LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 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: Chairperson Zumbach, Vice Chairperson Rogers and Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt. Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted.
Chairperson Zumbach called the meeting to order.
Motion by Zumbach, seconded by Rogers to approve minutes of February 10, 2023 as printed.
The Board received updates from the following Department Heads:
Carter Baldwin, LIFTS Dir. – staffing (three vacancies 1 FT and 2 PT); retirement pending; electric bus project (RFP’s are delayed); Marion’s request to have micro-transit bus system (not in budget); projects he is looking to work on: review internal processes and software, develop and execute a plan for rural area outreach, ADA Coordinator certification. Assisting with Mobile Medical Unit; hoping to partner with Public Health for rides; participated in a national training grant re: transit.
An extensive discussion continued regarding rural outreach and ways to inform small rural communities of this service. The Board indicated the importance of the service that LIFTS provides and asked that their appreciation be relayed to staff.
The Board informed Baldwin that they have asked for a delay in hiring anyone for at least ten days due to SF 181. They committed to the Auditor’s Office that they will hold off approving any vacancy requests until the issue has been resolved.
Lisa Powell, HR Dir., went through the list of vacancies (by department) and found that there are six positions that have been advertised and interviews are scheduled.
After a lengthy discussion the Board directed Powell to notify departments that there is a temporary hiring/offer pause for two weeks. Powell indicated that two weeks should not be a problem for anyone and she will notify the Board if she receives any pushback or indication that there is an emergent need.
Powell presented her update: Departments are developing meaningful Key Performance Indicators during their Learning Institutes; management performance evaluation training is scheduled for next week; a GAPm survey will be sent out in the Spring; no budget or staffing issues; attended two National PELRA state conferences; next Employee Recognition Breakfast will be in April; the 45th Core Values Academy started this month; Anti-Harassment training for County Attorney staff is scheduled and countywide training is due; new learning management system for online training is awaiting funding approval; preliminary renewal with Wellmark indicates a 2.08% increase; ACA 1095’s were sent out; Deferred Comp. Prog. Committee listened to presentations from top two providers; and reached a tentative agreement with Assistant County Attorneys.
Supervisor Running-Marquardt clarified to Powell that her suggestion that training in the Board’s budget that is tied to HR be moved to the HR budget. She is not suggesting a cut.
Discussion also continued regarding unused unemployment funds (in the HR budget) that could go towards training.
Adjournment at 10:08 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
JOEL D. MILLER, Linn County Auditor
By: Rebecca Shoop, Deputy Auditor
Approved by:
LOUIS J. ZUMBACH, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Published in the MVL Sun, Feb. 23, 2023.