rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 31, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 6/4/13
In this edition:
*Flooding!
*Betty Sass
*Father’s Day
*No Media
*Property Tax Reform
*Property Tax Rates
*Arts Fest
*Did You Know?
*Flooding!
As
of this writing, it appears serious flooding is on the way. A few things to
remember:
*Please
follow all official advice!
*For correct info, refer to county and city websites.
*Beware
of scams!
*Be
careful! Never enter floodwaters!
Again,
see city and county websites for more information.
*Betty Sass
You
are going to think this is a misprint. It is NOT. Deputy Treasurer Betty Sass
is retiring after working for Johnson County for 60 years! That is correct – 60
years!
The
Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) has looked, and they cannot find a
record of anyone EVER working longer for ANY county! To add some perspective –
Johnson County has had some employees retire while in their late 50s. Those
retirees were not even born when Betty started with the County!
While
Betty’s years of service boggle the mind, this honor is not just about
quantity. It is even more about quality. Betty Sass has always been a model
employee and an outstanding boss. Despite working in an office that receives
many complaints, Betty’s attitude and outlook are the best I’ve ever seen! This
is not just our longest serving employee – it is probably our finest employee.
Congratulations
Betty on your 80th birthday and 60 years of service to Johnson
County!
*Father’s Day
Happy
Father’s Day to all the Dads out there! It has been several years since I have
had the pleasure of enjoying a living father or grandfather.
If
you are lucky enough to have a father or grandfather around, please take a
moment to reach out to him this weekend.
*No Media
I
think it has now been a full month since anyone from the local media attended a
Board meeting. Things at the County are still happening; you just don’t get to
hear about it.
I
urge anyone who is interested in County government to follow us on Twitter. It
is an easy way to at least get the headlines from County government. And it is
all we can do in the face of a complete abdication of duty by the local media.
*Property Tax Reform
The
Iowa Legislature adjourned, but not before making the biggest changes to Iowa’s
property tax system in decades!
You
can read the details several other places, but here is the scoop from an Iowa
City/Johnson County perspective:
Johnson
County will lose about $650,000 in year one; Iowa City will lose about $1.5
million. It gets much worse as the years go on. Last year, we had $650,000 in
new revenues, but $1.2 million in built in expenses (contracts and insurances).
We bridged the gap with reserves. We cannot do that another year without
resorting to cuts. Though I will be fighting against it, I expect all (or
almost all) of our block grants to local nonprofits to be cut. Again, I’ll vote
against it, but it seems inevitable.
With the new caps on growth and the impact of TIFs, we simply have
nothing we can do except cut.
So
businesses got property tax cuts they did not need. In exchange, the public
gets cuts to public safety, roads, public health, human services,
transportation, and all the rest. It is not a good trade.
I
was angry to see the local Chamber of Commerce trumpeting this legislation,
including saying it was “too modest”. I hope they will still take credit for
the cuts this fall when 25 of their member organizations (Neighborhood Centers,
DVIP, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Crisis Center, Shelter House, etc.) experience
huge cuts in income, then lay off staff. We will see how proud they are then.
The
single person most to blame for this debacle is Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal.
He ruined his own legacy, and for what?
There
are three REALLY important things to understand in this whole debate:
1.)
There was no crisis. You can spin the tax issue several different ways, but allow
me to quote the experts at the Iowa Policy Project: “A recent study by Ernst
and Young for the Council on State Taxation found Iowa’s overall state and
local taxes on business are lower than average, and that we were tied for 29th
among the states — only 20 states had lower taxes. This includes corporate
income, individual income, sales, and property taxes falling on businesses of
all kinds.”
“For
property taxes, the complaint has little merit because footloose companies are
routinely provided large rebates and other incentives through tax increment
financing that offset a major share of their property tax bill.”
In
short? Iowa’s businesses did not need a tax cut. And out of state corporations
such as Wal-Mart CERTAINLY did not! Just think – we traded funding for DVIP in
exchange for a tax cut for Wal-Mart. And the local Chamber applauds. Wow!
2.) Let’s say you have never listened to Peter Fisher – or any
economist – discuss rents. Let’s say I haven’t run their stuff here many times
over. Here is your reminder: rents are a function of supply and demand, NOT
taxes! It is that simple. Taxes affect rents so minimally as to not even
matter. It has been proven worldwide and locally time and time and time again.
Mobile home park owners will not be passing their tax cuts down to folks who
rent lots. Apartment owners will not be passing their tax cuts down to folks
who rent apartments. Nursing home owners will not be passing their tax cuts
down to their residents. Doesn’t happen. Won’t happen. So if that was your
reason for supporting this legislation, you are a fool.
3.) There WAS a much better way. Senator Bolkcom and the Senate
Democrats have long had a proposal out there to offer commercial property tax
cuts through a system of state credits. While this would not have fixed the
whole tax system, it would have cut commercial property taxes while leaving
local governments whole.
So the Legislature dealt a critical blow to Iowa City and Johnson
County. Thanks to Senators Bolkcom and Dvorsky and Representatives Mascher,
Lensing, and Jacoby for voting to protect local government!
*Property Tax Rates
Lots
of people like to lie about property tax rates in Johnson County, claiming, “they
are some of the highest in the country!”
Bullcrap!
Here are the facts - 43 Iowa Counties have higher property tax rates than
Johnson County, ranking Johnson 44 out of the 99 counties. (Source: Iowa State
Association of Counties.)
I’m
going to run this every week in Salvos, just to be sure you remember it. So
when somebody says otherwise, you can set them straight.
*Arts Fest
One
of the really great things about Iowa City is the series of summer festivals,
run by the local nonprofit group SOTA (Summer of the Arts).
The Summer of the Arts really gets going this weekend with the
Arts Fest. There are lots of great activities for all ages all weekend long.
For details, see: http://www.summerofthearts.org
I honestly believe SOTA is one of the best things Iowa City has
going for it. But beware! Much of SOTA’s funding comes from the Iowa City
Council. I certainly hope the property tax cuts described earlier do not cost
us Arts Fest, Jazz Fest, the Friday Night Concert Series, etc. Should that
occur, you can thank the local Chamber of Commerce!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Just under half (47) of Iowa’s counties have less people than the city
of North Liberty.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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
May 24, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/28/13
In this edition:
*ICCSD Facilities
*Property Tax Rates
*Did You Know?
*ICCSD Facilities
As
you may or may not know, I have served on the ICCSD Facilities Recommendation
Committee. I really appreciate having had the opportunity to give some feedback.
Below are my thoughts. Needless to say, the opinions here are mine and do not
represent those of the committee.
I
must begin by crediting the ICCSD for their efforts at accepting input. People
will always complain, but I felt this was one of the better outreach efforts I
have ever seen. While I would have appreciated holding some events at
lower-income schools, the e-mails, calls, and media coverage were excellent.
First,
there are a couple areas in which I do not want to spend any meaningful money.
One is building safety. Sorry, but someone with a shotgun who wants to get into
a building is going to get in. I realize that thought can be unsettling, but
the bottom line is that we cannot spend enough money to guarantee protection
against school shootings. I fear that the ICCSD will overspend on “safety”
measures in a knee jerk reaction to recent events. While our guts might think
this is important, common sense tells us no amount of money can guarantee
safety from a determined shooter.
The
other area where I feel we should not spend any money is infrastructure
replacement. The consultants spoke about using the bond money to cover roofs,
leaky plumbing, etc. I am sorry, but that is why we pay the Physical Plant and
Equipment Levy (PPEL). We are already taxed for these basic repairs. I know, I
know – part of the reason we are here in the first place is a long-term failure
on the part of the ICCSD to fund the upkeep of buildings. I know there are
unmet maintenance needs. But it is high time that the ICCSD took building
upkeep seriously. I think the public needs to continue to apply pressure to
ensure that basic maintenance gets done. Using the bond money for this purpose
just doesn’t cut it.
The
consultants threw several pre-screened scenarios at us, while eliminating
others. I wanted to know if the Board already had parameters. The consultants
said no. Right after that, Board members shared that they did, in fact, have
parameters. The main cause for my concern was that fully half of the scenarios
call for moving from k-6 elementary schools to k-5 schools, with junior highs
going to 6-7-8. Now I am no expert on the difference of the educational
outcomes between these approaches. But I am smart enough to know that it is a
big change that the community has yet to discuss. Before I spent a lot of time
debating such scenarios, I wanted to know if the Board would even entertain
such a change. It sounds as though they would - perhaps.
The
consultants also spent a lot of time talking about “21st Century
Schools” – buildings that have large, flexible spaces, lots of natural light,
climate control, fully wired, on big expanses of land. Obviously, in a perfect
world, this would describe every building in the ICCSD. But our world is not
perfect. We KNOW Bourlog is a nice school. We also know that we cannot build
all new schools, nor do we want to. So what can we do in addition to new
construction? I wish the consultants had spent more time discussing renovations
and less on new construction.
Nowhere
is this more evident than the Roosevelt debacle. It seems pretty clear to me
that the majority of the ICCSD community is unhappy with the way the closing of
Roosevelt Elementary was handled. That begs the question: are those same
critics willing to make major investments in Lincoln, Coralville Central, Mann,
and Longfellow? If not, it seems hypocritical. I am willing to make those
investments, and that leads to my next point.
What
about accessibility? The ADA is the law of the land. While it is tempting to
keep Mann, Longfellow, and Lincoln “as they are” and avoid spending millions of
dollars, that flies in the face of the idea that our public buildings are for
everyone. Plus, the law states that if you spend a certain percentage on
renovation, you MUST meet ADA standards. So it is unlikely you could spend the
money to air condition these schools and not be forced to meet ADA standards,
anyhow.
Then
the question becomes – do you spend the money to upgrade these facilities, or
do you build new? Do you tear down Mann and build a new school on the adjacent
city park? Do you tear down Coralville Central and build a new school on the
adjacent city park? Do you tear down Longfellow and build a new school on the
adjacent soccer field? And what about Lincoln, where no such option exists?
These
are TOUGH questions! I can certainly understand how reasonable people could
disagree. That said, I believe strongly in neighborhood schools. We cannot
continue to hollow out our core. It will cost more, but I feel we should bite
the bullet and invest what it takes in these 4 schools.
The
consultants seem pretty set on presenting scenarios that include the closing of
certain elementary schools. No Board or staff members seem to be willing to own
these ideas, and the public seems opposed. So why are we spending so much time
discussing it? True, it may be that operating costs will someday outpace the
District’s ability to pay. But that is always the case in K-12 education, which
depends so heavily on the whims of the Iowa Legislature. This is a ten-year
plan. Until we are actually looking at a shortfall, I’d keep moving forward.
Equity
has also been a big issue. Air conditioning and multipurpose rooms were a major
part of the “21st Century Schools” the consultants described. The
day may be coming where we have longer school years; it is difficult to imagine
that being very successful without air conditioning! We have AC and
multipurpose rooms in several locations, but lack them in more. Let’s simply
suck it up and address these issues.
We
should eliminate the temporaries at the lower grade levels where we can. Penn
Elementary is packed, and there is room to build an addition. Let’s build it.
Southeast Junior High has the same set of issues – build on there, also.
As
I see it, there are three huge issues that I have not addressed: First, what
about Hills Elementary? We have space at Hills. Use it. There is no difference
between kids from Hills going to Iowa City and kids from Iowa City going to
Hills. We talk and talk about neighborhood schools in Iowa City; doesn’t Hills
deserve the same treatment? I’m suggesting we spend LOTS of money on
renovations of existing schools. If that is going to be the case, we cannot
afford to build all the new facilities we want right now. Again, this is a
ten-year plan. We need to utilize our existing capacity. It will not be the
first choice of many parents in the District, but I say assign enough kids to
Hills to fill it up. Commit to keeping Hills full at least until 2022. After
all, Hills now has municipal water on the way. I can see a population boom
there in the next ten years!
Secondly,
what about new elementary schools? Add two of the three proposed new
elementaries, with another to come in a few years. The numbers clearly justify
this. Voters approved the concept in the RPS. The rest of these decisions
relate closely to Hills. I say we build two new elementary buildings, expand SEJH
and Penn, and fully utilize Hills. Then take a few years to see where we are.
The third new elementary will undoubtedly be needed soon.
Thirdly,
what about a new comprehensive High School? I think graduating classes of 600
are much too large. Voters expect a new high school after the RPS vote. I think
we should give it to them.
This
new school should be north of I-80 and should open as soon as is practicable
once West and City hit a combined total of 3800 students. Given that it will
take 2+ years to build, you should be able to open with West at 1400 students,
City at 1400, and the new school at 1000 and change. Design the new school to
be easily expanded to 1500 (excess gym and cafeteria space, etc.), and deal
with that expansion when the time comes.
People
did not vote for the RPS to close schools. The voters recognized that needs
exist across the District. I think the ICCSD Board should step up and address
those things.
That
said, there is one school that probably does need to be closed for the good of
the whole district, and it pains me to say which one: Hoover Elementary.
My
three children went to Hoover. I was a Hoover PTA member. My wife served on the
Board of Hoover’s before and after school program. I coached girl’s and boy’s
basketball teams in the tiny gym. We will always be Hoover Hawks! My fondest
memories are not of my own childhood in elementary school; they are memories of
my kids’ time at Hoover. I am actually tearing up as I write this! Hoover is
the closest school to my house, and the closest school to my heart.
But
the fact is, the City High building site is relatively small. You could build a
small parking ramp and build up a floor, but at some point you simply get too
crowded. High school kids need some space. Sacrificing Hoover to City High
would allow for stability at City High for decades to come.
In
addition, Hoover has become a bit of a SINA transfer school; the majority of
the students are driven or bussed in. Plus, the surrounding neighborhood is
full of empty nesters. By the time the neighborhood turns over to young
families, the neighborhood will be in the habit of going to Longfellow, Lucas,
and Lemme. It may be personally painful, but closing Hoover seems important to
the long-term success of City High.
I
will freely admit – my preferred solutions are not the most inexpensive way to
go. That is the price of the growth we are experiencing. Some of these issues
have been ignored for 50 years! I applaud the ICCSD for taking these issues on,
and I’m willing to pay for it!
My
thoughts are above; now it is time for you to weigh in! Contact the members of
the ICCSD Board and let them know what you think!
*Property Tax Rates
Lots
of people like to lie about property tax rates in Johnson County, claiming,
“they are some of the highest in the country!”
Bullcrap!
Here are the facts - 43 Iowa Counties have higher property tax rates than
Johnson County, ranking Johnson 44 out of the 99 counties. (Source: Iowa State
Association of Counties.)
I’m
going to run this every week in Salvos, just to be sure you remember it. So
when somebody says otherwise, you can set them straight.
*DID YOU KNOW?
The ICCSD is projected to have over 15,000 students in the next ten
years.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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
May 18, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/21/13
In this edition:
*RIP Gerald Morgan
*Memorial Day
*Solon Fire Breakfast
*Property Taxes
*Aesthetics
*Did You Know?
*RIP Gerald Morgan
Johnson County lost
a wonderful ambassador with the recent passing of Gerald Morgan. The unofficial
Mayor of River Junction, Gerald and his wife Joan were involved in too many
volunteer efforts to mention here.
Gerald was a
longtime member of the Johnson County Conservation Board, and his quiet
leadership helped make our Conservation Department the envy of the state. His
stewardship of Walker Park and River Junction Access will be sorely missed –
Gerald was President of the River Junction Old Settlers’ Society. In addition,
Gerald served long and well on the Board of the Johnson County Historical
Society and the Lone Tree Lions Club. He was also a longtime Fremont Township
Trustee
Gerald
was very active in the local agricultural community, serving as the President
of the Johnson County Farm Bureau. He was also a fan of antique Oliver
tractors, especially his purple one. Gerald and I had several discussions about
this, as my Grandfather had an antique Oliver that he cherished. Gerald
channeled some of his passion into organizing antique tractor rides that
boosted tourism in Johnson County.
Most importantly,
the Morgans did a lot for local children, from playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus to
hosting Easter egg hunts to Halloween parties. And though Gerald might be upset
that I pointed this out, I am pretty certain there have been many charitable
donations labeled “anonymous” that have Gerald’s fingerprints on them.
Finally, it should
be noted that Gerald was a true gentleman. He was always calm, and could see
all sides of any argument. Gerald was usually one of the first people invited
to serve on any committee, because he would work long and hard, offer good
advice, and be happy about the whole mess!
I
recognized the Morgans with a Salvos Salute in 2011. I certainly could have
done so sooner! Gerald deserves a better send off than I am able to deliver
here. He was a wonderful man who touched a lot of lives, and left some very big
shoes to fill. You simply do not replace a man like Gerald Morgan. RIP, Gerald!
*Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day
to all! I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and I hope you spend at least a
part of it remembering those who have served our Country.
Also, a note:
Johnson County Veterans Affairs is raising money to erect a memorial at the
site of the Old Armory. Commemorative bricks can be purchased for only $75. For
more information, see: http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_vets.aspx?id=13081
*Solon Fire Breakfast
The Solon Volunteer
Fire Department is hosting its 50th Annual Pancake Breakfast Sunday,
May 26 from 6:30-12:30 at the firehouse in Solon.
*Property Taxes
Unfortunately, the
Iowa Legislature is determined to cut property taxes, without regard for the
effects on the people they represent.
Here is the deal:
local governments provide services to local people. The locals elect a group to
represent their interests when it comes to taxation and other issues. If locals
do not like the work of the local elected bodies, they can vote them out. The
system works.
Meanwhile,
Legislators in Des Moines, who are NOT responsible for providing these local
services, decide to replace the will of the local voters with their OWN
lobbyist-influenced agenda, and cut property taxes for wealthy people.
The current proposal
would cost Johnson County anywhere between $600,000 and $2,600,000. (That is
just County government; cities would also face deep cuts.) Even the lower of
those two numbers would be devastating!
Republicans
and Democrats alike have decided this is a good idea. I urge you all to contact
your Legislators and ask them to leave local government alone! Below is a copy
of a note I sent to Legislators on Tuesday:
Dear
Legislators:
I know you are busy, so I’ll be brief. A $600,000 cut to the County budget will
almost certainly lead to either:
A) cutting most of our support for human services;
B) laying off union employees; or
C) some combination of the two.
Our hands are tied. We have nothing else we can do. The people of Johnson
County do not want to be faced with that choice.
Please think about this before you vote to cut property taxes.
Sincerely,
Rod Sullivan
Johnson County
Board of Supervisors
*Aesthetics
I
have heard many people in the community complain recently about aesthetics. The
20-story tower, the proposed Justice Center, rules about where to store trash
cans, the UI Community Credit Union HQ in North Liberty – all have been widely
panned for how they look.
I
think this is a bigger issue in Johnson County than in most places. There are
many people here wandering around with degrees in art, art history, urban
planning, etc. There are an inordinate number of residents who place a high
value on how things look. And that is fine, to a point. I simply believe some
people take it too far.
Don’t get me wrong; I like things to be beautiful, and I am
willing to pay extra for it. I support the arts in schools pre-K through Ph.D.
I support Historic Preservation Districts. I also understand that there is a
human need for beauty. It is just that I place other human needs first.
As
for the proposed Moen Tower? I don’t give a damn if it is one story or fifty.
Iowa City TIFs it, (taking tax dollars from the County that would go to aid the
poor) then hands the money to a wealthy investment group. Then the only people
who can live there are rich. I did not get into public service to comfort the
comfortable, but apparently the City Manager and 5 Council members did. So 20
stories? Who really cares? That is not the issue. If you think it is, you
should reexamine your priorities.
I
understand people who voted against the Justice Center because of philosophical
differences with the Board. But if you voted against it because of how it
looked? Your priorities and mine simply do not mesh.
I guarantee you – when whatever deity you choose to worship comes
to take account of your life, she/He is NOT going to reward you for your
dedication to aesthetics over the needs of the poor.
*DID YOU KNOW?
43 Iowa Counties have higher property tax rates than Johnson County,
ranking Johnson 44 out of the 99 counties. (Source: Iowa State Association of
Counties.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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
May 10, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/14/13
In this edition:
*Justice Center Results
*Politics of the Justice Center
*Justice Center – Next Steps
*Doing the Right Thing?
*Bike to Work Week
*Ag Fest
*Did You Know?
*Justice Center Results
Voters in Johnson
County went to the polls last Tuesday, and the Justice Center Measure failed by
a margin of 54-46. (Because Iowa requires a supermajority for bond issues, 60%
is required. So despite twice getting a clear majority of the public support,
the issue fails.) Turnout was disappointing at 13,648 (15.2%), but much better
than the last County election.
So now what? As you
might imagine, there is a great deal of work to do. The problems do not go
away. Where we go in terms of solutions is very up in the air.
We have tasks that
continue regardless of our facilities. We must hold the people we are presented
with, regardless of what public safety agency is charging them. We must serve
as the prosecution arm of the State. We must attempt to provide safe space for
everyone involved. Our jail faces several million dollars worth of repairs. We
must maintain our commitment to jail alternatives. We must work on the issue of
disproportionate minority contact in the justice system. Those issues do not go
away, and much work remains.
Thanks to all who
voted; by the way, we simply must find a way to get more people to the polls!
Meanwhile, we will need your feedback as we proceed. Please let us know what
you think!
*Politics of the Justice Center
The two Justice
Center campaigns have been somewhat draining. The politics of such an effort
create fissures within the community, and exacerbate old divides.
Party politics gets
thrown out the window. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are split on
the issue. While much of the funding for the NO campaign came from people on the
right, much of the NO campaigning was done by people on the left.
Unfortunately,
these divides have not happened without casualties. Friendships have ended.
Personally, I have felt the sting of many slings and arrows during this
process. It is not fun, frankly.
It
is really difficult to hear the hatred in people’s voices when they say things
like, “They’re all crooks.” I don’t even know how to begin to respond to something
like that. To 30% of the people, I’m too liberal. To 20%, I am a conservative
tool. And neither group cares what I actually have to say; they want to create
a caricature.
It
is tough, because I know Lonny and Janet. These are two REALLY good people! It
may sound cliché’, but these are the people you’d like to have marry your own
kids. They are that good. It is hard to hear people make baseless and
unwarranted criticisms of them. You may disagree with these two, but they
should have earned your respect. If you do not respect them, you’d better look
in the mirror!
This
environment provides an excellent opportunity for the haters to hate. They can
pile on, spew their bile, and be supported rather than challenged. Worse, it
pits you against some people you really like and respect.
I
think it is important to note that there are many Justice Center opponents that
I like and respect. Nick Johnson is a person I have long admired. Caroline
Dieterle has been a tireless progressive voice in this community for a long
time. Karen Kubby set the bar for every elected official that followed her.
Frankly, it is difficult to find myself on the opposite side of an issue from
them. Those are just three of many good people holding that opinion.
Similarly,
while I don’t really know Martha Hampel and Aleksey Gurtovoy, I really
respect their passion. There are several things upon which we agree, and
several things we don’t. But they are passionate, and walk the walk. They work
hard, and they try to work with you. In addition, they seemed to fight fair for
the most part. I do not dislike these folks; I tip my hat to them.
There are other opponents I
dislike but respect; as well as opponents I neither like nor respect. But the
same can be said of the Yes camp. The Justice Center is not the single issue in
this community. I don’t choose my friends based upon their vote.
It is my hope that we can
mend the divides that have arisen as a result of these referenda. We are NEVER
going to find issues where 95% of the people agree. That will simply NEVER
occur in Johnson County. But we CAN make an effort to understand each other. I
plan on doing just that. Our community works best when we have mutual respect.
*Justice Center – Next Steps
So
– what are YOUR thoughts? I’m going to do an unscientific poll of Salvos
readers. I do not want to hear praise of or complaints about the recent measure
– it is over. What do you think we should do next, and why? Thanks in advance
for your input!
*Doing the Right Thing?
I
just mentioned people I respect. A big part of that respect comes from the way
they stand up for the issues in which they believe. One of my biggest
frustrations is elected officials who do not seem to stand for anything.
We all want our elected officials to be just like Jimmy Stewart in
”Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”. That is the way government is supposed to work,
right? We want principled people taking principled stands, with no “politics”
involved.
As an elected official, there is a much easier route to take. It
is actually quite easy to sit back, keep your head down, and stay quiet. If
asked about an issue, say that you “can see both sides”. When it comes time to
vote, look serious and say that the decision was hard. Then vote, and avoid
speaking about the issue again.
If
an elected official behaves exactly as I described above, she will easily be
reelected. She can probably serve as long as she likes. She will also be a
TERRIBLE public servant!
Too
many elected officials just fill a chair. Yes, the job can be very difficult.
We desperately need good people, yet the rewards are few. But we cannot stop
trying. We simply must get good people into elected office.
“Strong
convictions precede great actions.” – James Freeman Clarke
*Bike to Work Week
Bike to Work Week is
May 12-18 in Johnson County.
There are lots of
great local events all week long, including some that are County-sponsored. See
http://www.thinkbicycles.org/bike-to-work-week/ for more info.
*Ag Fest
Ag
Fest is Saturday, May 18 from 9:30-noon at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. This
is a great event for all ages, but particularly children. Check it out!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Johnson and Van Buren are the only Iowa counties
who currently comply with the state gender balance laws. (Source: Des Moines
Register.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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
May 4, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/7/13
In this edition:
*Justice Center
*Plant Sale –Part 1
*Plant Sale – Part 2
*Livable Community for Successful Aging
*Did You Know?
*Justice Center
Johnson County residents now have the opportunity to vote yes or
no on a new Justice Center. I support this measure. Here is some background:
The current jail was built in 1981 to house 46 residents, which
was inadequate from the start. It also was built with insufficient 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 average daily population in 2011
exceeded 170. That means on an average day, 80-90 inmates get shipped to other
counties. That leads to $1.3 million in annual expenses. Other counties charge
between $45 and $70 per day to house each prisoner. Add in transportation
costs, and it runs roughly $65/day to house an inmate out of county.
Interestingly, it also costs roughly $65/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
another county. 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 County Attorney Lyness and their staffs 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, but not without more space in
which to work.
While positive, the results have not alleviated the overcrowding
to the extent we had hoped. Alternatives eliminate an average of several
inmates per day, but when the average daily population is still 150, that total
is not 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 should not be altered too dramatically. The architecture
severely limits the ability to utilize the existing building.
I view the jail situation as being similar to private home
ownership. If the cost of renting gets close to the cost of a mortgage, you probably
ought to consider buying. Consider the record-low borrowing costs, and I think
it is time to buy.
Opponents claim the new proposal is no different from the first.
That is simply untrue. The number one complaint we heard was the jail portion of
the project had too many beds. So we cut it by almost 50 beds. Plus, the last
proposal got over 56% of the vote in the second biggest turnout election in
Johnson County history. Why would we change things so dramatically as to lose
that strong support?
We are often reminded that the US leads the world in the
percentage of people incarcerated. But arrest rates locally are among the
lowest in the nation. To those who claim, “build it and they will fill it,” I
say – your argument is being proven false every day. We have nothing to fill
now – yet our jail population continues to rise. No officer on the scene of a
crime stops to think about jail bed availability. They don’t do it now, and
they won’t do it with a new facility.
For many folks, a no vote is a protest vote. They don’t like the
way the ICPD handles marijuana cases. They do not like the fact that the ICPD
disproportionately stops minorities. Guess what? I don’t like it, either. But
Iowa City doesn’t do what I ask. As a matter of fact, they pretty much do the
opposite of whatever I want. So why punish the County deputies for the sins of
the ICPD? It is like saying you don’t like Hawkeye football so you are
boycotting West High football. It doesn’t have any impact.
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. I hope these folks see that we are doing what we can to take
control of our costs.
We need the safety, security, and space that would come with a new
Justice Center. I am voting yes, and I hope you will do the same!
*Plant Sale – Part 1
Project
Green Plant Sale – Saturday, May 11, 9–11:30 am at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Here
are some of the
reasons to support and attend our sale: All funds raised from
the 2013
Garden Fair will be earmarked for a major contribution to the landscaping
at the new Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. There will be a display at the
Garden Fair with more information about this project, as well as Project
GREEN’s other projects - past, present and future.
Contrary
to popular rumors, there are plenty of plants available for the duration of the
sale. You do not need to be present when the doors open in order to have a good
selection of plants for purchase.
Refreshments!
We will
have refreshments available for purchase - coffee, muffins, sweet rolls, sweet
breads and the like; plus tables and chairs where you can take a break from
your shopping!
Expert
advice! Local experts will be available to answer your garden questions.
Experts from Master Gardeners, Iowa City recycling and composting, Department
of Natural Resources, and other wildlife experts, biologists, and foresters
will be on hand.
Plant
sitters! Plant sitting stations will be available where you can stow your boxes
of plant treasures while you talk to the experts, enjoy refreshments, or shop
for more.
*Plant Sale – Part 2
The annual Friends of Hickory Hill
Park Plant Sale will again be held at 1167 E. Jefferson Street on the following
weekends:
Friday, May 10th, 4 to 7 PM; Saturday, May 11th 10 AM to 4 PM;
Friday, May 17th 4 to 7 PM; and Saturday, May 18th 10 AM to 4 PM.
New plants will be added for the 2nd weekend.
*Livable Community for Successful Aging
Join
us Thursday, May 9 for Livable Community's Spring Annual Meeting. In
celebration of Older Americans Month, we invite you to join us for our annual report
to the community!
7:00am:
Registration & continental breakfast; 7:30am to 9:00am: Program. First
Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave. Iowa City.
See
how our updated website can help you find services and stay connected to events
happening in the community. Find out how to get involved and volunteer in our
community. Fun opportunities to meet new friends and learn helpful information.
Please RSVP by replying to: johnsoncounty@livablecommunity.org.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Area Farmer’s Markets are open for the season!
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"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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