Rod Sullivan, Supervisor, Johnson County, Iowa

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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

December 23, 2011

Sullivan’s Salvos 12/20/11




In this edition:

*Merry Christmas!
*Serving as Chair
*Running For Reelection
*Bridge Data
*Congrats North Liberty!
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
*Did You Know?




*Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to those of you that celebrate it. Happy Holidays to the rest. I hope you have a safe and fulfilling holiday.




*Serving as Chair
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has a tradition of rotating the position of Board Chair. Each year, a different member of the Board takes over as of the first meeting of the year.

Though it is basically a formality, the Board still votes to select its leader. There have been a couple notable instances when the “rotation” did not happen. Dick Myers and Joe Bolkcom, who both went on to serve notable careers in higher office, were both passed over by their peers.

In some counties, the Chair rotates amongst the political party in charge. In Polk County, for example, the three Democrats rotate the role of Chair, effectively shutting out the GOP. In Muscatine County, the GOP used to do the same thing to Democratic Supervisors. In other counties, one individual has held the role of Chair for decades. So there is no set method other than holding the election.

Personally, I do not see any reason to shut anyone out. While it can get cumbersome, we have always operated on the premise that three members (a majority) of the Board can put anything they wish on the agenda, even over the objection of the Chair.

Additionally, individual Board members can impact the agenda without being Chair. I am proud of the fact that at my suggestion, agendas were changed to allow public discussion at both the beginning and end of each meeting. When I first started, public discussion was only at the end of the agenda. So if you showed up for a 5:30 PM meeting, you might not get to raise your issue until 9 PM. That was not friendly toward the public. But when I brought it up, others were happy to oblige.

To me, the biggest job of the Chair is ensuring that meetings run smoothly. The public deserves efficiency and effectiveness. A well-run meeting can also save hours of staff time – and that means money!

I am in line to serve as the Chair for 2012. I am looking forward to serving in that capacity, and I am happy to take your suggestions for improving Board meetings.




*Running For Reelection
Salvos readers, I have decided to seek reelection to the Board of Supervisors. Below is the press release I just sent out.

Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan announced today that he will seek reelection to a third term. Sullivan pointed to several accomplishments during his time in office. Since Sullivan joined the Board, Johnson County has:

• Successfully dealt with flood response and recovery;
• Passed a Human Rights Ordinance, the first County in Iowa to do so;
• Passed a Sensitive Areas Ordinance, the first County in Iowa to do so;
• Signed on to the Cool Counties initiative, the first County in Iowa to do so;
• Created a Livable Community for Seniors, the first County in Iowa to do so;
• Created a Trails Committee and for the first time put trails in the budget;
• Instituted a highly successful Earned Income Tax Credit program;
• Established a Buy Local policy;
• Passed a Wind Energy Ordinance;
• Added rural tornado sirens.

Sullivan has been involved with numerous organizations, including AFT Local 716; Sierra Club; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents; IC Area Chamber; UNESCO City of Literature; Emergency Management Commission; Convention and Visitors Bureau; Johnson Co. Council of Governments; Chair of the Iowa Assoc. of Counties Human Services Committee; United Way of Johnson Co.; and Community Foundation of Johnson Co.

Sullivan’s top campaign issues for a third term are:
*Working with cities for sensible TIF usage;
*improving rural housing conditions; and
*increased support for Human Services.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege serving as a Johnson County Supervisor,” Sullivan said. “We have accomplished some good things, but we can do so much more. I want to continue to push Johnson County to be the best it can be.”

Sullivan can be contacted at 319-354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. He has a website at rodsullivan.org.




*Bridge Data
Here is some very interesting data on bridges, courtesy of the Johnson County Engineer’s Office:

• There are over 24,700 bridges in Iowa, which is in the top 5 in the US.

• 223 of those bridges are in Johnson County. (This refers to bridges under County jurisdiction; that means a bridge owned by the State, or Tiffin, or Lone Tree, etc. is not included.)

• The 223 bridges are actually 165 bridges and 58 extra long culverts.

• Of the 223, 29 (13%) are structurally deficient. That puts Johnson County right in line with the national average (13%), but ahead of Iowa as a whole (22%).

• 35% of our bridges are 30-50 years old; 10% are 50-70; and 21% are over 70 years old.

It is important to note that structurally deficient does not mean unsafe. It means the bridge is required to have a weight limit, and it needs repair sooner rather than later.

If a bridge scores low enough, it is automatically closed. We have two of those – both on Level B roads, and both already closed.




*Congrats North Liberty!
North Liberty is prominently featured in the November issue of American City & County magazine.

Reporters with the magazine interview North Liberty officials about their move from paper packets to tablet computers. The article includes a photo, and I can make out Mayor Salm and Councilors Chipman and Kuhl!

We had a joint meeting in North Liberty a few months ago, and saw the tablets in action. Johnson County followed suit with tablets a few months later. I can attest, we are now saving thousands of sheets of paper!

Congrats again to North Liberty for blazing a trail, and being recognized for doing so!




*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
Your next edition of Salvos will feature our annual year-end awards – the Salvos Salutes! Check back next week to see who among your friends and neighbors gets honored with these prestigious awards!




*DID YOU KNOW? The use of “Xmas” as shorthand for Christmas comes from the Greek “Xristos”, which means Christ.


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

posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:44 PM  0 Comments

Sullivan’s Salvos 12/27/11




In this edition:

*Happy Hanukah!
*Happy New Year!
*Lead or Get Out of the Way!
*Salvos Salutes!
*Did You Know?




*Happy Hanukah!
A very Happy Hanukah to all my Jewish friends and neighbors.




*Happy New Year!
I want to sincerely thank you for reading Salvos throughout the year. I hope 2012 is a great year for you and yours.




*Lead or Get Out of the Way!
Unfortunately, we live in a world where elected officials are praised for “getting along” rather than addressing the issues at hand. We celebrate “civility” at the expense of results.

Let’s stop all the excuses for doing NOTHING. Let’s have just a tiny bit of political courage for once.

If you are elected, you are elected to lead. Make a decision, right or wrong. If you refuse to decide, then step down and let somebody else take a shot.

Alright. That is off my chest. Almost. Damn it, public – hold these people accountable! They work for you. Demand better!




*Salvos Salutes!
2011 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos Salute. A few observations:

* This is the sixth annual set of awards, and there are always more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a great County!

* The focus is on Johnson County. While it is certainly worth noting the heroism of someone like Sal Guinta, we have everyday heroes right here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.

* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the question.

* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, and look out for the less fortunate.

Without further adieu, your 2011 Salvos Salutes go to:

John Bacon: The Principal at City High has improved the attitude at that school, and is doing a great job of explaining that City High is a wonderful place. His enthusiasm is infectious, and he really cares. The ICCSD has screwed some things up in recent years, but hiring Mr. Bacon was a masterstroke!


Larry Wilson: Larry has always been a great community volunteer, including lots of volunteerism benefitting Johnson County. After retiring from the UI, Larry put his years of expertise toward the new Justice Center. I think the County is going to put forth a very good Justice Center proposal. When we do, Larry Wilson will deserve much of the credit.


Dorothy Whiston: The newly installed Pastor at First Baptist Church, Dorothy has led the Soul Friends Ministry for several years. That organization does a great job of ministering to families affected by the criminal justice system. Lately, Dorothy has done fantastic work addressing the systemic racism that exists here in Johnson County. This is an important but difficult topic, and Dorothy has tackled it courageously.


Gene Mohling: The Iowa State University Extension Office provides a myriad of service in Johnson County. From gardening to budgeting to childcare to raising hogs – if you need info, Extension is there. Leading the charge is Gene Mohling, who does a great job bringing the resources of ISU to the people of Johnson County.


Roger Lusala: The Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) is booming! Some have pointedly asked – “Can MYEP really do all this and do it well?” If the Executive Director of the agency is any indication, then the answer is yes, they can! What’s more, the guy is a father to 5 daughters under 12! Go, Roger!


Gerald & Joan Morgan: From serving as Santa and Mrs. Claus, to organizing antique tractor rides, to running the Old Settlers events, to volunteering on the Conservation Board, to being President of the Farm Bureau, to serving as the “Mayor” of River Junction – Gerald and Joan Morgan donate more of their time and talents than almost anyone I know. They epitomize the volunteerism that runs so deep here in Johnson County.


Bill Greazel: The job of assessing property demands accuracy. Nobody does that better than Johnson County Assessor Bill Greazel, who is the best in Iowa, period! We should all learn to appreciate the excellent job done by Bill and his employees.


Jill Dodds: The newly elected member of the Coralville City Council ran a campaign promising to thoroughly review city finances. This is not an easy position to take, but it is a very necessary one. Jill is a courageous individual, and she will need deep reserves of courage as she challenges the status quo.


Zach Wahls: I do not know Zach Wahls, nor do I know his mothers. I just know that no one has made me more proud to say I am from Johnson County! Thanks, Zach, for putting us on the map in such a positive light! We are proud of you!


Ernie Found: It is hard to imagine a person enduring a more difficult year than Doctor Found endured in 2011. It is even harder to imagine someone persevering with more grace. Mr. Found, you are a shining example for the rest of us!


Iowa Policy Project: I have spoken in the past of my desire to make data-driven decisions. So where does good, objective data come from? It comes from the Iowa City-based Iowa Policy Project (IPP). I use the facts and statistics produced by IPP every single day in my job. A notable example is the recent IPP report on TIFs in Johnson County. Every taxpayer should read this report! Thanks, IPP!


Occupy Iowa City: The political, financial, legal, and other systems are rigged to favor the wealthiest 1% of Americans. To varying degrees, we all knew this. Yet the Occupy Movement has called attention to the needs of the 99% like no previous effort. What’s more, the local Occupiers have been polite, respectful, thoughtful, and smart. I have spent several hours talking to Occupy folks, and they fill me with hope for our future.


Congratulations to all the winners! You make Johnson County a great place to live! Keep it up in 2012!




*DID YOU KNOW? More vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day than any other day of the 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.

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

posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:42 PM  0 Comments

December 10, 2011

Sullivan’s Salvos 12/13/11




In this edition:

*Sand Road and Other Chip Seals
*Candidates and Charity
*Liberty and Justice for Some
*Did You Know?




*Sand Road and Other Chip Seals
The Board recently heard from a group of residents who live along Sand Road south of 520th, where the road becomes chip seal. The residents are concerned about excessive speeds, coupled with farm and bicycle traffic. The road has seen a big increase in traffic – up to 1600 vehicles per day (vpd). The residents feel this section of roadway has become dangerous.

The residents out there want something done. There are really only 3 options, none of which are perfect solutions:

1. “Improve” the road
2. Paint stripes on the road
3. Reduce the speed limit

“Improving” the road means buying right of way (so taking front yards), cutting down trees, and paving a wide swath. It is expensive, and while it makes driving fast safer, it does nothing to address the farm/bike traffic.

Painting a chip seal road is a waste of money, period. It costs about $5,000 per mile to paint, and it would need to be done every single year. With over 100 miles of chip seal road in Johnson County, we simply cannot afford it.

Reducing the speed limit is the cheapest and easiest option, but poses problems of its own. The average speed on the road is currently greater than 55. Is it wise to artificially lower the speed limit? And what are the implications for the Sheriff’s Office where enforcement is concerned?

The bigger question is: why address Sand Road, and why now? Personally, I think we need to take a holistic look at ALL our chip seal roads. There are over 100 miles of chip seal road in Johnson County. We should begin to address this starting with the highest vpd and moving on through to the lowest.

The fact of the matter is, we have several chip seal roads with more curves, more hills, more trees, higher traffic counts, more bikes, and more residents. In my mind, these roads deserve our consideration before Sand Road.

Do not get me wrong: I sympathize with the folks on Sand Road, and I trust that everything they report is true. But the people who live on Sandy Beach Road (the highest vpd of any chip seal in Johnson County) have not been in the room to advocate for their road. What about their needs?

Since starting as a Supervisor in January of 2005, I have tried to make as many data-driven decisions as possible. Historically, too many decisions get made based upon who you know. I prefer quantifying those things that can be quantified, and putting that information to use.

Unfortunately, the Board of Supervisors is very susceptible to the desires of a room full of voters. It is an election year for four of the five Supervisors, and it is likely that any candidate would prefer 40 happy constituents to 40 that are angry. So my guess is that the Board will vote to give these residents the lower speed limit they desire without tackling the tougher topic.

Personally, I will only vote for a comprehensive approach to our chip seal roads. That may leave me on the angry side of those 40 voters, but I feel it is the only fair way to proceed.

The issues of speeding, tough terrain, and noncompatible uses are problems countywide. The Board should address the issue countywide rather than simply greasing the squeaky wheel.




*Candidates and Charity
Wondering for whom you should vote? I have an idea for you! One of the best ways of evaluating candidates for office is to find out to which charities they contribute their time and talents.

I wish the press would ask candidates where they donate and how much. The results are typically very telling.

If you don’t believe me, try it yourself! Ask the candidates – you’ll gain a great deal of insight.




*Liberty And Justice For Some
I just finished an excellent book by Glenn Greenwald entitled, “With Liberty and Justice for Some”.

This book focuses on the fact that the fundamental underpinning of our democracy – that all people are equal under the law – is simply no longer true.

It really began with Ford’s pardon of Nixon. While many felt this was positive step in our country’s “healing”, Greenwald argues that it set the stage for lawlessness at the top.

George H.W. Bush pardoned the guilty parties in the Iran-Contra affair. Bill Clinton pardoned those involved in Iraqgate. George W. Bush failed to investigate crimes committed in the Clinton Administration. Barack Obama has completely ignored an illegal war, warrantless wiretaps, torture, illegal rendition, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, suspensions of habeas corpus, war crimes, and much more. Obama is even worse when it comes to Wall Street. Zero accountability.

“If the President does it, it’s not a crime.” Richard Nixon was wrong when he famously said that. Unfortunately, it is true today.

At the other end of the spectrum, the US imprisons more people than any government in the history of the planet. Virtually all of those people are poor, and a disproportionate number are people of color.

One quarter of all African American men will serve time in a US prison. One in 9 African American children has a parent in prison. Meanwhile, privatized prisons spend our tax dollars lobbying for harsher sentences.

I finished this book as Occupy Wall Street protesters were being arrested in New York, Oakland, and elsewhere. Think about that for a moment. No one from Goldmann Sachs was charged with anything – even though they brought the US economy to its knees. But the folks who protest that lack of accountability are going to jail!

There are two systems of justice in the US – one for the rich and powerful, and one for the rest of us. It is un-American, and it SHOULD be protested!




*DID YOU KNOW? Johnson County Ambulance ran 7379 calls in FY11 – about 20 per day. They get to 75% of all calls in under 8 minutes. The busiest time for calls is Sunday from 12-2 AM.



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

posted by Rod Sullivan @ 10:06 AM  0 Comments

December 3, 2011

Sullivan’s Salvos 12/6/11




In this edition:

*Local Media and You
*Luke 16:13
*Grants Part 1: LED Lights
*Grants Part 2: Rural Tornado Sirens
*NBA Lockout
*Did You Know?




*Local Media and You
I am frequently critical of the Gazette and Press Citizen. Among other concerns, I feel that they rarely give adequate coverage to important local issues.

I must give credit where credit is due, however. Recent coverage of the IPP TIF report and the proposed JECC budget are exactly the type of thing I have been looking for. Both papers have covered the issues thoroughly.

I hope they will keep it up. As you know, I have been hammering these two issues for years. My voice is not enough. If you care about these issues, YOU need to get involved.

The Press Citizen and Gazette have stepped up and done their job. The ball is in your court. The issues will only die if you LET them die! Write your local papers, and talk to your city councils and Iowa Legislators! Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world!




*Luke 16:13
“You cannot serve both God and money.” – Luke 16:13. That was the topic of a recent sermon at our church.

I cannot help but put this quote in the context of our public discussions about the widening gap between the rich and poor. There are a few folks out there who are making a LOT of money… about 2% of us, give or take. It strikes me that many of those same people claim to be Christians. Are they serving both God and money? The Gospel says clearly we cannot!

In fairness, Christianity commands ALL followers to share their wealth, not just those who have a lot. Every person has something she or he can give, even if it is not monetary.

I believe in a separation of church and state. While I am a Christian, I certainly do not expect anyone (or everyone) else to share my beliefs.

My frustration stems from the fact that the candidates for office tend to force their beliefs on others. The same people who make the biggest deal out of their Christianity are the same people who advocate for serving money. They are also the same people who want to interject Christianity into our government. Hey, if putting Christianity in government means Luke 16:13, then put it in!

Interesting to hear our self-professed Christians criticizing the Occupy movement, which is simply pointing out the degree to which we serve money in this country.

The Bible says you cannot serve both God and money. So, which is it, Rick Perry? Herman Cain? Michelle Bachmann? Mitt Romney? Who do you serve, God or money?




*Grants Part 1: LED Lights
Johnson County recently received a $36,000 grant to update our parking lot lights to LED technology.

Going to LED is a good investment for our environment and our taxpayers! The payback in terms of energy savings is only about 18 months, so this grant is a real score!

Thanks to grant writer Sara Sedlacek for her good work on this!




*Grants Part 2: Rural Tornado Sirens
I have written previously about my efforts to secure rural tornado sirens for unincorporated (yet populated) portions of Johnson County.

Well, we have more good news on this front! Johnson County Emergency Management Director David Wilson recently announced that Johnson County is getting a $200,000 federal grant to cover rural sirens.

Johnson County got the grant because of our existing commitment to rural public safety; we had already budgeted $25,000 for more rural sirens this year. The additional $200,000 will serve to cover the populous portions of Johnson County extremely well.

Thanks to Dave Wilson for his good work on this!




*NBA Lockout
Though I love sports, I try not to write much about it in Salvos. I figure that readers already have many places to read about and discuss athletics.

I am making a bit of an exception this week, as I believe it is important to have some discussion of the National Basketball Association (NBA) lockout.

As you may have seen, the NBA players and owners have reached a tentative agreement. I am squarely on the side of the players. Here are some very important factors to keep in mind:

1. The labor stoppage is a lockout, not a strike. Players had already agreed to go to work for less money!

2. While players obviously make a lot of money, team owners are among the wealthiest people on planet earth! This is NOT “rich versus rich” as it is being sold. This is rich versus so wealthy it cannot even be explained.

3. Don’t fool yourself – there is a racial component to this. Owners are old white men. Players are largely young black men. This whole business reeks of a modern day plantation.

4. The work stoppage hurts many additional people – most poor- who work as janitors, in concessions, etc.

Here is the biggest irony: the players are saying, “give us a free market.” The owners want all kinds of controls, caps, revenue sharing, etc.

Take a moment to see what those same owners say about their other businesses. In those cases, they must have no regulation. Only a completely free market will do.

Except when it hurts them. Face it – the owners are hypocrites who have gorged themselves at the public trough. I hope you will join me in supporting the players – the workers – in this classic work stoppage.




*DID YOU KNOW? Sirimauo Bandranaike of Sri Lanka became the world's first popularly elected female head of state in 1960.



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

posted by Rod Sullivan @ 1:20 PM  1 Comments



Copyright © 2008 Rod Sullivan, Johnson County Board of Supervisors. All rights reserved.
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