Allen Witt addresses U.S. Chamber of Commerce role in Flood Recovery

In one of the shortest Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meetings, Allen Witt, Chair of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce spoke of the role the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has played in assisting the Chamber and the City of Cedar Rapids in successful disaster response.

The following is the Cedar Rapids Economic Recovery and Rebuilding Plan: link from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Allen Witt indicated that information about his presentation is available on the Rebuild Iowa Commission web site. Allen Witt gave a handout on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Timeline and on the backside the Iowa CDBG Disaster Recovery Summary.

A question from the audience asked about the Federal Stimulus money and whether Cedar Rapids and Linn County have any shovel ready projects? After visiting with Allen Witt after our Rotary meeting, it appears Cedar Rapids and Linn County do have projects submitted that are shovel ready. Hopefully, Des Moines will deliver. But, will they deliver for Cedar Rapids and Linn County with Federal Stimulus money?

Fellow Rotarian and retired Chamber CEO Lee Clancey from the audience reminded Rotarians of tomorrow's LOST vote. The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors unanimously support the 1% local option sales tax. The ballot for the City of Cedar Rapids is linked.

The month of February for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids was dedicated to four meetings from four different speakers on the EPRC. Rotarians voted after the Flood of 2008 on whether we wanted to dedicate club programming to post-Flood developments.

After returning from the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting today, we noticed the following flood recovery and and the 1% local option sales tax stories from http://www.gazetteonline.com/.

Huge bills for steam hurt downtown property owners

Auditor predicts 25 percent turnout for tax vote

An e-mail from the pro-tax group, linked the following Dorman story from The Gazette.

The pro-tax supporters don't want to discuss a possible defeat tomorrow. They are concerned greatly about the message it will send to Des Moines. But, should the LOST be defeated tomorrow; the City Council, citizens and taxpayers have the opportunity again, if they come together, to rewrite a ballot, with a new measure and message. State Law allows for public measures, such as a local option sales tax on August 4Th and November 3Rd in 2009.

Look for a possible property tax increase in the State of Iowa: Cutting property tax credits a 'stealth tax increase'? The State Legislature and Governor Chet Culver are discussing this move, as it was reported in today's Gazette.

Don't forget to Vote on Tuesday. The polling places for Tuesday's local-option sales tax vote per the recent Gazette article. It is an opportunity for the people to instruct the City Council what it wants the Public Measure to be spent on. For more information on the Linn County vote, including the City of Cedar Rapids: Link to Auditor's Site.