SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
April 22, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 4/22/08
Today is Earth Day! I am very proud of the environmental steps that the Johnson County Board of Supervisors has taken in my three years and 4 months on the Board.
Johnson County became the first Sierra Club Cool County in Iowa. We have joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), and we are in the process of measuring our baseline carbon footprint. Two staff people, one in P&Z and one in Facilities, have environmental goals near the top of their to-do lists. Staff people are attending the national ICLEI conference, and one has become LEED certified. The new Health & Human Services Building will be LEED certified, likely at the Silver level.
We adopted a Sensitive Areas Ordinance, the first County in Iowa to do so. The Land Use Plan emphasizes infill and the preservation of agricultural and environmentally sensitive land. Johnson County created a Trails Advisory Committee, and for the first time put dedicated funding for trails in the budget.
Funding for Conservation Department has increased, and the Conservation Board has a $20 million land preservation initiative on the November ballot.
These things didn’t just happen, by the way. Each thing happened since I joined the Board. Each thing mentioned above was met with resistance from one source if not several. It requires leadership to get things like these accomplished.
It might seem self-serving to bring this up. It is. I am running for reelection, and I am running for reelection on a record of accomplishment where environmental issues are concerned.
Happy Earth Day!
A can’t-miss Earth Day event is Earthapalooza, 6-9 PM on April 22 at the Iowa City Public Library. This event will highlight the work of 12 local environmental groups, and features a showing of Global Warming: Signs and Science. In addition, Johnson County will be recognized for our environmental good works. Sponsored by the Sierra Club, I-Renew, and the Iowa Global Warming Campaign.
I attended the presentation Friday by the Iowa DOT and Amtrak on the feasibility of passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City.
I have written in the past about my advocacy for passenger rail service. Nothing has changed! Passenger rail is an old idea whose time has come again.
Critics will complain that passenger rail is “subsidized”. Friends, there are few things on this planet subsidized to a greater extent that the oil business. That includes autos, roads… the whole bit. Subsidies do not even begin to describe it!
It is wonderful to see the DOT actively pursuing this! I think this is a GREAT idea, and I applaud the good work of everyone involved.
“MY VISION FOR REGIONAL SERVICES FOR THE JOHNSON COUNTY AREA” - A talk by CHUCK PETERS, President of The Gazette Company. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
With Responses from John Yapp, Executive Director, Johnson County Council of Governments; Larry Meyers, Johnson County Board of Supervisors; Dean Wheatley, City Planner, City of North Liberty; Mitch Gross, Coralville City Council; Matt Hayek, Iowa City City Council.
Wednesday April 23, 2008, 7 PM @ North Liberty Community Center
Room C.
The University of Iowa’s 30th Annual Riverfest is this Saturday and Sunday, April 25 & 26. For details, see: http://www.uiowa.edu/~rivrfest/
In addition, the River Run 5K, a charity event whose beneficiary is Uptown Bill’s Small Mall, has a theme this year of, "Run for Thrill, Run for Bill". To sign up, email www.uiowa.edu/~riverrun/
DID YOU KNOW? Iowa has the nation’s WORST record in terms of disproportionate minority confinement. In Iowa, African Americans are jailed and in prison at a rate 14 times their numbers as a percentage of the population.
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.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:31 PM
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