Peckosh-Rudin Step increase/contract 01/24/15 39C $27.86 – 39D $29.31

Sr Public Health Nurse Heather Meador Step increase/contract 01/25/15 40D $31.62 – 40E $33.34

The Board received and placed on file the following correspondence:

Itemized cost statement of election costs from the County Auditor for the June 2014 

Primary.

Letter from the Iowa Economic Development Authority re: Multi-Family New Production 

Round 6.

Two Notices from the City Development Board re: Voluntary Annexation to the city of 

Marion.

Letter from the Cedar Rapids City Attorney re: Gazette Co. vs. Cedar Rapids Board of 

Review.

Letter from the City of Lisbon re: Urban Renewal Area.

Letter from David and Mary Lou Selzer re: public art.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Supervisor Harris attended the UCC meeting on Friday. They have

lined up a visit with legislators and are going over the regions costs and second claw

back.

Motion by Langston, seconded by Harris to appoint Royal Guthrey as Fire Dist. #2 

Trustee for a three year term ending 12/31/17.

The Board recessed at 9:55 a.m. and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. Present: Chairperson 

Langston, Supervisors Oleson, Harris and Houser. Absent: Vice Chairperson Rogers 

(personal business).

The Board reviewed and discussed FY16 budgets and Offers. Also present: Steve Tucker,

Dawn Jindrich, Tom Hardecopf, Les Beck and Darrin Gage.

LIFTS Offers:

 #1 Containment Pans - $3,500

 #2 Strobe lights - 3,500

 #3 Workbench - 3,000

A Board of Supervisors Offer was presented by Les Beck, Planning & Development

 #1 Linn County Code of Ordinances Recodification Project - $30,000

A Board of Supervisors Offer was presented by Darrin Gage.

 #2 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan – Phase II - $50,000
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January 19, 2015

Board Other – FY 16 net appropriations budget is under the Board’s guidelines by 

$27,349.

Supervisor Oleson suggested that they increase the amount for the Linn County Fair to

$65,000 (an increase of $5,000). The Board concurred. He also asked that MEDCO 

funding be ongoing (starting at $7,500). The Board concurred. Oleson also questioned 

spending $5,000 on pagers.

Jindrich will get more information on the pagers and the rental for a storage building

for court documents (Hubbard Ice Bldg.). 

Discussion continued regarding the importance of extending Marion water out to the 

County Home Rd. property (estimated $600,000). Supervisor Oleson will take the lead to

figure this out with key players.

Chairperson Langston stated that they need to begin talking about FY 17 (between April

and July of this year), noting that they know there will be a drop in revenue and she 

suggested community discussions within each supervisor district. They may need to make

reductions and they need to talk about the level of taxes (do they increase taxes to 

keep services).

Adjournment at 2:41 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

JOEL D. MILLER, Linn County Auditor

By: Rebecca Shoop, Deputy Auditor

Approved by:

LINDA LANGSTON, Chairperson

Board of Supervisors