Linn County holds required hearing on CDBG-funded generator for Third Fire District in Central City

The Linn County Board of Supervisors opened and closed a public hearing April 28 on the status of a Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery project to install a backup generator at the Linn County Third Fire District fire station in Central City.

The hearing covered accomplishments to date and remaining work on the project funded in part through the Iowa Economic Development Authority under contract number 20DRII013. “A CDBG disaster recovery generator installation contract in the amount of $53,000 was awarded to the Linn County Third Fire District,” said Alyssa Comer, grant administrator at ECCoG, reading the required federal report. Comer said the release of funds occurred on May 6, 2024, a pre-construction meeting was held Nov. 14, 2024, and construction began March 17, 2025.

Comer said the total project cost is estimated at $59,900 and, through March 28, 2025, $2,786.97 has been invoiced and paid for project service delivery and newspaper publications. She said $45,000 has been invoiced and paid for project construction costs. Remaining work includes Iowa Economic Development Authority monitoring and site visits, installation of the transfer switch, and generator start-up.

No members of the public spoke on the project during the hearing. After Comer’s presentation and a brief opportunity for questions, the board voted to close the public hearing.

The presentation and closing were procedural actions required by the CDBG-DR program; Comer told the board she was available for follow-up questions. The county did not state a target date for final inspections or a final invoicing date during the hearing.