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rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
August 31, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/2/08 The annual United Way campaign kicks off again this Wednesday. I have said it many times before, but it bears repeating: I am a big supporter of the work done by the local United Way agencies. It is often said that the true measure of a society is how it treats those with the most need. Locally, one of the key ways we help those in need is through the work of our United Way agencies. Stop and think about it for a moment. Imagine no UAY, Goodwill, Neighborhood Centers, DVIP, Elder Services, Shelter House, Free Med, Crisis Center, IC Hospice, Table to Table, HACAP, The Arc and all the rest. Can you imagine living in Johnson County without these agencies? These agencies make our community a great place to live. The agencies are doing their part. Now you need to do yours. If you do not donate, start this year. Just give something. It is easy, and actually feels good. If you already donate, increase your giving by 5 to 10%. Look, I HATE it when people talk the talk without walking the walk. So I will do some self-disclosure here. Between the two of us, Melissa and I earn right at $96,000 for our family of 5. We are blessed, and we know that. Last year, we gave about $2700 to the United Way. My goal for this year is $3000. That is not meant to be a challenge, but hopefully it will get you thinking. We can do it – so can you! The Flood of 2008 really demonstrated the value of the local United Way. Victims turned to the United Way for help; volunteers turned to the United Way as a point of coordination. In our time of crisis, the United Way was there. For more information on the United Way campaign, call 338-7823 or visit the website: http://www.unitedwayjc.org/ As you may recall, Johnson County donated $75,000 to help begin the United Way Flood Relief Fund. Many people have already been helped by these funds. Here are some statistics for services provided from June 16 to August 7: Services were provided to 296 households with 794 total people, including 287 children. $111,282 has been spent through August 7, most of it on rent and/or security deposits, though money has been used for over a dozen purposes. I am sure there are many more needs, and I am sure that both Johnson County and the United Way will be there to help. The recent question of Wal-Mart expansion in Iowa City has raised several important issues. One that every person ought to recognize is that Wal-Mart is the WORST corporate citizen in the US, and one of the worst in the world. Racism? The worst. Sexism? The worst. Wage and hour violations? The worst. Crushing American (and Iowan) manufacturers? The worst. Costing American (and Iowan) jobs? The worst. Contributing to the uninsured and underinsured? The worst. Pushing corporate responsibility to public bodies? The worst? Contributing to America’s trade imbalance with China? The worst. Fighting against living wages and even the minimum wage? The worst. Supporting slavery? That’s right – SLAVERY! The worst. Talk all you want about this being a global issue, not a local one. That is an easy way to take no responsibility. Here is the biggest myth of all – Wal-Mart does NOT help the poor. Sure, the poor may save $100 a year on groceries by shopping there. But that $100 savings comes at a cost far greater than $100. Wages are driven down across the US by Wal-Mart’s greed with suppliers. Many of the good jobs the poor could have had are gone because of Wal-Mart. Those jobs have moved to China. Just ask folks in Centerville, Iowa – former home of Rubbermaid. Go on all you want about how this is America, and you can shop wherever you want. That is true. You can shop wherever you want. So do the right thing, or aid the worst corporate citizen in the US. Sit back and allow children in Asia to be sold into slavery, or speak out. The choice is yours. New from our friends at the Iowa Policy Project (IPP): The number of uninsured Iowans grew by one-third in seven years, while Iowan’s median income showed slight improvement in 2007 and the poverty rate remained high. These figures, particularly on health insurance, illustrate why Iowans may feel insecure about their economic situations. To see the full report, go to: >
The Johnson County Conservation Department is once again holding controlled deer hunts. See
http://www.johnson-county.com/conservation/pdf/DeerHunt.pdf
for more information.
DID YOU KNOW? The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital ranks in the top twenty overall children’s hospitals in the US. Every other hospital on the list is in a major metropolitan area.
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.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
August 24, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/26/08
Happy Labor Day next Monday! I love Labor Day. Every Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day we set aside time to recall the folks whose service has given us our freedom. I have long felt we need to treat Labor Day in a similar fashion.
Please take a moment this Labor Day to remember the people who fought (and often died) to give us child labor laws, 40 hour weeks, weekends, overtime, vacations, the minimum wage, sick leave, parental leave, OSHA, employment nondiscrimination, pensions, Social Security, health insurance, and so much more.
Working people continue to be under attack from wealthy interests. Look at Agriprocessors in Postville, where management committed OSHA violations, wage & hour violations, child labor violations, and other heinous acts. These situations occur when the balance of power shifts too far in the direction of management.
And yes, the balance of power has shifted too far. Agriprocessors is again a perfect example. Human beings who want to work hard to better their lot are criminalized for crossing international borders. Meanwhile, corporations move factories to Mexico and China, outsource customer service to India, and tuck their earnings into offshore tax havens. Everything capital does is good international business; anything labor does is illegal immigration.
On another Labor matter, remember all the heroes during the flood? Remember all those cops, truck drivers, EMTs, heavy equipment operators, nurses, and others? A union represents virtually every one. Do not buy the rhetoric of those who bash unions… during the floods, you saw with your own eyes what union people do.
Unions continue to provide the best protection working people can have. I feel as though I have accomplished some good things as a member of the Board of Supervisors. One of the accomplishments of which I am most proud is starting an employee appreciation lunch every year the week before Labor Day. Johnson County employees deserve much more, but this is one extra opportunity to say thank you.
Trust me – the average person has nothing to fear from unions. We all benefit when folks have safe and healthy workplaces. We all benefit when workers get adequate rest. We all benefit when workers receive good training. We all benefit when folks earn a living wage and have health insurance. Unions help improve the quality of life for all of us.
I am proud to be a member of Local 716 of the American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the Iowa City Federation of Labor. Happy Labor Day!
My family and friends at Sutliff want to remind everyone that the Sutliff Bridge Authority is holding its annual Labor Day street dance Sunday, August 31 from 1-5 PM. Music will be provided by the Backwater Band; admission is $5. You can always count on Sutliff for food, drink, music, raffles, and lots of raucous fun!
In the wake of the recent flood damage, there has never been a more important time to support the SBA! By the way, if you cannot make it to the street dance, you can still donate. A Sutliff Bridge Memorial Fund has been established at both the Solon State Bank and all Bridge Community Bank locations.
GO HAWKS! The 2008 version of the Iowa Football team kicks off Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
I love everything Hawkeye – particularly Hawkeye Football. I grew up listening to the Hawks on AM radio, going to home games with Dad during the bad old days of the early ‘70s. Fast forward to today – Hawkeye games are our big social events of the year. We get together with some of our best friends, and we share food, drink, stories, and fun. There is nothing I enjoy more.
I am cautiously optimistic about this season. It is clear that there is a thin line between great success and mediocrity. A couple injuries, a couple bad bounces, and a team can go from 10-2 to 6-6, or vice versa. I think the defense will be pretty good, and they may need to be. If the offense develops, I think the Hawks will be bowl bound.
More importantly, I have great faith in the Athletic Department and their ability to clean up the off-field mess. I believe them when they say they are taking steps to stop the law breaking. I know they want to do the right thing, and I believe they will. I remain proud to be a Hawkeye! GO HAWKS!
A buddy of mine recently complained that I was “being a little tough on the landlords.” I think my friend has a legitimate point; I need to clarify a couple positions.
First, clearly most landlords in Johnson County are good folks who play by the rules. The bulk of them work hard to make sure that the properties they own are safe and attractive. Landlords provide a huge chunk of our property tax base. Obviously, a few bad apples can unfairly tarnish the reputation of a lot of good people.
Secondly, I frequently write about taxes. That is because tax policy is integral to social and economic justice. When we are talking about taxes, there are numerous considerations. One is regressivity. When we consider regressivity, we see clearly that sales taxes are worse for the poor than are property taxes. Landlords may feel picked on when I point this out. The bigger issue, however, is that we need to place more emphasis on income taxes. That ensures that a property owner who is doing well pays more than a property owner who is struggling. It is fairer for both those who own property and those who do not.
Landlords are like any other group – some are great, some are not. (Todd, you are the best! J) I’ll have to get rid of my cassette that contains the Dead Kennedys’ “Let’s Lynch the Landlord”.
DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County taxpayers pay 200 million in property taxes to various taxing authorities.
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.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
August 17, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/19/08
I begin this edition of Salvos with birthday wishes for two very important people – my wife Melissa Fath on August 17, and my son BJ Sullivan on August 22.
Melissa is simply amazing. She is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for; because of this, I often neglect to mention her scientific and volunteer work. Melissa is an amazing person. I am truly blessed.
BJ is our baby, but he is quickly growing into a young man. I am so proud of him; he really is a great kid. No one in my life has taught me more.
Happy Birthday, guys! I love you!
You may notice some additional white space in Salvos beginning this week. This is an attempt to make it easier to read. Please let me know if you do not feel this is a positive change!
The Landlocked Film Festival runs August 21-24 in downtown Iowa City. The least-appreciated piece of Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts, the Landlocked Film festival has really come into its own. Melissa and I partook of this last year, and we REALLY enjoyed ourselves! Admission is free – you simply must check this out!
A Taste of India - India Bazaar will be held Saturday, August 23 from 11 AM – 4 PM at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Building C. This event will include food, arts, crafts, and henna painting. Even better - this event is a fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic!
The Board of Supervisors recently discussed the idea of putting off tax collections until June of 2009. I think this is a very bad idea. In addition, I am frustrated with the way in which this discussion came about. Here are a few reasons why I feel this way:
1. I do not believe the Board should have discussed this without first finding out if it is even legal. It makes the Board look foolish when we do not do our homework.
2. Like businesses, local School districts, cities, and the County have to be concerned with cash flow. Any businessperson will tell you that income and expenses do not tell the whole story – cash flow is vital to the operation of any entity.
3. The Board can frequently be heard to complain when other entities make decisions that impact the County. Yet in this matter of extreme significance, whoever put it on the agenda made no effort to contact other affected taxing bodies. The County just lost a great deal of moral authority where issues of intergovernmental communication are concerned.
4. Worse yet, Iowa City specifically requested that Johnson County not pursue this course of action with the Iowa City portion of the tax bill. Yet the Board is still considering this option. I would be extremely upset if I were a member of the IC City Council.
5. The Board held this discussion before adequate research could be done. What would be the impacts of delaying tax payments on each taxing body? How much money are we talking about? Shouldn’t we know these impacts before we discuss any plan to delay? First do no harm!
6. Wanting to help flood victims is admirable. But budgetary recklessness is not. If people pay their taxes, local governments can try to target some help to those who need it. If people delay paying taxes, local governments have no resources they can use to help flood victims. Flood relief was already on the agenda that night – why the need for this unworkable scheme?
7. Many taxes could not be delayed even if we tried. Many properties have mortgages. While some mortgage holders are offering their own grace periods, most are going to require that taxes be paid, regardless of any plan Johnson County puts forth.
8. The process for putting items on the Board agendas typically involves the Chair. In this case, I was not informed of this late addition to the agenda until the day the agenda was posted.
9. Look – I like it when people introduce new concepts. We need arenas where elected officials can feel unafraid to float ideas, raise questions and make suggestions. I also feel that we need to have the confidence of the public – I want them to know that their elected officials are thorough and do the necessary homework. Many of the questions that were asked Thursday could have been researched prior to the meeting.
10. Opposing this plan does NOT mean one opposes aid to victims of the flood. Johnson County can still help flood victims - it already has. I am confident we’ll do even more. This is an important topic – far too important to use the situation as a political tool. I simply hope we have the political courage and common sense to do things the right way.
What is your opinion? I’d like to know!
Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove holds its annual Pork Day on Sunday, August 24. This is a neat event and a great meal– I urge everyone to give Cosgrove a look!
DID YOU KNOW? Citizens for Tax Justice has lots of information on tax fairness at their website - http://www.ctj.org/.
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.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
August 10, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/12/08
Difficult to believe, but school begins in the ICCSD on Monday, August 18. Drive carefully!
Speaking of back to school, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) is sponsoring their annual Little Red Schoolhouse drive.
Approximately 170 children of all ages should qualify for assistance this year, which means each of them is provided with a backpack, school supplies, socks and underwear. Eligible children need to have been either homeless within the last three months, living in transitional housing, or have been referred by the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, MECCA, or STAR.
Thirteen little red schoolhouses have been set up in the community to collect school supplies. Locations include: all U of I Community Credit Unions; Waterfront Hy Vee; Big K Mart; Hawkeye Harley Davidson; Old Capitol Mall; Sycamore Mall; Iowa City Public Library; New Pioneer Coop in Coralville; and Blimpies on Rochester Ave in Iowa City.
Please do your part to fill up those little red schoolhouses!
Congratulations to Clear Creek Amana on the opening of North Bend Elementary in North Liberty! CCA was in desperate need of a new elementary; I think you’ll find this facility to be just what the doctor ordered!
The Lone Tree Fall Festival runs this Saturday and Sunday, August 16 & 17. I urge you to join the fine folks of Lone Tree for what is always a good time!
I have not weighed in on jail issues in quite some time, so I thought I would offer my opinion on a few things.
First, some background: The current jail was built in 1981 to house 46 residents, which was inadequate from the start. It also was not built with sufficient footings to expand vertically. The surrounding land is a high priority for the UI, so it is not available. Double bunking allowed the jail to house 92 inmates, but it does so neither adequately nor comfortably. This move also cost the jail all available space for treatment, exercise, small groups, visitations, worship, and the like.
Fast forward to the present. The jail housed 7,000 people in 2007. The average daily population in 2007 was about 126. That means on an average day, 30-40 inmates get shipped to other counties. That led to $700,000 in expenses in 2007. So far in 2008, as many as 75 inmates have been housed outside; the cost this year is running about $100,000 per month. (Flooding at the Linn County Jail may cause this figure to go even higher.)
Other counties charge between $55 and $70 per day to house each prisoner. Add in transportation costs, and it runs roughly $75/day to house an inmate out of county. Interestingly, it also costs roughly $75/day to house inmates in our own jail. While exact figures are extremely difficult to nail down in either instance, it is clear that the costs are very close.
Problems exist with the current arrangements, however. First, transporting prisoners is a logistical nightmare. They need to appear in court frequently, and also have a right to visitors, which is hard if they are in Newton. That is another problem – some of the nearby jails are filling up. That means we are forced to transport many prisoners farther away - to Newton, for example. That adds a great deal to the cost. Secondly, there is not adequate room for exercise, study, religious services, or classes. These are all part of a humane and rehabilitative system for housing inmates. Finally, the current jail is also less than ideal for the deputies that work there; they are more at risk than we would like.
One of the clear messages from the failed 2000 referendum was that the public expected alternatives to incarceration. This is an area where Sheriff Pulkrabek and his staff have excelled. Most of the alternatives that could be used are already in place. The public has gotten what they asked for, and the results have been very positive. There are still a few more measures that can be taken, and I expect the County will institute those soon. Any additional alternatives would rest solely with the judiciary.
While positive, the results have not alleviated the overcrowding to the extent we had hoped. Alternatives eliminate an average of a few inmates per day, but when the average daily population is 126, that total is not a big enough impact to change the big picture. The biggest obstacle to more alternatives is, ironically, a lack of space.
The other related issue that must not be ignored is the courthouse. The courthouse is just as crowded as the jail, and courthouse overcrowding leads to inmates waiting for court dates, thereby spending more days in jail. In addition, there are serious security issues at the current courthouse. Obviously, the current facility is on the National Register of Historic Places, so it cannot be altered too dramatically. The architecture severely limits the ability to utilize the existing building.
This leads us to another issue. In order to build a state-of-the-art jail, with lots of room for future expansion, the Board would need to go out where there is some space. If we were to do that, however, we would be separating the jail and courthouse, which leads to several operational inefficiencies. It also might maroon people who are being released out in the middle of nowhere. On the other hand, we could move both the jail and courthouse, building a single new facility. (Story County did just that.) But moving both the jail and courthouse out somewhere would likely lead to several attorney’s offices leaving downtown to be closer to the jail/courthouse. I am not exaggerating when I say this would be a devastating blow to downtown Iowa City. Deciding if the jail and courthouse remain in close proximity, and defining close proximity, is a very key issue.
The Board is currently considering 5-6 sites for new facilities. (The current jail site; the Federal Building lot south of the current Courthouse; the city block where the old A&P (now WSUI/KSUI) sits; the National Guard Armory building; 25 or so of the 155 acres at the County Poor Farm; and 20 acres of land at the intersection of old & new 218.)
The Board recently voted to purchase 3 old houses from the City of Iowa City that sit across Capitol Street from the current jail. This does NOT mean the Board has selected this as a future site; we felt it prudent to buy them while they were on the market, however.
The selection of a site will influence the operational costs; a building that is 1-2 stories with good lines of sight will cost less to staff than a four-story building. Building a jail separate from a courthouse will add transportation costs. While no decisions have been made, it seemed prudent to review all these sites for the cost of land acquisition, land development, and operations.
I view the jail situation as being similar to private home ownership. If the cost of renting exceeds the cost of a mortgage, you probably ought to consider buying. Obviously, there are other factors, but if trends continue, Johnson County is certainly getting close to paying more to house prisoners elsewhere than it might cost to build and operate a new facility. The key will be not just the cost of erecting a new building, but the costs of operating said building.
The Board is expecting a report from our consultant (the Durrant Group) on September 3. The Board and/or Durrant will be doing some sessions to get public feedback shortly after this report has been reviewed; I encourage everyone to attend!
As you can see, there are many variables to be considered. There are also plenty of people with plenty of opinions on this. Obviously, attorneys and law enforcement officers care what happens. So do social justice advocates. We are often reminded that the US leads the world in the percentage of people incarcerated, and that Iowa is among the very worst when it comes to disproportionate minority confinement. We need to do our part locally to ensure that only those people who are a threat to others are incarcerated. We have not only a financial obligation, but more importantly, a moral obligation to limit unnecessary jail stays.
Some would have you believe that jail overcrowding is the biggest crisis facing Johnson County. Others would have you believe that things are just fine. In my opinion, neither of those opinions is correct.
The bottom line is, most residents use neither the jail nor the courthouse. For most residents of Johnson County, the jail and courthouse are simply expenses. So any proposal to address the overcrowding at either or both buildings will simply have to focus on the costs. I think the public will be willing to build a facility if it saves money in the long run; I am not sure they will spend the money if it will cost more.
I need to do much more to engage the public on this complex topic. So what do you think? I would like to know!
DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County was founded in 1838, while Iowa was still a US territory.
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.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
August 3, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/5/08
I am very busy at work. Melissa is busy with experiments, writing papers, and serving as an Elder at church. The kids are trying to squeeze in some late summer fun, but preparations for school have begun. The garden is in full bloom, and tomatoes and cucumbers abound. Even though August has arrived, the Cubs keep us interested. A fall full of politics is on the horizon. Life is full, but it is very good. Right?
Life is good. For most of us. Despite the flooding, most people in Johnson County have a roof overhead and food to eat. Gas prices are high, but we suck it up and adapt. Our collective attention span is short. There are plenty of things on our minds.
So when was the last time you thought about the war in Iraq? I know it ruins the good summer vibe to bring this up, but the US continues to be involved in an illegal war. The US invaded a sovereign nation, without provocation, and continues to occupy that country. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and almost 5,000 US troops have died as a result. Over a million Iraqis are refugees. Thousands of US soldiers return to the US with PTSD and other difficulties. In the process, the US has resorted to torture, and placed new and far-reaching limitations on our civil liberties. Countries around the world have lost respect for the US. The war is the most expensive in US history, costing $600 billion. As a result of all of this, our war in Afghanistan is faltering, al-Qaeda has grown in strength, and US citizens are less safe.
I am not saying to forget the floods. I am not saying forget your work or family. I am not saying forget having any summer fun.
I simply want to remind everyone that we continue to be involved in a terrible foreign policy boondoggle. There are no legal goals for this war, so there are no real guages of success. Our soldiers serve admirably, but there is no way to “win” this illegal war. The US could kill every living organism in Iraq. Would that be a victory? People like John McCain, who led us to this illegal war, now say we must not end it lest we “surrender” or “lose”. He is lying. We lost the day we lost our moral compass. Leaving an illegal war that we began is the only moral thing to do. We need to end the illegal war in Iraq before we do more harm.
Please do not forget the war in Iraq. Especially when you go to the voting booth.
Taxpayers in Johnson County, Iowa will pay $191.3 million for total Iraq war spending approved to date. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:
57,241 People with Health Care for One Year OR
215,208 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year OR
4,572 Public Safety Officers for One year OR
31,176 Scholarships for University Students for One Year OR
2,380 Affordable Housing Units OR
4,282 Elementary School Teachers for One Year.
That is correct - those figures are the cost for Johnson County alone!
(Source: Costofwar.com)
The Johnson County Historical Society is holding it’s annual historic barn tour Saturday, August 16 from 9-1:30. To RSVP, call 351-5738.
Beginning on Monday August 4th, Congressman Loebsack will host Flood Assistance Meetings throughout the Second Congressional District to provide individuals, small business owners, and farmers with one-on-one help in applying for federal and state flood assistance.
During these meetings, Congressman Loebsack will meet individually with residents affected by the floods to cut through bureaucratic red tape and assist them in applying for state and federal disaster relief. Residents who suffered losses due to the floods are encouraged to attend the Loebsack Flood Assistance Meeting, or to contact his office toll-free at 1-866-914-IOWA (4692) for assistance.
Johnson County meetings are Tuesday, August 5, 9:30 – 10:30 AM at the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and 11:00 – 12:00 at the Iowa City Public Library.
ToGather Together is a new grassroots network formed to encourage partnerships among local communities of faith, service organizations, businesses and neighborhood elementary and junior high schools throughout Johnson County.
ToGather Together will provide new school supplies and new/gently used clothing for the approximately 3000 students who are in need of such assistance in Johnson County.
They are asking for financial contributions, donations of new school supplies and new and gently-used clothing, sizes pre-school to adult (appropriate for young adults).
Clothing distributions will take place on Saturday, August 9th at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Coralville United Methodist Church and North Liberty United Methodist Church from 9:00 – 11:00 AM.
School supplies will be distributed at each school according to each individual school’s plans.
All donations of supplies and clothing can be dropped off by August 7th at any HyVee location in marked collection boxes.
Financial contributions can be mailed to ToGather Together c/o Neighborhood Centers, P.O. Box 2491, Iowa City, IA 52244, with checks made out to “ToGather Together”. Contributions are tax deductible.
To find out more about ToGather Together, browse the link on the Neighborhood Centers’ webpage, www.ncjc.org or contact Karrie Craig at thecraigfamily@mchsi.com or 339-9403.
DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County has $10 billion in taxable property. This does not include government property (the UI, Coralville Reservoir, etc.), churches, or nonprofits.
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.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
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