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A purchase agreement for land next to Van Buren Elementary School will be discussed by the Cedar Rapids school board on Monday. This arrangement would enable the district to move an access road that will be constructed to support the new school building that is planned for the location.
A real estate acquisition agreement stated that the district would pay $260,000 for the Cedar Rapids property located at 2612 27th Street.
At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the school board will cast its vote on the purchase agreement at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, located at 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids.
According to board minutes, the acquisition of the parcel was unanimously approved by the board following its emergence from closed session at a meeting last month.
The district is buying the land with money from the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. Voters have approved this property tax levy, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including the acquisition and enhancement of grounds.
Originally, the service road was supposed to pass through the City of Cedar Rapids’ Van Buren Park.
During a public hearing for the project last month, the school’s neighbors expressed their worries with the proposed road’s close proximity to residential properties and the park.
The school board’s Monday agenda also includes a bid issuing for the building of new elementary schools on the Van Buren and Hoover sites.
The schools will be built next to the existing buildings, Van Buren at 2525 29th St. SW and Hoover at 4141 Johnson Ave. NW. While building is underway, the current schools will continue to operate. When the new schools are finished, the structures will be demolished.
The number of students attending the schools has increased significantly in recent years, above the recommended enrollment cap. In order to create additional learning spaces, temporary partitions have even been erected in classrooms and common areas.
SAVE Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, an existing statewide sales tax that is distributed to districts according to confirmed enrollment, is providing funding for the projects.
Cedar Rapids recognized for McLoud Run flood control project
For its efforts to manage flooding at McLoud Run, the city of Cedar Rapids has received worldwide praise.
The city just received the National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies’ 2025 Innovation Water Project award. The yearly prize honors creative initiatives that achieve several community advantages.
The prize honored flood control work done in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers in the vicinity of the McLoud Run trout fishing stream in Cedar Rapids, which is located just east of Interstate 380.
In order to keep Shaver Road open during floods, the city there converted it into an elevated bridge. Under the bridge, where McLoud Run was expanded and converted from concrete to a winding, low-flow channel, are adjacent flood walls.
In order to improve pedestrian access, the project also included improvements to the trails.
Public Works Director Brenna Fall stated, “I believe what they perceived as more innovative is that we didn’t just build the walls and raise a bridge.” In addition to improving our trail connectivity, we also improved that trout stream’s natural habitat.
Marion officials OK spending for Collaborative Growth Initiative
An $87,000 request to fund a local project to boost population growth has been granted by the city of Marion.
The funding, which will be given to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance for the ongoing Collaborative Growth Initiative, was overwhelmingly authorized by city council members last week.
A larger public-private cooperation, the effort aims to improve resident recruitment and retention. It started out as a partnership between the Economic Alliance and the cities of Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion in 2023.
The $87,000 will be used for year one projects, such as the creation of a talent acquisition website and an agency marketing campaign, as well as the start of a campaign for remote workers.
The initiative is financed by a combination of city and Economic Alliance funding, with the long-term objective of gradually reducing municipal contributions through private fundraising.
For the first year, Hiawatha donated $21,600, while the city of Cedar Rapids had previously authorized its $327,500 contribution. Estimates of contributions were broken down by city per capita and financing receipts from tax increments.
Iowa City donation drive-thru event collects 15,000 pounds of goods
The city of Iowa gathered 15,000 pounds of items during last month’s donation drive-thru, which will either be recycled or given to charitable organizations.
The Antelope Lending Library, Crowded Closet, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Houses into Homes, and Table to Tableto will all receive donations of in-good-condition items to give to those in the community who are in need.
During the four-hour collection period, a variety of goods were gathered, such as:
- 198.5 pounds of batteries
- 85 pounds of light bulbs
- 2,170 pounds of books
- 1,815 pounds of mattresses and box springs
- 2,865 pounds of clothing, shoes, purses, and linens
- 500 pounds of food
- 260 pounds of toiletry items
- 3,640 pounds of furniture
- 2,501 pounds of household and kitchen items
- 632 pounds of art and craft supplies
- 343 pounds of school supplies
Marion City Council approves appointment of new police chief
Jeremy Sprague has been appointed Marion’s next police chief by the Marion City Council.
A procedural step necessary for Sprague to take up the role was last week, when council members unanimously authorized the nomination. August 21 is the date of his first day.
Sprague joins the position with 25 years of law enforcement experience, including 19 years as a lieutenant at the Des Moines Police Department.
After a multi-month search, he was chosen among four finalists to succeed former Police Chief Mike Kitsmiller, who retired this spring.In his capacity as chief, Sprague will oversee the management, planning, and guidance of all Marion Police Department operations.
Schonella Stewart, commander of the Oak Park Police Department in Illinois; Douglas Riniker, colonel and chief deputy at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; and Chad Nott, deputy chief at the Marion Police Department, were among the other candidates for the job.
Iowa City Transit returns to fall service schedule
In order to increase operational efficiency and prepare for the University of Iowa’s autumn term, Iowa City transportation is altering its fall transportation schedule starting Monday, August 18.
An additional bus has been allocated to the 10-West Iowa City during the morning service, while the 8-Oakcrest will now operate for 15 minutes during peak hours.
The 13-Gilbert Street and the 6-Peninsula will also switch to hourly service during rush hour.
The 4-Downtown Shuttle will no longer operate, however the 2-Court Street, 5-Lower Muscatine, or 9-Towncrest buses will still stop at the majority of downtown bus stations. They all follow a 20-minute service schedule.
The city is advising customers to use other nearby bus stops as five of the city’s bus stations will no longer be served. The following stops have been discontinued: #7046, Washington Street at Chauncey Swan Park or City Hall; #7459, Dodge Street, north of Court Street; #7116, northwest corner of Dodge and Bowery Street; #7458, northwest corner of Dodge and Burlington Street; and #7306, Washington Street and Dodge Street.
Construction underway at Linn County s Wickiup Hill Learning Center
The Wickiup Hill Learning Center is undergoing an outdoor enhancement project by Linn County Conservation.
The goal of the project is to make the center’s front gathering area a more hospitable and useful place for guests. In order to improve drainage and lower site maintenance requirements, workers will replace the worn concrete and aging sitting stones as part of that renovation.
Visitors are encouraged to avoid the work area until the end of August, when construction is expected to be finished.
Use the grass walkways to navigate the construction site and reach the learning center. Alternatively, head around the building’s east side to reach the nature playscape and other outdoor spaces.
Updates from local governmental entities are included in Government Notes, which is released every Monday. Megan Woolard, Grace King, and Grace Nieland all contributed to the Gazette.
