Board approves 2025 appointments and liaisons; discusses East Central Region transition

Darren Gage, director of policy administration, presented the board and staff appointment and liaison slate for 2025 and noted that the list reflected Ben Rogers' previous assignments as a starting point.

Jody Bridgewater, representing the East Central Region (Linn County office), briefed the board on upcoming changes: the East Central Region will cease to be a mental-health and disability-services region as of June 30, but an entity associated with the 28E agreement will remain to administer disability access functions. She said the mental-health and behavioral-health pieces are being reorganized into a new regional structure and that the county should maintain representation during the transition.

Board members discussed letting Ben Rogers continue as the county representative through the fiscal year ending June 30 and appointing "Sammy" (first name only in the transcript) as an alternate so a supervisor could vote if recusal or conflicts arise. Board members agreed that continuity was important given ongoing fiscal, staffing and contract matters.

The board reviewed individual appointments (ambulance board, board of health, Solid Waste Agency, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance large investor council and others) and discussed the convention of the chair serving on some external groups; members adjusted alternates accordingly. After the roll-through of assignments, a motion to approve the appointments and liaison assignments was made, seconded and approved unanimously.

Also discussed earlier in the meeting, Charlie Nichols of Planning and Development presented a vacancy form for a FY26-approved lead permit specialist position (replacing one existing permit specialist with a lead role); the board agreed to place that item on the consent agenda.