FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2009

Contact:
Joi Bergman
Communications Director
(319) 892-5118
joi.bergman@linncounty.org

Progress Continues on Flood-Damaged Linn County Buildings

(CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – May 20, 2009)—The Board of Supervisors voted Monday (4-1) to pursue the second of two floor plans from Novak Design to rebuild the Administrative Office Building at 930 1st St. SW in Cedar Rapids. This follows the Board’s decision on February 25 to return to the building post-flood. The rebuilding plans include an addition and remodel that will make more efficient use of the building’s space and improve the layout to better serve the public and employees.

“This is 30-plus year solution for Linn County,” said Lu Barron, chairwoman of the Linn County Board of Supervisors. “This is a forward-looking decision that solves our space shortage issue and offers long-term sustainability.”

The addition will “square off” the shape of the building and add a third floor with 4,800 square feet of office space.

“To help protect the County against potential future flooding, we were limited to what we could put back in the basement,” said Garth Fagerbakke, Construction Services Manager. “After looking at the options, the Board decided to use the majority of the basement for the Board of Supervisors board room, conference rooms, the employee break room and storage. These are functions that could be repaired more easily if the basement ever floods again. The offices that were in the basement need to be housed elsewhere, which is why a smaller third floor is needed. We’re moving departments around to improve efficiencies and mitigate the potential of any future flood damage.”

The additional square footage on the third floor provides the flexibility to move offices out of the basement and will allow space for the civil attorneys to move to the Administrative building from the Courthouse. Having civil attorneys on-site will be a benefit to the departments that work with them often. This move also solves a space issue at the Courthouse for the County Attorney’s Office.

Floor plans were designed with input from departments because they know best what they need to serve the public. Customer service improvements will include:

• An open lobby with a widened, enclosed staircase and improved signage.
• Seating at most customer service counters.
• The Treasurer’s Office will relocate to the main floor because it receives the most foot traffic of any department in the building.

The building plans include mitigating future flood threats using the following measures:

• Closing off underground steam pipes that were a major source of the flooding and are no longer in use.
• Elevating electrical and mechanical systems to an upper floor.
• Mitigating sewer lines so there is no back-flow.
• Moving offices with critical records to upper floors.
• Moving the Information Technology department and its equipment and servers out of the basement to an upper floor.
• Moving the Board of Supervisors boardroom and conference rooms to the basement.

Linn County is conducting an energy audit that will help determine the best areas of the building to be addressed for energy efficiency and sustainability. “We will make this a green building using the latest technology to offset energy use and conserve resources,” said Supervisor Jim Houser.

The reconstruction and improvements will cost an estimated $11.7 million. Linn County estimates $3.7 million of that amount will be paid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Linn County will need to issue bonds for the remaining $7.9 million. The annual cost to a homeowner of a $100,000 home will be $3.31 over a 20-year period for this rebuilding and improvement project. Construction on the building should begin by October 1, 2009, and be completed by the end of October 2010.

Linn County offices that were housed in the Administrative building will be located at Linn County West during the reconstruction. Reconstructing the building while it is unoccupied is easier, less expensive and safer for the public and county staff. FEMA is reimbursing the rent for Linn County’s temporary locations. FEMA grants temporary lease extensions in six-month intervals. The current approved extension lasts until August 13, 2009, so Linn County will request another six-month extension to begin in August after the current extension expires. An extension is not guaranteed, which is why it is important for Linn County to continue showing FEMA progress toward permanent solutions for county offices.

Brief facts about Linn County West:

• The moving and build-out cost for Linn County West is approximately $526,000.
• Linn County is submitting build-out and moving costs to FEMA for reimbursement.
• Even with the build-out and moving costs, Linn County is saving FEMA—and ultimately taxpayers—more than $800,000 by moving temporary offices to Linn County West; the savings is due to the lower lease amount at Linn County West compared to Westdale Mall and the Palmer Building over a two-year period.
• FEMA is reimbursing the lease expense at Linn County West until August 13 at which time Linn County will request another six-month extension while work is being done to complete the permanent facilities.
• Linn County’s lease at Linn County West ends February 28, 2011. At that time, the County could renew its lease at the market rate.

Options of Linn County
FEMA has obligated $7.3 million to replace the flood-damaged Options of Linn County building located at 1019 7th St, SE; the building was more than fifty percent damaged by the flood. Options is a sheltered workshop that provides employment services for adults with disabilities. The County is working with FEMA on a potential relocation of the building to a site on 12th St. SW and is waiting to hear from FEMA on whether it will approve a relocation. Linn County has also been allocated $5 million from Governor Culver’s I-JOBS initiative to use toward rebuilding Options of Linn County.

Juvenile Courts
During the mitigation of the Linn County Courthouse, juvenile courts lost its permanent space in the Courthouse. The juvenile court system is temporarily located in the Palmer Building in downtown Cedar Rapids, but will be moving to Linn County West at the end of June, along with the Board of Supervisors, to save money on rent. A permanent facility is needed for the juvenile court system. The Board of Supervisors this week approved the formation of a committee to explore options for a permanent location of juvenile courts. Linn County is exploring options for FEMA funding for a juvenile court facility. Linn County will need to bond for any portion of the cost that is not reimbursable by FEMA. Without a bond issue, the County would need to lease space for juvenile courts.

Veteran Affairs (O’Brien Building)
Prior to the flood, Linn County Veteran Affairs was located in the O’Brien Building across the street from the Administrative Office Building. To increase efficiencies in programming and to get more departments under one roof, Veteran Affairs will be located with Linn County Community Services (LCCS) in a permanent location. The office is temporarily located at Linn County West. FEMA has obligated $263,000 for the repair of the O’Brien Building. Using FEMA’s improved project guidelines, Linn County will use this money toward a future location of Veteran Affairs. The County will use the O’Brien Building as a storage facility.

Witwer Building / Linn County Community Services
The historic Witwer Building in downtown Cedar Rapids that housed Linn County Community Services (LCCS) was also damaged by the flood. Employees in these offices are temporarily located at Linn County West. Linn County issued a Request for Proposals seeking quotes from architectural firms for a building that would house Options of Linn County, LCCS, Veteran Affairs and possibly the juvenile court system. FEMA has obligated $1.2 million for the repair of the Witwer Building. FEMA will allow Linn County to use this funding toward a combined Options of Linn County / LCCS building. By combining FEMA funding for Options, Veteran Affairs and LCCS in addition to the $5 million from the I-JOBS legislation and the potential sale of the Witwer Building and the former location of Options, Linn County may not need to bond for the construction of a new Options/LCCS/juvenile courts building. The juvenile courts committee will discuss whether this location and the combined functions would be a good fit for the needs of the juvenile court system. Combining Options with LCCS and Veteran Affairs will reduce the number of buildings housing Linn County offices by three (Witwer Building, Home Health office and Veteran Affairs building).

Youth Shelter
FEMA has obligated $965,000 toward the replacement of the flood-damaged Youth Shelter. The Board of Supervisors is engaging in community stakeholder discussions about the future of the Youth Shelter program. The outcome of these discussions will determine the use of the FEMA funding.

Progress on other flood-damaged Linn County buildings includes:
Elections Depot—reopened last September.
County Courthouse—upper floors reopened last September.
Correctional Center—reopened this month.
Sheriff’s Office—will reopen later this year.

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