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

Linn County Announces Public Input Opportunities
for Five Administrative Office Building Options

(Cedar Rapids, IA - October 16, 2009) – Linn County today announced the dates, times and locations of public open houses designed to gather public input about the five options for an Administrative Office Building. The schedule is:

Monday, October 26 ▪ 7-9 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Middle School Commons Area, 525 Palisades Road, Mt. Vernon

Tuesday, October 27 ▪ 5-7 p.m.
Cleveland Elementary School Cafeteria, 2200 First Ave. N.W., Cedar Rapids

Wednesday, October 28 ▪ 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Carl and Mary Koehler History Center, 615 First Ave. S.E., Cedar Rapids

Wednesday, October 28 ▪ 6-8 p.m.
Marion City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, Marion

Thursday, October 29 ▪ 7-9 p.m.
Hiawatha City Hall, 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha

“We hope Linn County residents will take a few minutes to share their opinions with us. There are no formal presentations. People can go through the 15-20 displays explaining the options at their own pace, ask any questions they may have and then fill out a survey sharing their preferences,” Linn County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Lu Barron said. “This information will help guide us toward selecting the new permanent location for Linn County services, so we want the people who will be using it to share their thoughts with us.”

From October 22 through November 4, Linn County residents who can’t attend an open house can also go to www.linncounty.org to view the displays online and to complete the survey.

“We’ve worked to provide residents with easy options and several locations and times to provide their input,” continued Barron. “If they come to an open house, they can ask questions right there. If they have questions while looking at the displays online, they can certainly call us with questions. That number is (319) 892-5000.”

Linn County is weighing five options for an Administrative Office Building because of flood damage to the site at 930 First St. S.W., in Cedar Rapids. County offices and staff from the AOB have been operating out of temporary locations since the 2008 flood. The five options being considered are:

• Returning to the Administrative Office Building as it was pre-flood
• Renovating, improving and expanding the Administrative Office Building
• Buying and renovating the Steve & Barry’s building at Westdale Mall for long-term use
• Buying and renovating the former Econofoods building on 51st St. NE in Cedar Rapids
• Co-location with the City of Cedar Rapids and/or school district in a yet-to-be-determined location.