LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 9:00 A.M.
(These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www.linncounty.org).
The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Vice Chairperson Zumbach and Supervisor Walker. Absent: Chairperson Rogers (personal business). Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted.
Vice Chairperson Zumbach called the meeting to order.
The Board received updates from the following Department Heads:
Charlie Nichols, Planning & Development Dir. – Meeting today re: new KPI’s; budget is on target; Planner I and II positions are still vacant (discussion continued regarding compensation); exploring partnership with Univ. of Iowa for a Planning Intern during the school year (50/50 cost share); working with various small towns for Property Maintenance & Rental Inspection agreements; working on several commercial projects that Inspectors are working on; clerical staff are looking at processes to help implement the upcoming software upgrade; Unified Development Code amendments (Ag. Experience) coming back to the Board; examining zoning code related to pipeline construction and placement; Renewable Energy Overlay Working Groups (should know final make up of the groups by the end of this week or early next week); will start working on the Hazard Mitigation Plan for Linn County in 2023 (ECICOG will apply for a grant and may ask for a Resolution of support); and permit statistics. Planning & Development priorities were discussed.
Britt Hutchins, Purchasing Dir. – Established KPI’s for the department; budget is on target and fully staffed; postage statistics; and assisted with various purchasing projects.
Steve Estenson, Risk Management Dir. – Consultant working on FEMA claim is on sight; overview of FEMA claims; historical significance of damaged barns at County Home Rd. and Dows Farm; and heated sidewalks reviewed for upcoming cold weather.
The Board canvassed the votes for the General Election, November 8, 2022.
Matt Warfield, Deputy Auditor, presented the following information: 94,129 voters or 57.90% of registered voters. Provisional Ballot Summary: 48 ballots cast — 17 accepted and 31 rejected. Late Absentee Ballot Summary: Of the 34, 15 accepted and 19 rejected. Absentees accepted on Election Day, but counted after Election Day: 10; and Total Ballots accepted for counting after election Day: 42.
Warfield also explained the two issues that occurred on election day (600 double counted absentee ballots and the Dist. 1 Supervisor race that was not included on the Putnum Twp. Ballot). He also explained why Linn County’s results come in later than other counties (memory stick & results tapes are driven in from all polling places in the county).
Auditor Miller stated that some counties use modems to transfer results, however, the northern tier of precincts in Linn County do not allow those modems to function. It is also possible that the modems will not be allowed in the very near future as it is recommended that county’s not use them based on speculation that they can be hacked.
The Board recessed at 11:44 a.m. and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. to continue the canvass.
• Boulder Township Trustee – Debra Zumbach and Jim Grief (Spelled wrong but as written in) each received three write-in votes resulting in a tie. Supervisor Walker drew the name – Jim Grief. He also opened the other paper in the hat to prove that both names were included in the draw.
• Maine Township Clerk – Wesley Nelson and Ian Dye each received three write-in votes resulting in a tie. Supervisor Walker drew the name – Wesley Nelson. He also opened the other paper in the hat to prove that both names were included in the draw.
Adjournment at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
JOEL D. MILLER, Linn County Auditor
By: Rebecca Shoop and Matt Warfield, Deputy Auditors
Approved by:
LOUIS J. ZUMBACH, Vice Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Published in the Sun, Dec. 1, 2022.