SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
November 13, 2007
November is National Adoption Month. I urge anyone who has ever considered foster care and/or adoption to give me a call.
Congratulations to all the folks who ran in the recent City Council elections throughout Johnson County. Iowa City's vote on 21 sucked much of the oxygen out of the room but upon closer reflection, voters clearly chose change.
Regardless of political leanings, incumbents lost in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Swisher, West Branch, Wellman, and University Heights. I do not EVER recall that type of result.
What does this mean? I think voters are sending a clear message to their elected officials do not get too comfortable. The status quo is not good enough. Change won.
Johnson County took a good step recently in adopting a prequalification questionnaire for bidders on public works projects.
What does this mean? Public works projects are typically large enough to require bids. Obviously, the bidding process exists to ensure that taxpayers get the best possible deal, and that the public has all the information.
While the bidding process continues to serve us well in the former situation, it falls short in the latter.
According to State law, bids are awarded to "the lowest responsive responsible bidder." Figuring out the lowest bidder has always been easy; defining "responsible" has not.
The County needs to know if a contractor uses multiple names. We need to know if they finish projects on time and on budget. We need to know if they are named in multiple lawsuits. These are just common sense questions for the County to ask prior to entering into an expensive contract. Developing a consistent way to secure this information protects the public interest.
The questionnaire we adopted is from the American Institute of Architects, so it is widely accepted. Polk County has used it since 1999.
While it does not get at everything I would like for example, "Does the contractor pay benefits to its workers?" and "What is the contractor's OSHA record?" I think this prequalification questionnaire is an excellent step.
Now that the AIA questionnaire has been adopted as County policy, it will be used in every situation where a bid is required.
The Obermann Center for Advanced Studies will host a panel discussion on the "State of Labor in the Global Economy" on Monday, Nov. 19, at 7 pm at the Iowa City Public Library.
This discussion will focus on the economic, social, legal, and ethical implications resulting from massive movements of people and production worldwide. Call 335-4360 for more info.
This is an interesting tidbit - have you ever looked closely at a map of Johnson County? Way over on the far west side of the county, between Hardin and Washington Townships, there is a small notch. Ever notice it? Several other counties have the same phenomenon.
I have long wondered about this, and now, thanks to the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC), I have an answer.
In Iowa, counties are divided into six square mile townships that are further divided into one square mile sections. These are regularly arranged across the state.
But since the Earth is a sphere, and narrower at the top and bottom, it cannot be divided precisely into six-mile squares. So over time, government officials had to adjust the six-mile squares every so often. The result is the notch you see, also known as a correction line. (The Iowa town of Correctionville got its name from this phenomenon.)
Sunday, November 18 from 9:30 to 1:00 is the annual Alternative Gift Market at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. This market offers shoppers the opportunity to support local agencies like Table to Table, Free Med, Shelter House, and many more. In addition, you can buy gifts as diverse as mosquito nets in Africa, clean water projects in South America, and women¹s literacy in Afghanistan. The prices vary, but overall remain relatively cheap. It is truly amazing to see what $5 can do in an impoverished part of the world.
Our family now buys most of our gifts at this event every year. Not only does shopping at the Alternative Market help the greater good; we have found that the people on behalf of whom the gifts are given really like the idea.
My elderly grandmothers no longer thrill at the prospect of a bottle of perfume or a new pair of slippers. But they really enjoy reading about a little girl thousands of miles away who got some benefit in their name. It seems to get right to the heart of what Christianity and Christmas are all about.
DID YOU KNOW? Iowa averages 35 inches of rainfall every year.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website - www.johnson-county.com.
"Sullivan's Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod @ 12:30 AM
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