A proposal for a volunteer group to address Linn County’s food and agricultural issues sailed through county supervisors’ meeting this morning. Supervisors also approved a policy to govern future development near Palo. Both measures gained final approval without comment from the public or supervisors, who discussed them Monday and last week. Linn becomes the...
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Calling Linn County Auditor Joel Miller’s lawsuit against county supervisors “frivolous,” Garth Fagerbakke today became the fourth candidate -  the first Republican – to challenge Miller’s re-election. “I disagree with his management decisions,” said Fagerbakke, the county’s construction services manager overseeing its flood-recovery projects. “That led to spending tax dollars unnecessarily.” “I don’t think...
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Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson, R-Marion, has officially announced his bid for a second term. In a statement released today, Oleson cited support for county conservation and recreational projects and his work on the county’s flood recovery, emphasizing the county’s “Build Local” policy. “It has been rewarding to see the fruits of those labors...
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A plan for Palo’s future growth should become official this week. After a year of work by the city and Linn County planners, the city-county strategic growth plan breezed through a brief public hearing at the county supervisors’ work session this morning. Already adopted by the Palo City Council, the 20-year plan takes effect...
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Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner has announced he’ll seek a second term, and a county worker filed the second primary challenge to Auditor Joel Miller. Brian Gradoville of Cedar Rapids, an employee in the county treasurer’s office, filed his candidacy petition the day after former Supervisor Jim Houser filed to challenge Miller in the...
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Former Linn County Supervisor Jim Houser is challenging Auditor Joel Miller in the Democratic primary. Houser, of Cedar Rapids, filed for the June 5 primary this afternoon. Houser was a county supervisor from 1990 until November 2010, when he was narrowly beaten by Supervisor John Harris, R-Palo. Harris edged Houser by 166 votes of...
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About 224,000 Iowa households are behind on their utility bills despite the mild winter. “One would expect starting April 1 we could see record numbers of households getting disconnected,” said Jerry McKim, chief of the energy assistance bureau at the Iowa Department of the Human Rights. The state’s November-April winter utility shut-off moratorium ends...
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An improving economy may be behind a reduction in child abuse last year, according to the Department of Human Services. “We’re real confident that’s one of the major factors,” said DHS spokesman  Roger Munns. Economic conditions are a leading cause of family stress, which can lead to abuse or neglect. The agency found evidence...
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Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers is running for re-election, he announced today. Rogers, 32, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids,  issued a press release this morning announcing his bid for a second term representing District 3. He cited his work in landing federal and state aid for the county’s flood-recovery projects, fiscal management in maintaining...
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A Linn County citizens’ advisory on food issues moved closer to reality this morning with county supervisors’ friendly reception to the proposal. “We wouldn’t be telling anybody what to eat,” said Jason Grimm, addressing a potential criticism of what would be Iowa’s fourth county food systems policy council. “The council would work with people...
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