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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 27, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/30/13
In this edition:
*Happy Anniversary!
*RIP Clayton Ringgenberg
*Mussel Paddle
*Back To School Help
*Stand Your Ground
*Swisher Fun Days
*Did You Know?
*Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to
my wonderful wife, Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed,
but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a
person could ever hope for!
Happy Anniversary,
Honey! It has been a great ride!
I hope we celebrate many
more!
*RIP Clayton Ringgenberg
Johnson County lost
a real resource last week with the passing of Clayton Ringgenberg. I knew
Clayton through our church, and always regarded him as a very kind and decent
gentleman.
Unfortunately,
I had known him for several years before I learned of his illustrious
background: Clayton was the first director of the Iowa Legislative Research
Bureau, Director of the Iowa League of Municipalities, Chief of Staff for Gov.
Robert Ray, and retired as Director of the Institute of Public Affairs at the
University of Iowa. I wish I had asked his advice sooner!
In
addition to his public service, Clayton was active in many organizations. He
served as a Board Member of Grand View University and National Travelers Life
Company, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Advisor, Iowa City Charter
Commission, Iowa City Library Board and Foundation, Board of Control of
Athletics at the University of Iowa, Visiting Nurses Association, Iowa 2000
Task Force as well as many roles at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.
There are so many
people in Johnson County who are so incredibly smart and experienced. I wish I
had been wise enough to tap into this talent earlier. It serves as a good
reminder that our elders accomplished a great deal before we were on the scene.
Quite a resume, and quite a man. RIP, Clayton.
*Mussel Paddle
Freshwater
mussels might look like rocks, but they are living creatures that help keep our
rivers clean. Learn about these fascinating critters on a float trip on the
Iowa River Water Trail.
The
paddle will be held Saturday, August 3, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. beginning
at Sturgis Ferry Park in Iowa City and ending at the Hills Access near Hills.
The event is free but registration is required and participation is limited to
twenty boats.
Mussel
expert Jennifer Kurth will be along to explain the natural history of what are
sometimes called freshwater “clams.” Participants should come prepared to get
wet and muddy during a hands-on demonstration of mussel surveys. Jennifer is a Natural Resource Biologist
with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is currently in the midst of
a six-year statewide survey of freshwater mussels.
A
limited number of canoes and kayaks are available at no charge for participants
who don't have their own. The paddle is open to everyone but children under age
16 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and additional information is
available at www.iowariverwatertrail.com or by calling (319) 645-1011. After
registration participants will receive a packet with detailed information about
the trip, including a map and shuttling instructions.
The
Iowa Water Trail is one of 19 official water trails in Iowa. This paddling trip
is cosponsored by Pathfinders RC&D, Johnson County Conservation Board and
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
*Back To School Help
It is time once
again to fill backpacks with school supplies for needy kids!
The
Homeless Children’s Trust provides help for children who have been homeless and
need special assistance. Counselors from HACAP, the Domestic Violence
Intervention Program, the Shelter House and MECCA provide us with the names of
families in crisis. The program supplies school supplies, backpacks, socks and
underwear to children of all ages.
You
can drop off items at the Little Red Schoolhouses found at: All UICCU
locations, all CORE Fitness locations, all HACAP locations, all Walgreens
locations, Waterfront and CV Hy Vees, the Senior Center, Big K Mart, KCJJ, and
Hills Bank on Gilbert Street.
Supplies
will be sorted and packed in the backpacks on August 12th. We will
meet at 1:00pm at the HACAP Family Service Center at 367 Southgate in Iowa City.
Please come and volunteer your time.
HACAP
provides Head Start classrooms for 260 children, 52 transitional housing units,
heating assistance, employment counseling and other programs in Johnson County.
Any donations given in Johnson County are used for families in need in Johnson
County.
Checks
may be written to the Homeless Children’s Trust and sent to HACAP at 367
Southgate, Iowa City 52240. For questions or to sign up for volunteer work on
Friday August 9th Call Mary Larew at 337-2264 or Jeanne Nunley at 337-5765.
HACAP is a United Way Agency.
*Stand Your Ground
The
Trayvon Martin case occurred in part because of a REALLY stupid law – “Stand
Your Ground”.
Yes,
there are several other issues involved. I do not mean to minimize any of the
concerns over race and justice. As a matter of fact, I’ll write about them in
another edition of Salvos. But Stand Your Ground makes everything worse.
Under
Iowa law, you may carry a firearm, but you may only use it if there was no
other way for you to leave the situation. This is the way most state laws used
to read. It is common sense. We do not want individuals taking the law into
their own hands. In Iowa, if you use your gun, you had better get it right, or
the penalties will be severe. That is as it should be. Brandishing and/or
firing a weapon is a BIG deal, and it should be treated as such.
Stand
Your Ground laws allow the person carrying the weapon to serve as judge, jury,
and executioner. Make a mistake? Too late – someone is already dead. A civilian
should ALWAYS be required to retreat if possible.
This
has nothing to do with gun rights. Carry all the guns you want. This is about
gun responsibilities. Carrying a gun is one thing. Using it is a whole
different ballgame.
Stand Your Ground is just stupid. It invites deadly conflict. It
legalizes vigilantism. Statistics show that gun deaths are up in states that
have passed these laws. I hope Legislators in Iowa maintain the common sense to
keep Stand Your Ground out of our state.
*Swisher Fun Days
The
fine people of Swisher are holding their annual Fun Days this Friday the 2nd,
Saturday the 3rd, and Sunday the 4th.
Swisher
is a cool little town well positioned between Coralville/North Liberty and
Cedar Rapids. They have a great new coffee shop, a wonderful new library, and
older landmarks like Shelton’s Grocery and the Dance Mor Ballroom. There are plenty
of good people doing good things in this town!
So
get up to Swisher this weekend and have some fun!
*DID YOU KNOW?
HACAP stands for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.
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
July 20, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/23/13
In this edition:
*RIP Bill Reagan
*ADA Celebration
*County Fair
*Covenants
*Celebration of Community
*Did You Know?
*RIP Bill Reagan
It
is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friend Bill Reagan. Bill and I
had a special bond, as we had both served as the Executive Director of the Arc
of Johnson County (later the Arc of SE Iowa). Bill was rare in that he wanted
my opinion as his predecessor. I can assure you – Bill did a fantastic job at
The Arc! And although he clearly ran things much better than I, he always made
me feel as though the successes of the organization were all mine!
Bill
dedicated his life to serving others, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
Bill was a big strong man with a soft heart. His handwritten notes are
legendary. Just a great person, gone far too soon. I can honestly say that I
don’t know if I ever met a finer man. RIP, Bill.
*ADA Celebration
The
annual celebration of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) in Johnson County is Saturday, July 27 from 10-4 at Chauncey Swan Park in
Iowa City. Join us!
*County Fair
The
Johnson County Fair runs Monday, July 22 through Thursday, July 25. I hope you
get an opportunity to check it out!
I
love the way the Johnson County Ag Association manages the County Fair. I am
particularly fond of the fact that there is never an entry fee, and parking is
free. In many counties, you would pay $10 to park and $5/head admission, if not
more. That is $30 minimum for a family of four before you have even done
anything!
The
Board of Supervisors started a “tradition” two years ago of holding our weekly
Thursday meeting on the main stage at the Fair. While we have yet to draw a big
crowd, it has been a fun change of pace.
Yes, it is typically hot out there. But that is why they sell ice
cream! So, please stop out and enjoy the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!
*Covenants
I
have deep concerns about what I believe to be the overuse of covenants,
particularly in our cities. A bit of background:
Covenants
are legally binding agreements that impose duties and restrictions upon a
property regardless of the owner. These are typically used in connection with
homeowners associations.
In
the rural areas, where municipal services do not exist, homeowners associations
often cover road maintenance, garbage collection, wells, and septic systems.
The associations elect a Board, and the Board manages the day-to-day operations
of the subdivision.
Homeowners associations and covenants make sense in this context,
as there is a great deal of communal property to manage. Members typically pay
membership dues, and these dues cover the cost of the services. The covenants
create the legal authority for these groups to act.
There are many cases, however, where covenants stray far from the
goal of managing communal property. Many homeowners associations use covenants
to restrict what color a home may be painted, what construction materials can
be used, and whether or not cars may be parked on the street. These “aesthetic”
concerns begin to worry me. I understand why a homeowners association would
include such rules, as they may well protect home values.
But how far is too far? As subdivisions spread in the early part
of the 20th century, several subdivisions attempted to use covenants
to keep African Americans from moving to the area. The US Supreme Court
invalidated this practice in 1948, by which time much damage had already been
done.
While racial discrimination is not overtly allowed, discrimination
often occurs on economic grounds. Covenants are virtually unlimited in scope,
and can cover any number of areas: whether or not home businesses are allowed;
the length of time guests are allowed; the length of your grass; the type of
holiday decorations you can display; whether or not you can park a boat in your
shed; or whether you can have a shed at all!
The
idea that “a man’s home is his castle” is not really the case when covenants
are involved. I happen to believe that many covenants are unnecessarily broad,
and range into areas of free speech, freedom of religion, etc.
This
is particularly concerning in our cities. As I explained earlier, homeowners
associations are often necessary in rural areas to manage communal resources. I
see no such need in cities, where basic services are provided by the
municipality. In cities, covenants seem to serve no real purpose but to discriminate
against certain ideas or behaviors. Cities already have ordinances on the
books; homeowners associations and their restrictive covenants are not
necessary.
Another
important issue is that of enforcement. When municipalities pass ordinances, a
taxpayer-supported law enforcement officer and a taxpayer-supported attorney
enforce the provisions of the law. Public dollars, public services.
But
what about private covenants? There is no private police – thank goodness! This
could be on the horizon, however, as some fancy gated communities in the US do
utilize private security. So how do you feel about being pulled over by a
private law enforcement officer? I don’t want my civil rights infringed upon
EVER, but when it happens, it had better be a real cop!
And
what about situations where publicly funded law enforcement officers are asked
to respond to perceived violations of private covenants? Do you want your
Sheriff’s Deputies responding to a complaint that a garbage can has not been
put away properly? We are beginning to get more and more calls of this nature.
Personally, I do not want to see public dollars used to police private issues.
I
simply do not like the privatization of all these public functions. Counties
are already pretty far down this road – out of necessity, I’m afraid. But
cities? Stop this nonsense! End covenants within your city limits!
*Celebration of Community
Johnson
County held a neat event on July 1, called “A Celebration of Community
Partners”. We highlighted all the nonprofits that work with Johnson County, and
thanked them for their work. We served local food prepared by the Shelter House
– a very cool thing! Finally, there was a nice tribute to Jim Swaim, who is
leaving UAY after over 40 years.
It
was a very nice event, and the people who were there really enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, the odds are really good that you know nothing about it. Why? Because
the Press Citizen and Gazette failed to cover it.
I
know, I know… I complain about this a lot. But the fact of the matter is, we
operate on the consent of the governed. If you do not know what is going on,
you cannot weigh in. If you do not weigh in, you are at our mercy. It sets up a
VERY bad situation.
The
real irony is that we held the event in an attempt to publicize all this good
work. It is just a shame. I feel as though I’m doing my job. Now we need the
papers to do their jobs. Then you can be the judge.
*DID YOU KNOW?
The original Johnson County Fairgrounds is now the site of City High.
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
July 5, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/9/13
In this edition:
*No Salvos Next Week!
*Welcome Larry Gullett!
*Tiffin Fest
*More on Janet Shipton
*Did You Know?
*No Salvos Next Week!
Even
the most prolific writers deserve a vacation, right? There will be no Salvos
dated July 16 (typically sent the weekend of July 13-14). The next Salvos will
be dated July 23, and should arrive the 20th or 21st.
Enjoy your break!
*Welcome Larry Gullett!
The Johnson County Conservation Board announces
that Larry Gullett has been selected for the position of Executive Director
beginning July 1, 2013. He will succeed Harry Graves who will retire on June 28
after serving 12 1/2 years as the Executive Director.
Larry
has over 25 years of experience working in conservation and currently serves as
the Jones County Conservation Board Executive Director. Larry will be only the
third Executive Director in the history of the Johnson County Conservation
Board with Rod Dunlap serving as the first Director from 1970 to 2001 and Harry
Graves serving from January, 2001 to June 2012.
Gullett
is a graduate of Iowa State University majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife
Biology and Environmental Studies. He began his conservation career as a
naturalist and park ranger in Dallas County before becoming the Executive
Director of the Jones County Conservation Board in 2004. During employment in
Dallas County, he founded and directed Prairie Awakening, a project that
involved Native Americans from 9 states and Canada in a weeklong music, dance
and story-telling event integrating Native American traditions and cultural
with prairie restoration. In Jones County, he has led the restoration of native
and re-constructed prairies, wetlands, savanna areas and pond and lakes and
worked to adopt sensitive design standards for recreational use of public areas
along the scenic Maquoketa River system.
Larry
currently serves on the State of Iowa Water Trails Advisory Committee and is a
member of the Board of Directors of Iowa Rivers Revival. He has written and
administered more than 45 successful grant applications from federal, state and
non-profit sources, resulting in more than $6 million in outside funding.
Larry
and his wife, Connie, are currently planning their move to Johnson County. He
has two boys, Ryan, who works in Hiawatha, and Cody, who is attending Central
College in Pella. Larry can be reached after July 1st at the Johnson County
Conservation Headquarters at 645-2315.
He will also be accessible by email at lgullett@co.johnson.ia.us or by cell
phone at (319) 400-1270.
*Tiffin Fest
The
booming town of Tiffin is holding its 4th annual Tiffin Fest this
Saturday, July 13th. Events include a parade, music, games, food,
and a rodeo. Hope you get a chance to explore the growing City of Tiffin!
*More On Janet Shipton
Last
week I mentioned the many Supervisors who have served Johnson County over the
past 30 years, and I was reminded of the fascinating story of Janet Shipton.
Shipton moved to Iowa City in 1957, and immediately got active in
the League of Women Voters. She became a US citizen in 1966. She served two
years on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors (‘78 and ‘79) following a
4-year term on the Johnson County Board of Health.
Having come of age during the creation of Britain’s National
Health Service, Supervisor Shipton put a great deal of time and effort into
health issues while in office.
I found the following article on her from the January 9, 2012
Odgen (UT) Standard-Examiner.
OGDEN — Janet Shipton likes to think of herself as
her husband’s wife, and not so much her father’s daughter. She is quick to say
she loved her father and cherishes the times she spent walking with him and
talking politics – something they did quite often, considering he was Great
Britain’s prime minister from 1945 to 1951.
Shipton’s
father was Clement Richard Attlee, a beloved political leader in England during
tough times – the Depression, World War II and the tough years following the
war were the years he served as prime minister.
Shipton
was a young woman when her dad took office, and though she never resided at No.
10 Downing St., she visited there often. She remembers her first visit there
after her dad was made prime minister.
“Things
weren’t as protected then, and I just walked right up to the door,” Shipton
said, smiling at the memory. She was in the Royal Air Force at the time and
went to the door in her uniform, not an uncommon sight at the time.
Shipton
moved to the Harrison Regent retirement home in Ogden in November. She has
lived in the Ogden area since 2006. She and her husband moved to the area to be
close to her granddaughter, but she immigrated to the United States in 1954
when her husband, whom she lovingly refers to as “Shippy,” came to start a
biomedical core program at the University of Iowa. They reared their children
in Iowa and then moved to St. Louis where he taught at Washington University
for 20 years. The couple then moved to Florida when her husband was stricken with
Parkinson’s disease and then settled in Utah where he died in 2007.
She
has lived a very full life. Now 88, she said she is starting to feel her age,
although she has always acted young.
“No one in our family is
very mature for their age,” she said with a laugh.
Shipton
was the oldest of four children, and when her father became the prime minister
she was a little more removed from things than her younger siblings. For her,
having a prime minister for a father wasn’t a difficult thing.
“I
didn’t have a challenging role because I was a grown-up child,” she said, still
speaking with a pronounced British accent. “My poor mother. We were just an
ordinary family, and then she was moving into No. 10 Downing St.”
She
remembers that Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston Churchill,who preceded
Attlee as prime minister, helped her mother learn her duties as prime
minister’s wife, and her sister loved attending the parties and events that
were required.
“I
liked living my life as my husband’s wife, and then when I am in England, I am
my father’s daughter,” she said. “It is really like playing a role, like
acting, you see.”
Her
most cherished memory of that time was visiting Chequers, the country residence
of the prime minister in Buckinghamshire. She loved the country, and that’s
where she took her husband to ask her father for her hand in marriage.
“My
father was wonderful,” she said.
She
remembers detectives always being around and said they looked into her
husband’s background.
“He
completely trusted my judgment,” she said of her father.
“(Shipton)
had no money, no looks, really not much of anything,” she said.
But
her father knew her mind, and he knew she would marry Shipton anyway, so he was
kind about it.
She
married in Bristol the Thursday before Queen Elizabeth’s wedding. All of her
guests came in on a train, and she remembers it was a very delicate process to
plan to the wedding.
“When
you are a prime minister, you have many decisions to make, and planning a date
for a daughter’s wedding can be difficult,” she said.
She
speaks with pride of her father and his many accomplishments while in office,
including his work in India. She has photos on the wall showing him during his
days as prime minister. Many other English touches are in place as well, such
as the porcelain teacups on a shelf on the wall.
Her
only regret is the time she didn’t get to spend with her father. He went into
Parliament in the 1920s and was politically active all of her life. That’s why
the time at Chequers was always so special for her.
She
said she doesn’t like to tell people right away who she is.
“I
want people to know me for me,” she said, but some people figure it out before
she shares the information. She has always tried to stay active politically,
because politics is something she feels strongly about.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Janet Shipton’s papers are available at the Iowa Women’s Archives.
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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