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Administrative Office Building Options and Survey

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Administrative Office Building Options and Survey
Your Opinion Matters From October 22 through November 4, 2009, Linn County conducted a public input process to gather feedback from Linn County residents about their preferences on five options for a permanent location for Linn County’s Administrative Office Building (AOB - since renamed the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center). County offices and staff from this building have been operating out of temporary locations since the 2008 flood. The public input process included five open houses, an online survey and four focus groups.

The five options that were considered are listed below. To see the results of the public input process, click here:

Option #1: Repair 2008 Flood Damage to
Administrative Office Building
930 First St. S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA

Space: 43,584 square feet
Estimated Purchase Price: $0
Estimated Repair Cost: $2,248,950
Total Cost: $2,248,950
 
Known Funding:
FEMA
  Flood Recovery: $2,248,950
  Flood Mitigation: $500,000*
Total $2,748,950
Remaining Net Cost: $0
*FEMA will pay for mitigating future flood threats to flood damaged buildings. This funding is to move mechanical/electrical from the basement and to seal underground steam and communication pipes.
 
Notes:
  • This option is to repair flood damage to the existing Linn County Administrative Office Building.
  • Parking spaces available: 233
  • FEMA would also provide $500,000 for flood mitigation to move mechanical/electrical equipment out of the basement and to seal underground steam and communication pipes.
  • The Administrative Office Building is outside the 100-year and 500-year flood plains and behind the proposed flood walls.
  • Check valves will be added to underground sanitary sewer lines.
  • Linn County has applied for the following two grants related to the energy efficiency/sustainability of the existing Administrative Office Building:
    1. $317,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, Department of Energy
    2. $358,000 State Energy Program, State of Iowa Office of Energy Independence.
    Potential award dates for these grants are not known at this time.

Option #2: Renovate and Expand
Existing Administrative Office Building
930 First St. S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA

Space: 76,361 square feet
Estimated Purchase Price: $0
Estimated Repair Cost: $11,736,396
Total Cost: $11,736,396
 
Known Funding:
FEMA
  Flood Recovery: $2,248,950
  Flood Mitigation: $500,000*
Remaining Net Cost: $8,987,446
 
Potential Funding:
  State I-JOBS Grant Program: $0--$8,802,297
Remaining net cost with maximum I-JOBS funding: $186,099
*FEMA will pay for mitigating future flood threats to flood damaged buildings. This funding is to move mechanical/electrical from the basement and to seal underground steam and communication pipes.

Maximum I-JOBS funding may not be available for this project. Linn County could present a bond issue for all or a portion of the renovation and expansion to Linn County residents for approval. Passage of a county bond issue requires sixty percent approval of those voting.

Annual property tax impact to a Linn County resident with a $100,000 home for the lifetime of an $8,987,446 bond (20 years) would be: $3.47.
 
Notes:
  • The Linn County Administrative Office Building Renovation and Expansion Option earned the second highest score of nearly 140 I-JOBS Grant Program applications from the entire state of Iowa. However, the I-JOBS Board asked that Linn County gather more public input by November 2009, before reconsidering funding of the project.
  • Should there be funds remaining after I-JOBS' initial allocation, and if Linn County satisfactorily meets the Board's request of garnering public input, the I-JOBS Board could award the Linn County Administrative Office Building Renovation and Expansion Option a portion of or the entire amount of construction costs requested--$8,802,297.
  • If I-JOBS funding is not available, Linn County could present a bond issue to Linn County residents for approval for all or a portion of the renovation and expansion costs. Passage of a county bond issue requires sixty percent approval of those voting.
  • Linn County has applied for the following two grants related to the energy efficiency/sustainability of the existing Administrative Office Building.
    1. $317,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, Department of Energy
    2. $358,000 State Energy Program Grant, State of Iowa Office of Energy Independence.
    Potential award dates for these grants are not known at this time.
  • Administrative Office Building Renovation and Expansion would include:
    • Parking spaces available: 233
    • A third floor to address Linn County office space needs that existed prior to the flood.
    • The basement would be used as the Board of Supervisors meeting room, conference and training rooms and an employee break room.
    • Expansion would allow the Linn County civil attorneys to move from the courthouse to this building to be closer to the departments they work with daily.
    • Electrical and mechanical equipment would be moved from the basement.
    • Underground steam and communications pipes would be sealed to prevent future water back-up.
    • Check valves would be added to underground sanitary sewer lines.
    • The Linn County Treasurer's Office would be moved to the main level for easy customer access.
    • Seating would be added to waiting areas.
    • The lobby would include a widened, enclosed staircase and improved signage.
    • The Administrative Office Building is outside the 100-year and 500-year flood plains and behind the proposed flood walls.

Option #3: Purchase and Renovate
Former Steve and Barry's Retail Space
2500 Edgewood Rd. S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA

Space: 115,000 square feet
Estimated Purchase Price: $3,000,000
Estimated Remodeling Cost: $13,812,300
Total Estimated Cost: $16,812,300
 
Known Funding:
FEMA
  Flood Recovery: $2,248,950
Remaining Net Cost: $14,563,350
Potential Funding for Remaining Cost: Linn County could present a bond issue
to residents for approval.*
 
Annual property tax impact to a Linn County resident with a $100,000 home for the lifetime of the bond (20 years) would be: $5.63.

* Passage of a county bond issue requires sixty percent approval of those voting.
 
Notes:
  • Parking spaces available: 553
  • This option would provide an excess of approximately 40,000 square feet of usable space. This space could be used for other government services.
  • If Linn County selects this option, the property would be removed from the Linn County tax rolls.
  • Linn County would be required to bring the former Steve and Barry's retail space up to current building codes for long-term use. This process is outlined on pages 8-23 of the Howard R. Green Company feasibility study of the space and affiliated costs are included in the estimated remodeling cost. Click here to easily access the feasibility study.

Option #4: Purchase and Renovate
Former EconoFoods Grocery Space
51st Street N.E.
Cedar Rapids, IA

Space: 110,000 square feet
Estimated Purchase Price: $6,250,000
Estimated Remodeling Cost: $9,387,247
Total Cost: $15,637,247
 
Known Funding:
FEMA
  Flood Recovery: $2,248,950
Remaining Net Cost: $13,388,297
Potential Funding: Linn County could present a bond issue
to residents for approval.*
 
Annual property tax impact to a Linn County resident with a $100,000 home for the lifetime of the bond (20 years) would be: $5.05.

* Passage of a county bond issue requires sixty percent approval of those voting.
 
Notes:
  • Parking spaces available: 565
  • This option would provide an excess of approximately 35,000 square feet of usable space. This space could be used for other government services.
  • If Linn County were to select this option, the property would be removed from the Linn County tax rolls.

Option #5: Co-Location with
City of Cedar Rapids and/or Cedar Rapids School District
Site Unknown at this Time
Cedar Rapids, IA

Space: 76,361 square feet
(space required by Linn County only)
Estimated New Construction Cost: $15,272,200*
Land Purchase Cost: Unknown at this time
 
Known Funding for Linn County:
FEMA
  Flood Recovery: $2,248,950
Remaining Net Cost: $13,023,250
Potential Funding: The three public entities involved could
present bond issues to residents
for approval.**
 
*These estimated costs are based on industry standards for new construction of 76,361 square feet, the amount of space required by Linn County only.

**Passage of a county bond issue requires fifty percent + 1 approval of those voting.
 
Notes:
  • Co-location among the City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and the Cedar Rapids School District continues to be explored by the staff and boards of these three organizations.
  • In the late fall of 2008, Linn County commissioned a research study which showed: Linn County residents are interested in exploring locating City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and Cedar Rapids School District offices together if it means services can be provided more conveniently.
  • At this time, the City of Cedar Rapids has identified three co-location options:
    1. A Community Operations Center--A centralized facility that could house infrastructure, operations departments, and a centralized fleet maintenance center.
    2. A Community Safety Center--A new training facility that could accommodate police and fire, classroom needs, skills training functions, joint communications and storage.

      (Note: The Linn County Jail has been repaired and is operational. The Sheriff's Office building will be operational by December 2009.)
    3. A Community Services Center--A single campus that could support administrative and customer service functions. It would have enclosed connections between the structures and the potential for shared parking and conference facilities.





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930 First Street SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-892-5000
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