SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 29, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/24/08
Flood relief web sites are now online. I am very proud of Johnson County’s site. It is easy to use and has lots of helpful information:
http://www.johnson-county.com/flood.shtml.
It is a cliché, but I believe it was proven true over the past couple of weeks: tragedies bring out both the best and the worst in people.
The best was so easily apparent – thousands of volunteers sandbagging, moving things, and just pitching in.
Then there were the State, County, and Municipal employees – heroes one and all. These employees went above and beyond time and again, all with no complaints.
Most of these folks are members of unions… PPME and AFSCME at the County. Remember that next time someone tries to convince you how union employees are lazy and cannot be trusted.
Disaster prevention, response, and the beginnings of recovery were handled masterfully by our engineers, administrators, and emergency personnel.
On the flip side, we all need a bit more patience. We all suffered losses of differing magnitudes. We all deserve respect and understanding. We all want things to return to normal tomorrow, but that will not happen.
The worst of the worst are the scam artists. They are already in town, and already preying upon vulnerable residents. Please do not give out social security or bank account numbers, and never pre-pay for work. There is no such thing as a “FEMA approved” contractor; check everyone out thoroughly.
In many cases, restraint is the proper course of action. Unfortunately, we usually fail to recognize people for things they do NOT do.
Two recent local examples: Barack Obama cancelled a trip to CR due to the flooding, and North Liberty cancelled its annual Fun Days celebration. Both events COULD have taken place, and both likely would have been successes. But in both cases, organizers made the difficult but wise choice to cancel. Kudos!
I had a couple real ideological tests last week. I have been a member of the ACLU for about 20 years, ever since being introduced to the organization by my friend Dave Leshtz. I really respect the way the ACLU defends the Constitution.
So here I was last week, authorizing several Mandatory Evacuations, and instituting a Mandatory Curfew. To the best of my knowledge, both are unprecedented in Johnson County, and both gave me pause.
I believe strongly in individual rights, particularly those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. The idea of and taking away civil liberties from my fellow citizens was a difficult decision; frankly, I never would have imagined myself in this position!
That was not the only test. Twice we decided that the Board of Supervisors needed to hold emergency meetings, each done without the usual notification. (Minutes are available on the website.)
This also goes against my core belief in open government. I do feel the meetings were necessary, particularly because we were concerned that conditions might have been even worse.
So, I am curious as to what you think. I was forced to make some difficult decisions. Did I do the right thing?
As if there were not enough sad news lately… Iowa City lost a wonderful community member this week with the passing of former City Councilor Dee Norton.
While many people will recall Dee for his good work in politics, I will remember him fondly for two other things:
First, I remember Dee for all the games of noontime basketball we used to play. When I first joined in during the mid 1980s, Dee was already well past the age where he could join the AARP. To top it off, Dee was neither tall nor quick. Despite his physical shortcomings, Dee was a real joy to play with. He hustled and played very smart, but he was known primarily for his wonderful, self-deprecating humor. Dee was an absolute joy to be around.
Secondly, I recall listening to Dee and his wife Carrie entertaining the crowd by singing, “I Remember It Well” at several Senior Dining sites. The song was the perfect vehicle for the self-deprecating humor I mentioned earlier. Neater still - watching him it was clear that after many years, he was still madly in love with his wife.
But it is not politics (and certainly neither basketball nor singing) that will define Dee’s legacy. That legacy is the outstanding parks and trails that Iowa City enjoys today. As Chair of the IC Parks & Rec, Dee spearheaded the bond issue that created Hickory Hill, Mercer, Willow Creek, and Terrill Mill. Can you imagine Iowa City without these places?
Dee was still doing it just prior to his passing. Dee and his wife Carrie once again demonstrated their passion for the City’s park system with a financial donation to Friends of Hickory Hill Park that helped purchase the 16-acre Dickens Preserve that will be added to the park.
It strikes me that a nice tribute to Dee Norton would be the passage of the Conservation Bond issue this November 4. I think he would have liked that.
DID YOU KNOW? US libraries had over 1.3 billion visitors last 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.
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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 @ 7:02 PM
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