News Flash

Derecho Tree Debris Cleanup Enters Final Phase

Cleanup from the August 2020 derecho will enter the final phase in unincorporated Linn County this month. In addition to completing the right-of-way debris pickup following the Nov. 9, 2020 deadline, Linn County is providing two additional ways for rural ...

Solar Group Buy Kicks off April 13 with First Solar Power Hour

Along with sunnier days, a limited-time program kicks off in April to give people access to solar education and competitive prices for residential, business, and farm solar installations through volume purchasing. Building on past successes, Linn County a...

County Home Road Improvement Project Start Date Changed to April 14

The start date for the County Home Road improvement project has changed to April 14, 2021. County Home Road will be closed completely to through traffic from N Center Point Road to just east of C Ave Extension and will remain cl...

Dust Control Signup Now Open

Dust control sign up began April 1 for residents in unincorporated Linn County. The Linn County Secondary Road Department is temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, staff is working and able to help residents complete the d...

Linn County Board of Supervisors Amends the Unified Development Code to Allow Small Animals

The Linn County Board of Supervisors today approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code. The significant change in the amendment involves small animal allowances in rural residential zoning districts. The change takes effect on April 14 after pub...

Improvement Project Set to Resume on County Home Road

Construction on County Home Road is scheduled to resume April 12, 2021. County Home Road will be closed completely to through traffic from N Center Point Road to just east of C Ave Extension and will remain closed for the entire...

April is National County Government Month

April is National County Government Month!

The Linn County Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation marking the annual celebration of county government and the essential services counties provide that create healthy, vibrant, and safe communitie...

Linn and Johnson Counties Join Together to Launch Solar Group Buy

Along with sunnier days, a limited-time program kicks off in April to give people access to solar education and competitive prices for residential, business, and farm solar installations through volume purchasing. Building on past successes, Linn County a...

Wanatee Creek Name Change Now Official

The Linn County Board of Supervisors and the Linn County Conservation Board are pleased to announce the U.S. Board on Geographic Names has approved Linn County’s request to change the name of Squaw Creek in Linn County to Wanatee Creek.

Linn County was not...

Linn County Certifies Fiscal Year 2022 Budget With No Increase in Levy Rate

At its March 24, 2021 meeting, the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved a $130.7 million budget for fiscal year 2022 following two public hearings. The newly approved budget does not raise the countywide or rural services l...

Reflecting on COVID-19 One-Year Anniversary

This week marks the one-year anniversary of Linn County’s first, laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19. Emotional responses to milestones like this are a normal—and common—reaction to moving forward though uncommon circumstances. Grief is the pain of loss...

Secondary Road Department Releases Five-Year Construction Plan

The Linn County Secondary Road Department has released its five-year construction plan for 2021-2026. The plan outlines the department’s focus on repairing and rebuilding bridges rated as poor, maintaining the condition of the paved road network, improvin...

Linn County Tree Equity Program Launched from Planting Forward Initiative

In collaboration with 11 community partners, Linn County Sustainability and Linn County Conservation have joined forces with Monarch Research’s Planting Forward initiative. Linn County Sustainability is seeking to provide trees to households who might oth...

Linn County, Providers Cut Ribbon at New Mental Health Access Center

Linn County and its partners—Abbe Health, Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC), Foundation 2, and Penn Center—celebrated the completion of Linn County’s first Mental Health Access Center with a ribbon cutting on March 5, 2021.

“This is the culminati...

Announcing the New Week in Review

Linn County is excited to announce a new way for residents to stay informed and learn more about the work of Linn County! 

The Week in Review highlights Linn County action and news from the current week, provides updates from the Board of Supervis...

COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1B Update

As Phase 1B of the COVID-19 Vaccine rollout continues this week, Linn County Public Health has updated information for Phase 1B populations, which include persons 65 and older, prioritized frontline workers, and specific populations vulnerable to high ris...

Mask Mandate Still in Effect in Linn County

Linn County residents, businesses, and visitors are reminded that the mask mandates previously put in place by the City of Cedar Rapids, the Linn County Board of Health, and the Linn County Board of Supervisors are still in effect in Linn County. The regu...

Linn County LIFTS Announces Transportation Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Linn County LIFTS today will begin providing free next-day rides for County residents in need of transportation assistance to scheduled and confirmed COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors wants to ensure no barriers, inclu...

Linn County Welcomes New Planning & Development Director, Honors Long-Time Outgoing Director

On Feb. 5, 2021, after 20 years as director of Linn County’s Planning & Development Department, Les Beck will retire. Planning & Zoning Division Manager Charlie Nichols will succeed Beck as director.

Beck was hired as Linn County’s director of Plan...

Linn County Announces Changes to Unified Development Code and Building Division Service Area

The Linn County Planning and Development Department announces the following updates that are now in effect:

Unified Development Code

The Linn County Board of Supervisors today approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code. The significant change in ...

Linn County Releases FY20 Annual Report

Linn County has released its fiscal year 2020 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) PDF. The report provides residents with an overview of how their tax dollars are managed and spent in an easy-to-read format. The annual report is part of Linn County’s o...

Linn County Board of Supervisors Approves Linn County 2021 State Legislative Priorities

The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved Linn County’s 2021 state legislative priorities (PDF). These priorities were developed with input from Linn County department heads and elected officials, and through review of the Iowa State Association of Co...

Limited COVID-19 Vaccines Available to Persons 65 and Older Beginning January 26

On Tuesday, January 26, individuals 65 years and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in Linn County. Today, MercyCare Clinics, UnityPoint Health Clinics and several independent health care providers will begin to contact their primary care patient...

Linn County Attorney’s Office Announces Marijuana Diversion Program

The Linn County Attorney’s Office announces a newly established marijuana diversion program that will take effect Jan. 1, 2021.

The program is designed for first time offenders found in possession of a user-quantity amount of marijuana. Linn County prosecu...

Linn County Public Health Utilizes CARES Act Funds to Help Community Partners Prevent COVID-19

On November 3, Governor Reynolds allocated $3 million of CARES Act funds as a grant for local county health departments, based on a per capita basis, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Linn County Public Health (LCPH) received notification on Novemb...

Waiver for Building Department Permit Fees Extended

The Linn County Board of Supervisors this week signed a resolution extending the waiver of building department permit fees through June 30, 2021. This waiver is for the unincorporated areas in Linn County and the cities of Alburnett, Bertram, Center Point...

Linn County Earns Awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded Linn County the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) (PDF) and the Award for Outstanding Achievement i...

Board of Supervisors Commits to Equitable Climate Action

The Linn County Board of Supervisors signed a new climate resolution (PDF) prioritizing the voices of vulnerable communities in climate action within Linn County. The resolution commits to accelerated action to address the climate crisis in collaboration ...

Linn County Public Health and Community Partners Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Linn County Public Health (LCPH), in coordination with community partners, has been preparing to receive and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. With the first COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive as early as next week, vaccination will soon begin among certa...

Revolving Loan Fund Helps Homeowners Repair Derecho Damage

Three months after the derecho that devastated much of Linn County, housing remains one of the most pressing needs. A new revolving loan fund has been established to help homeowners repair homes that were damaged in the storm. 

Cedar Rapids Bank &...

Linn County Issues Face Covering Regulation

Due to the alarming surge in positive COVID-19 cases and record-breaking hospitalizations across the country and locally, the Linn County Board of Supervisors today signed a resolution unanimously approving the Linn County Board of Health’s face...

Most Linn County Facilities Close to the Public

Due to the alarming surge in positive COVID-19 cases and record-breaking hospitalizations across the country and locally, Linn County is closing buildings to the public once again to help reduce community spread of the virus and to help ensure continuity ...

State of Iowa Announces Change to COVID-19 Close Contact Definition

LINN COUNTY, IA – Today, Governor Reynolds announced a change in the definition the State of Iowa is using to define close contacts for the purposes of contact tracing of positive COVID-19 cases. The CDC, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, def...

Linn County Public Health Reminds Residents to Stay Safe After Storms

LINN COUNTY, IA – Many parts of Iowa were affected by a severe storm that swept through the state Monday, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of people. As utility crews work around the clock to restore power, and Iowans continue cle...

Linn County Facilities Reopen July 20 by Appointment

NOTE: This page is updated as new information becomes available.

On Monday, July 20, 2020, most Linn County offices reopened on an appointment-only basis as part of a phased approach to reopening with modifications to keep employees and customers safe. Lin...

Linn County Public Health Recommends Community to Take Measures to Slow COVID-19

LINN COUNTY, IA – A significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases were reported over two consecutive weeks, mainly among 18 to 25 year olds. This 189 percent increase from 35 to 101 new cases occurred between June 7^th and June 21^st. Conti...

Linn County Public Health and Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission to Host Virtual Town Hall June 12

Linn County Public Health and the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission have partnered to host another COVID-19 virtual town hall on Friday, June 12 at 12 p.m. The virtual town hall will be held via GoToMeeting and will focus on general housing information...

Linn County Public Health Continues to Provide Weekly COVID-19 Updates

Linn County Public Health continues to provide weekly Community Partner Updates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weekly updates help keep the community informed about the latest information and resources available, and are accessible by end of business on Fr...

Linn County Public Health Releases Phased Reopening Guidance During Community Spread of COVID-19

Linn County Public Health recommends a phased reopening, in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and other national organizations. This three-phased approach enables businesses to reopen, and events and gatherings to occur, while protecting the ...

Linn County Public Health Releases Multi-Lingual COVID-19 Toolkit

A multi-lingual toolkit, recently released to community partners and available for viewing at LinnCounty.org/MultilingualResources, is the first in a series of several toolkits created to distribute in response to COVID-19.

A multi-lingual toolkit has been...