|
rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 29, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 11/1/11 In this edition: *Council Elections *Remembering November 1, 1991 *The Commons *Did You Know? *Council Elections Cities in Johnson County are holding their elections on Tuesday the 8th. Make no mistake – these elections are important! Sorry to say, but in many of these elections I do not know the candidates. I urge you to look up the candidates on the Auditor’s webpage: (http://www.johnson-county.com/auditor/voter/1111cand.htm) and learn what you can about the candidates in your town. Of course, it just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t weigh in on a few races. In Coralville, I support Mitch Gross and Jill Dodds for council. Mitch is smart, caring, kind, reasonable, and hard working. The people of Coralville are lucky to have him. We have had our differences, but I feel as though Mitch has always listened to my concerns. I have had the opportunity to serve with Jill on the local Empowerment Board, which deals with issues of childcare. I came to respect her not because we agreed all the time, but because of the way in which we were able to disagree on a couple important issues. I think Jill will do a fantastic job in elected office. In the Iowa City at-large race, I support Matt Hayek and Raj Patel. That list of adjectives I threw out regarding Mitch Gross? Ditto for Hayek. In this case as with the last, I have had my share of disagreements with his stances on certain issues. But I know Matt makes his decisions for the right reasons, and not for personal gain. He is a stand up guy and a damn good mayor. I have only gotten to know Raj over the past few months, but he impresses me. He is smart and works hard. It is amazing to me that Iowa City has gone 30 years without a student on the council. The problem has typically been that the student candidates were not up to the task. Not so this time - Raj Patel can do the job. In University Heights, the election is really about one thing only – the proposed development at One University Place. I have good friends on both sides of the issue, though a few more on the “smaller, slower” development side. I hope this issue gets resolved once and for all, because University Heights has much to discuss! A few more quick plugs: Jim Throgmorton in Iowa City, Merle Hill in Hills, the incumbents in North Liberty, Mary Sue Jiras in Oxford, Mary Gudenkauf in Swisher, and Mike Ryan in Tiffin. I cannot comment on their opposition, but I can promise that these folks will serve their cities well. There are other good candidates out there – including friends of mine – but that is all we have time for today. There are definitely good candidates out there that I failed to mention. There are lousy ones, too. Do your homework, and make your choices wisely. Thanks to all the candidates who threw their hats into the ring. I respect people who walk the talk and stand for office. I hope you all will take advantage of this opportunity, and get out to vote! *Remembering November 1st, 1991 Twenty years ago today, a UI post-graduate student named Gang Liu killed four faculty members, a student, and himself. Faculty members Christoph Goertz, Dwight Nicholson, Robert Smith, T. Anne Cleary, and Linhua Shan were all slain. Student Miya Rodolfo-Sioson was shot and survived but was left paralyzed from the neck down. If you ask longtime residents of Johnson County, most can tell you where they were that fateful day. (I was working my second job - a Friday night shift in a Systems Unlimited group home.) I wish I could say that in the decades that passed, something good had come from this horror. Frankly, I simply do not see it. Even bigger mass killings have occurred on other campuses across the nation. Our mental health system is no better, and our gun laws are even worse. The killings make no more sense today than they did twenty years ago. I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon one of the saddest days in Johnson County history, and pray for the many survivors whose lives were touched by the people we lost that day. *The Commons “The commons is a new way to express a very old idea—that some forms of wealth belong to all of us, and that these community resources must be actively protected and managed for the good of all. The commons are the things that we inherit and create jointly, and that will (hopefully) last for generations to come. The commons consists of gifts of nature such as air, oceans and wildlife as well as shared social creations such as libraries, public spaces, scientific research and creative works.” (OnTheCommons.org) Please join us on November 8–9, as Jay Walljasper, author of the recent book All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons (New Press, 2010), visits Iowa City to share ideas about the commons. PUBLIC EVENTS - Free, no registration required. For questions or more information, email thomas-k-dean@uiowa.edu. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 12:00 NOON–1:00 P.M. – “A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMMONS,” 1505 Seamans Center. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 3:30–4:30 P.M. – PUBLIC RECEPTION FOR JAY WALLJASPER, M. C. Ginsberg: Objects of Art. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 7:00 P.M.–8:30 P.M. – “THE COMMONS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN IOWA CITY,” panel discussion, Robert A. Lee Rec Center. In addition to Jay Walljasper, panelists will include Jeff Davidson (City of Iowa City), Carson Eggland (The James Gang), Kurt Friese (Devotay Restaurant), Mark Ginsberg (M. C. Ginsberg: Objects of Art), Fred Meyer (Backyard Abundance), Katie Roche (Englert Theatre), and Christine Scheetz (United Way). WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 7:00 P.M. - READING, JAY WALLJASPER, Prairie Lights Bookstore. Jay Walljasper chronicles stories from around the world that point us toward a greener, more equitable and more enjoyable future. His focus goes beyond what's in the headlines to chronicle the surprising real life of communities today. Jay is editor of OnTheCommons.org and a senior fellow at Project for Public Spaces, a New York-based organization that helps citizens enliven their communities by improving public places. Walljasper is also a contributing editor of National Geographic Traveler, reporting on sustainable tourism initiatives, and is an associate of the Citistates Group, a public affairs consortium focusing on metropolitan regions. Walljasper's experience includes being editorial director and editor of Utne Reader, executive editor of Ode magazine, and a travel editor at Better Homes & Gardens. *DID YOU KNOW? Despite over 30,000 students living there, Iowa City has not elected a student to the City Council since David Perret in 1979. 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
October 22, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/25/11
In this edition:
*Happy Halloween!
*Congratulations, Rachel!
*Supervisors NOT Alike!
*New Facilities Manager
*MLK Memorial
*Did You Know?
*Happy Halloween!
Halloween is right around the corner. That does not mean the same things to me it used to, as my kids are much too old to trick or treat.
It does, however, mean we all need to be extra careful as we drive around our neighborhoods. I hope your Halloween is safe and happy!
*Congratulations Rachel!
Congratulations to my daughter Rachel on graduating from Army basic training!
Rachel was stationed at Fort Sill, OK, and will be headed to Virginia for her advanced training. Needless to say, I am very proud!
*Supervisors Not Alike!
I get a few E-mails every week that refer to “you Supervisors” and then take us to task for doing (or not doing) something.
I find these E-mails extremely frustrating, because they only serve to demonstrate that the public does not see the huge differences of opinion that exist on the Board.
I blame much of this on the media. First, we are not covered. Period. Secondly, we are rarely ever asked about the differences of opinion that are clear to anyone watching a meeting. The public deserves to know what debates are taking place in their name, and exactly what their elected representatives think.
I must admit, I have been guilty of generalizing myself recently. Frustrated by the inability of the ICCSD Board to get anything done with redistricting, I wrote an E-mail to the School Board criticizing what I saw as their inaction.
In hindsight, I probably should have written it specifically to about half of the Board members, as there are half who were trying. It was really not fair of me to lump them together, be it for criticism or praise.
Elected bodies are made up of individuals. Yes, you get lots of unanimous votes to approve the agenda or send a letter thanking a volunteer. Those votes are perfunctory.
As my friend and former Iowa City Councilor Larry Baker once said, “95% of all votes could be cast by a trained monkey. You elect people for the 5% that really matter.” Larry nailed it.
Specifically addressing the Board of Supervisors - There are votes cast almost every meeting so lacking in moral courage that they bring shame to the office. There are other instances of elected officials really standing up for what is right.
So, dear citizens – pay attention. You will not get any help from the media – you are going to need to dig. But meetings are now all online. I urge you to tune in. Find out what individual elected officials really feel, and ask why they voted the way they did.
You will find that Boards and Councils are made up of individuals – VERY different individuals!
*New Facilities Manager
Congratulations to Eldon Slaughter, who starts October 31 as the new Johnson County Facilities Manager.
In addition to running his own electrical and contracting businesses, Eldon has managed facilities in Clinton and Saint Louis. Most recently, he served as a facilities manager for numerous Target stores.
If the name sounds familiar, it could be because Eldon previously served as Mayor of Lone Tree.
Eldon will be in charge of all the buildings and grounds for Johnson County.
*MLK Memorial
The new Memorial on the National Mall honoring the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior is now open to the public.
I am very glad to see King being honored in this way. I am a bit troubled, however, by the way King’s legacy has been sanitized.
What do I mean by this? King was a crusader for racial equality, sure. He was also committed to peace and social justice. He wanted an end to wars, and a greater redistribution of wealth. (He came to this philosophy through his Christian religious training.)
King was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers. He had recently created the Poor People’s Campaign. He freely referred to himself as a Democratic Socialist. It is just as likely that King was killed for his economic views as his racial advocacy.
The Memorial is funded in large part by Wal-Mart, Exxon, Chase, and other corporations. They would never stand for a Memorial that really reflected King’s philosophy of economic justice.
*DID YOU KNOW? Iowa has the 5th highest percentage of residents over 65, at 15%. Florida is first at 17.3%, followed by West Virginia, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
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
October 15, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/18/11
In this edition:
*Homecoming Week
*Budget Preview
*Occupy Iowa City, Part 2
*Did You Know?
*Homecoming Week
It is Homecoming Week at the University of Iowa. I am a very sentimental guy… probably too sentimental! With that in mind, you can understand why I love Homecoming!
I hope you all get an opportunity to take in some of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the big game!
*Budget Preview
Johnson County will be starting the FY13 budgeting process very soon. Before we begin, I want to set the stage.
The FY12 budget was about $74,000,000. Only about 60% of that comes from property taxes – the rest is a mixture of federal and state dollars, grants, fees, fines, etc.
Despite chatter to the contrary, property taxes levied by Johnson County are low by Iowa standards, ranking 58th out of 99 counties in FY12.
What does FY13 hold? There are two sides to the balance sheet. On the expense side, things should be pretty quiet. There is only one major new expenditure looming right now. Fall of 2012 will likely see a vote on a new Justice Center, but even if it passes, that money would not be collected until FY14.
The County does have 6 union contracts open – it remains to be seen what type of settlement can be reached there. For the purposes of illustration, a 1% increase in wages for all County employees (not just union employees) results in an expenditure of approximately $200,000.
There may be some cuts – a position here and there, less staff training and education, stretching out replacement schedules, some minor program cuts. Having gone through EVERY SINGLE LINE of the County budget the past few years, I do not believe there is much “fat” to be trimmed. Any deeper cuts will have significant impacts on service.
The real question marks surround revenues. I see this breaking down into four main items of concern:
First, the residential rollback. Because Ag and Residential property are tied together, the rollback will actually go up again this year. (Due to incredible Ag productivity, the rollback went up last year for the first time in recent memory.)
This means residential taxpayers will pay on 48% of their value as opposed to 47%. (I’m estimating those numbers, but they are close.) So residential property owners will pay slightly more (likely about 1%) even if local governments keep the levy rates the same.
Second, growth in taxable valuation. This used to be the bread and butter of our local governments. While many places in Iowa lost valuation, local governments in Johnson County could count on a steady 5-9% annual growth.
Not anymore. While we still see some growth, it is much more modest – more like 1%. In addition, much of the growth has taken place in TIF Districts, meaning Johnson County gets ZERO tax dollars from the increment.
Third, apartments converting to co-ops. You may recall that I wrote about this in Salvos a couple weeks ago. Because of a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling, several local apartment units will be converting to co-ops, thus cutting the taxes they owe in half.
While it is still uncertain exactly how much this might cost Johnson County in revenue, it will likely be at least $500,000 for FY13. (And no, Bob Elliott – rents will NOT go down as a result!)
Fourth, Governor Branstad and the Iowa Legislature. This is the single most important factor, and also the most difficult to predict. Governor Branstad has spoken of 60, 40, and 25% cuts to commercial property taxes. Any of these proposals would be devastating to local governments.
The State claims that they will “backfill” any lost property tax revenue, but that is bull puckey. The State has broken financial promises over and over again. (MH/DS and Homestead Tax Credits, just to name two.) I have ZERO confidence that the State will help local governments.
Where does this leave us? The tiny bit of growth coupled with the rollback should offset the conversion to co-ops. Johnson County should see no big changes unless the Legislature decides to play God with local governments. If so, all bets are off.
So, what are your thoughts regarding the FY13 budget? Please let me know!
*Occupy Iowa City, Part 2
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I had made a couple visits to the Occupy Iowa City campsite in College Green Park. I am a real fan of this grassroots movement.
As you know, Occupy Iowa City is mainly a show of solidarity with the folks who are occupying Wall Street. The excesses of Wall Street took us to the brink of financial collapse once, and they are headed that way again. The people of the world NEED the US government to step up. But our government is not functioning. People take to the streets when they cannot get action any other way.
The two political parties are badly broken. The national GOP is committed to protecting the wealthiest 1% of the population, everyone else be damned. Despite a purported love for Jesus, this party has become ignorant, cruel, heartless, and brutal. The national Democratic Party is simply inept, walking on eggshells. It reminds me of an insecure 14 year old, worried first and foremost about what others think.
I think the protesters have the right idea. Take to the streets. It can’t hurt!
*DID YOU KNOW? Commercial tax valuation in Johnson County is over $2.5 billion, a 22% increase from 2007 to 2011.
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
October 8, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/11/11
In this edition:
*Occupy Iowa City
*Psychology of TIF
*Community Foundation of Johnson County
*Paul Engle Day
*Under A Cider Moon
*Did You Know?
*Occupy Iowa City
I was excited to stop by and join the group that decided to “Occupy Iowa City” as a show of solidarity with those who are protesting on Wall Street.
I like the approach of the local group. Our local banks haven’t done anything wrong, and they should not be disturbed. College Green Park is as good a location as any.
The point here is not WHERE the protesters are – it is that 99% of us SHOULD be protesting! The average American is getting screwed while 1-2% of the population lives high on the hog. It is wrong, and it needs to change.
The Republican Party likes the status quo – they want even more wealth disparity. And national Democrats lack the guts to change things. So it is up to us, led by our friends in the park!
Many kudos to the protesters in New York, Iowa City, and elsewhere! Keep the pressure on!
*The Psychology of TIF
With the recent Von Maur to Coralville fiasco, more and more people are questioning the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF). I have been asked why cities head down the TIF path. I think there are several reasons, most of them more psychological than anything. In no particular order, here are a few:
1. Councilors (and staff) DREAD being labeled as "anti-growth" or “anti-business”. They will do anything to avoid that label.
2. Every other city is doing it. If you don't do it too, you fear putting your city at a competitive disadvantage.
3. Similarly, you want your city to keep up with the Joneses. City next door got a new pool? We need a bigger pool. City next door has a theater? We need a theater. It never ends.
4. Councilors work other jobs full time. They have families. They simply have not taken the time to do the necessary research. They accept what staff gives them without enough questioning.
5. Councilors/staff feel "special" when developers come to them. The developer makes the councilor/staff feel special, and explains how “so many people in town just don’t understand this, but I know that YOU do!” Councilors/staff begin to feel as though they are big-shot wheeler-dealers. It is not unlike being on a drug. In this case, the drug is a sense of power.
6. TIF laws are obscure, and allow cities to obfuscate their true financial situations. For example, TIF debt is not counted toward a city’s total debt. (Why? Because the Iowa Legislature says so.) This allows the true picture to be muddled.
7. TIF laws in Iowa allow everything but murder. So you can do anything you want, look the public in the eye, and say, “The deal is legal.” Unfortunately, that statement will always be true given the TIF laws in Iowa.
8. TIF hurts County government more than any other government. This is critical, because County government is the least understood and least appreciated level of government. This makes it the easiest to justify raiding.
9. The downside of TIF is in the future. It is always easier to choose short-term gains, regardless of long-term costs.
These are but a few of the reasons TIF is used, overused, misused, and abused. I am certain there are others, but I’ve seen these in effect in Johnson County.
Don’t get me wrong – I understand this. One can see why a city council member chooses TIF. I do not agree, but I get it. Not every example cited above is present in every case. And I certainly don’t think a councilor is a bad human being because she/he voted for a TIF. I just think she/he is wrong.
I hope that either council people will change their minds regarding the use of TIFs, or that the Legislature acts.
*Community Foundation of Johnson County
I have served on the Grants Committee of the Community Foundation of Johnson County (CFJC) since its inception, and I am proud to say that I am doing so again this year.
For those of you who are unfamiliar – the CFJC develops resources and grants them back to the Johnson County community. Obviously, that is an extremely brief description – for more info, see: http://communityfoundationofjohnsoncounty.org/
The CFJC has granted over $3 million in the past 10 years – about two thirds of that went toward flood recovery. This year, the CFJC will grant a bit over $100,000.
Johnson County has an amazing 324 nonprofit organizations. A comparison to Linn County is interesting: in 2010, Linn County had 14 applications requesting $116k, and granted about $100k. Johnson County had 73 applications requesting $684k, and granted about $89k.
The need is there! I hope you will take the time to learn more about the CFJC.
*Paul Engle Day
The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature is proud to present Paul Engle Day on Wednesday, October 12.
Paul Engle was a noted American poet, editor, teacher, literary critic, novelist, and playwright. He is perhaps best remembered as the long-time director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and as founder of the International Writing Program (IWP), both at the University of Iowa.
Events will include a reception, Award Ceremony, High School Essay Contest and more. See http://cityofliteratureusa.org/ for more info.
*Under A Cider Moon
The Johnson County Heritage Trust (JCHT) is once again holding its “Under a Cider Moon . . . a Celebration of Autumn” event.
The event is Saturday, October 22, at the brand new Celebration Farm at HWY 1 and Newport Road.
Be sure to get there when the doors open at 5:30 p.m. so that you can look over and bid on the silent auction items and enjoy the evening. The live auction begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.
Entertainment will be provided by the Guy Drollinger Trio. Locally prepared food and refreshments from area wineries and brew pubs will be available. In addition, dessert will include pies prepared by winners of the 2011 Johnson County Fair’s Jo Beers Pie Contest.
Tickets are $50 per person ($30 is tax deductible). Make your reservations by October 1, to be eligible for the early bird drawing! Reserve tickets by calling Tammy Richardson at the JCHT office, 338-7030, or by e-mail at info@jcht.org.
The annual “Under a Cider Moon … A Celebration of Autumn” event has been the most important fundraiser for the Trust, generating over $85,000 the past four years. Proceeds from the event help make it possible for the JCHT to continue its mission: To preserve our natural heritage through protection and management of land and water with significant environmental value.
*DID YOU KNOW? 7 US Presidents were born in Ohio, second only to Virginia’s 8.
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
October 1, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/4/11
In this edition:
*Differing Impressions
*Von Maur to Coralville
*Pick an Issue!
*Gay Expo
*Pilot Club Breakfast
*Dems BBQ
*Run For The Schools
*Did You Know?
*Differing Impressions
I always find it interesting when I have formed an opinion of someone, then hear something different from a trusted source.
For example, it is not unusual for me to decide that I really like someone, only to have a friend later inform me that they believe said person is dishonest, rude, etc. This always gives me pause.
On the other hand, I’ll sometimes form a negative opinion of someone only to find out later that we have dozens of mutual friends. Again, this always gives me pause.
This just goes to show that we are all complex, multi-faceted people. I am trying really hard to recognize that we all have both good and bad characteristics.
*Von Maur to Coralville
Regular readers know I frequently write about what I see as an overuse and abuse of TIF. (I have literally hundreds of pages should anyone wish to see it.)
Some of those same readers have asked me what I think of Coralville’s using $11 million in TIF to lure Von Maur from Sycamore to the Iowa River Landing.
What do I think of it? What do you THINK I think of it? It is bullcrap! There isn’t much more to say!
*Pick an Issue!
“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, remain neutral.” ---Dante
I made a promise to myself when I decided to run for office. I promised that I was going to do what was right, consequences be damned. If I lose an election because I voted and/or voiced my conscience, so be it.
I hope that I have stayed true to this in the 7 years since. Unfortunately, standing on principle is not common in local government.
This does not mean the folks in local government are bad people. It simply means they are not there for the right reasons.
Think about your current group of local elected officials. What are they passionate about? What is their vision? What issues did they run on? What really makes them angry? What really makes them happy?
Odds are you can answer this for a few folks, but not most. Don’t feel bad if you cannot answer those questions. First, the local media hasn’t said much about it. And they will not do so, because in-depth local news coverage is dead. Secondly, those elected officials have not said it either. They do not know.
I am tired of people serving who think being elected would be a cool thing for the resume. Then they sit back and let staff tell them how to vote. Elected office is IMPORTANT! We need people who have a fire in the belly to serve in these capacities.
City Council elections are coming up. Allow me to set the stage: a forum is held. A question is put to the candidates – “Why do you want this position?” The response – from every candidate – “I want to give back to the community.” Do not allow this to happen! There is no bigger cliché! As community members, we need to drill down and find out what these folks are about.
It is not often that I look to the current House Republicans as an example, but I am going to give it a shot. Look at the fervor with which they protect the wealthy. They are 100%, all-in committed to doing whatever it takes to protect the wealthy.
I wholeheartedly disagree with their choice of causes, but I respect their passion. It would be nice to see some more local elected officials demonstrate some passion. For something. For anything.
*Big Gay Expo
The 6th annual Big Gay Expo will be Tuesday, October 4 from 7-9 PM at the Hotel Vetro.
Come OUT and find out why Iowa City was listed as the 3rd gayest city in the US by the Advocate magazine! Local LGBT groups, organizations and businesses will be there for networking. Free appetizers.
Questions? Contact Bridget Malone at malone.bridget@gmail.com.
*Pilot Club Breakfast
The Pilot Club is holding its 36th Annual Breakfast & Bazaar Fundraiser Saturday, October 8 from 7-11AM at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City.
All money raised by the Pilot Club funds local charities that address brain-related disorders.
*Dems BBQ
It is time for the annual Johnson County Democrats Fall Barbeque! Date: Saturday, October 8. Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds, Building C. Cost: $25 per adult, $15 per senior or student.
Menu: Local barbequed pork, side dishes and homemade desserts. Sponsorship levels are $100 (Precinct Captain), $250 (Press Secretary) and $500 (Campaign Manager).
For more information, to volunteer or become an early sponsor, please contact Liz Etchells, Fundraising Chair, at 319-541-9672 or Elizabeth.Etchells@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
*Run For The Schools
Run for the Schools will be held on Sunday, October 9. The race is sponsored by MidWestOne Bank
& hosted by Iowa City Road Races, Inc.
Through the generous support of individuals and sponsors, the Iowa City Community School District Foundation received over $28,000 last year to help support the School District! Regina also receives financial contributions.
Run for the Schools donations are being accepted! Mail your check to ICCSDF, 509 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240.
To register or for more info see: http://www.runfortheschools.com/
*DID YOU KNOW? Over 1,591 senior citizens suffer a fall each day. The average cost of medical bills resulting from those falls is over $19,000 each.
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
|
|
