rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 19, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/24/18
In this edition:
*No Salvos Next Week!
*Labor Center
*Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC)
*Did You Know?
*No Salvos Next Week!
There will be no Salvos next week. Expect your next edition (dated 8/7/18) around August 2ndor 3rd.
*Labor Center
I am extremely disheartened by UI President Harreld’s decision to close the UI Labor Center. This decision is shortsighted, and will negatively impact worker safety and training statewide. It reinforces the idea that education is a commodity to be purchased by the wealthy, rather than a commitment of the state to all its’ citizens. I sincerely hope this decision will be reconsidered.
And I would be lying if I said this wasn’t personal. The people at the Labor Center are my friends. My heart aches.
It is also important to note that other UI Centers were eliminated. The process used to make these cuts was neither transparent nor effective; the UI blows through money at a remarkable rate. Almost every employee could point to an area where $100,000 could be saved. Why not enlist their help, and get their buy in? Save money AND preserve programs!
What can you do? I will give you the same answer I have given before: VOTE!
*Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC)
The Board recently voted to purchase 5.34 acres of land on Southgate Avenue in SE Iowa City for the purpose of constructing a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC). The purchase price was $1.35 million - $5.80 per square foot. The vote was 4-1 to move forward with the project.
You may have heard this project referred to as an “Access Center”, or “Crisis Intervention Training” (CIT). Both terms refer to related projects. (We will get to that later.)
In general, the BHUCC is a result of the efforts of former Johnson County Jail Alternatives Coordinator Jessica Peckover. Jessica had visited a program in Bexar County, Texas (San Antonio) that had done a remarkable job of redirecting people with mental health and/or substance abuse issues from the jail and emergency room to more appropriate services. Jessica came away impressed, and convinced a number of Johnson County folks to visit as well. (I was one of those visitors.)
The program in Bexar County is a true win-win-win. First, and most importantly, sick people get the care they need. Secondly, officers are able to drop off patients quickly and get back on the streets, increasing public safety. Finally, local governments actually save money serving these folks. Win-win-win.
We decided to move forward. That process started with sending local law enforcement officers to San Antonio to be trained in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). After sending dozens of officers from various agencies, we felt comfortable doing the training ourselves here in Johnson County. As of this writing, over 90% of all law enforcement officers in Johnson County have been trained on CIT.
But training officers is only one piece of the puzzle. We also need to provide those officers an option other than jail or the ER. That alternative is the BHUCC. Until and unless this is built, patients will not be helped, officers cannot fully implement their training, and any savings will be negligible.
The BHUCC is joint project including but not limited to Johnson County; a number of cities, including Iowa City and Coralville; numerous local nonprofits; and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UIHC.
This was not a question of, “Are we doing a BHUCC?” The County and Cities have already made that decision, and already invested tremendous amounts of resources to that end. These include:
*Literally hundreds of hours of meetings;
*Dozens of trips by dozens of people to San Antonio
*Every public safety officer in Johnson County save just a few has received extensive training on CIT.
The decision to create the BHUCC was made a long time ago. A “no” vote means backing out of that commitment.
A “no” vote is the equivalent of a big “screw you” to law enforcement officers, who have begged for help for decades. A “no” vote is the equivalent of a big “screw you” to family members, who have begged for help for decades. A “no” vote is the equivalent of a big “screw you” to people who would be served by the BHUCC, who have needed help for decades. A “no” vote helps no one.
It has been mentioned that a portion of this property flooded in 2008, and was in the 100-year flood plain. This is true. Despite hyperbole to the contrary, this property has flooded just twice in 50 years. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.
But as a condition of purchase, the property is being built up to one above the 2008 flood levels. This means that unless we have a flood event bigger than 2008, the flood risk has been mitigated. There are additional things we can do – concrete floors, raised electrical service, air conditioning on the roof – that will further reduce any risks.
Frankly, if we have a flood bigger than 2008, we will have other things about which we need to worry. You can never prepare for every eventuality. We have taken the appropriate steps in this case.
What’s more, if 2008 is the standard we are going to follow, we should move out of the current Administration, Health and Human Services, and Ambulance/Medical Examiner Buildings. All these locations were cut off by floodwaters in 2008. Yet I have not heard that suggested.
Let’s even go so far as to say that this property floods every June. I would argue that having the BHUCC eleven out of every twelve months would be worth it! Right now, we have a BHUCC ZERO months per year. Eleven out of every twelve months would really help people!
Another objection is that it would be cheaper to renovate an existing building. That would be great, if it was true. It is not.We have reviewed every building on the market, and some that aren’t even for sale. There is no good fit. It is clearly going to be cheaper to build to suit. That is not my opinion – that is the opinion of experts. People who say otherwise are wrong, plain and simple.
This particular location has several advantages: It is close to the Crisis Center, Shelter House, and Prelude, all of which are going to be key players in the project. Law enforcement officers like the location. It offers the opportunity to both build what we need now and to expand in the future, if necessary. Similarly, we can build separate buildings if state rules and regs end up requiring it. It is on a bus line. And the price was pretty reasonable.
The Board did not reach these conclusions alone – we enlisted the help of local Realtor Jeff Edberg, who, with all due respect to the other fine folks in the field, is the top Commercial Realtor in Johnson County. Jeff knows this business, knows this particular site, and felt this was a very good deal.
It is pretty rare that any decision is risk free. There is always some level of risk. There are also risks in failing to act. We have waited long enough. It is time to act.
Again, a “no” vote does not help law enforcement officers, who have begged for help for decades. A “no” vote does not help family members, who have begged for help for decades. A “no” vote does not help people who would be served by the BHUCC, who have needed help for decades. A “no” vote helps no one.
I am proud of the work we have done so far, and proud of my vote on this property. People with mental illnesses and their families deserve better. It is time we took this step.
*DID YOU KNOW? The UI Labor Center was founded in 1951.
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 12, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/17/18
In this edition:
*RIP Bob Ray
*Solon Beef Days
*Johnson County Fair
*Staff Recommendations
*Your Favorite Books!
*Did You Know?
*RIP Bob Ray
Bob Ray served as the Governor of Iowa from 1969-1983. Those were my formative years. In a way, he will always be my definition of a Governor. By now you have read all the tributes – I will simply add that Bob Ray was a good man!
Interestingly, Governor Ray’s wife Billie was my landlord for a couple of years in the early 1990s at the Broadway Condos in SE Iowa City. I wish I had some great story to tell, but I never met her. I was satisfied with her as a landlord, and she was satisfied with me as a tenant.
RIP, Governor Ray. May your sense of fairness, compassion, wisdom, and progressive vision serve as an influence on those who seek to hold the office now and in the future!
*Solon Beef Days
The 47th annual Solon Beef Days runs Friday and Saturday July 20 & 21 in Solon. Steaks, rides, entertainment, a parade, and the now-legendary hay bale toss are just a few of the items on tap.
I say this every year, and it is because it comes from a place of pride: I can honestly say that I have been to roughly 42 of the 47 Beef Days. I wear it like a badge of honor! Make this the year to start your own streak!
For all the details, including a full schedule of events, see: http://beefdays.com/
*Johnson County Fair
The Johnson County Fair is changing things this year! Unlike the typical Monday-Thursday schedule, the 2018 Fair runs from Sunday, July 22 through Wednesday, July 25. Regardless of the dates, this is a great opportunity for the whole family to take a step back toward our agricultural roots!
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!
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!
For the full daily lineup of events, see: http://www.johnsoncofair.com/entertainment.html
*Staff Recommendations
One of the most delicate balances for any elected official is the balance between following staff recommendations and following the wishes of individual members of the public.
On one hand, it is absolutely vital that elected officials trust their staff people. We hire people to be experts. If we are not willing to heed expert advice, why employ an expert?
On the flip side, we all have instances where we disagree. If elected officials blindly follow staff recommendations, things will not go well. Elected officials are charged with weighing staff expertise versus public opinion and other mitigating circumstances.
So, how does an elected official strike a healthy balance? In my mind, the most important factor is hiring good people. If elected officials have less than 99% confidence in key staff, there will be trouble. Second-guessing hurts everyone involved.
Part of the measure of a really good staff person is her ability to accept things when elected officials overrule or disagree with her. I always appreciate it when staff people turn things around on elected officials, and let them own the decision. For example:
“Here is the situation. Here are your adopted policies that may/may not be applicable. Here is my recommendation. Here is why I recommend it. If you choose to accept my recommendation, here are the possible ramifications. If you choose not to accept my recommendation, here are the possible ramifications. Let me know what you decide, and I’ll begin implementing it right away.”
We are very fortunate in Johnson County, as we have some EXTREMELY good staff people. Many run through the decision making process just as I laid it out above. I follow their lead most of the time. When I do not follow their advice, we discuss the reasons why, and there are no hard feelings. (At least, I HOPE there are no hard feelings!) There are ways to disagree without throwing staff under the bus; as Elected Officials, we should act accordingly most of the time.
There is no magic number when it comes to following staff recommendations, but it probably shouldn’t be 100%. If so, one must question the ability of the elected official to think independently. A more important factor is the dialogue that occurs around these decisions. Elected officials and staff should both be able to articulate their positions clearly.
Pay attention to the interactions between professional staff and elected officials. These relationships are the key to how well your government will operate.
*Your Favorite Books!
In the last edition of Salvos, I asked for your favorite books. And you responded! A couple of people (Paul Deaton of Big Grove Township and Lisa Green Douglass of Madison Township) actually gave me more than I can print! (Email me if you want their lists.)
Most people offered some sort of caveats – “This is my current favorite,” or “This is my favorite fiction.” I expected this from UNESCO City of Literature Executive Director John Kenyon; picking a favorite book for John would be akin to picking his favorite son! But most respondents offered some type of caveats. I think this demonstrates just how seriously people in our county take their literature!
So, here are a few selections from a few Salvos readers. Enjoy!
Peter Hanson: “Grapes of Wrath”, by John Steinbeck
Sally Jablonski: Children- “My Side of the Mountain” by George; Adults – “The Book of Joy” by Dalai Lama and Bishop Tutu
Sherman Johnson: "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn
Joe Nugent: “The Quiet American” by Graham Greene
Jim Walters: Melville's “Moby Dick”
Eric Johnson: non-fiction - "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen"; Fiction - "The Long Walk" by Stephen King
Janet Lessner: George Saunders' “Lincoln in the Bardo”
Scott McDonough: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Rebecca Reiter: '"Grapes of Wrath" and "Animal Farm"
Jenny Britton: "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" and "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"
John Kenyon: "The End of Vandalism" by Tom Drury
Peter Fisher: “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller, “The Milagro Beanfield War” by John Nichols, and “Straight Man” by Richard Russo
Linda Levey:Richard Russo “The Bridge of Sighs”; Gordon Woods “The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin”.
*DID YOU KNOW? The Johnson County Fair is put on every year by the Johnson County Ag Association.
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 4, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/10/18
In this edition:
*Civility in Politics
*Doing Things the “Right Way”
*Your Favorite Book?
*Hypocrisy of the Year!
*Kaufmann Update
*Did You Know?
*Civility in Politics
I asked your thoughts last week re: the Sara Huckabee Sanders situation at the restaurant. The majority of respondents said they would have given her good service, but told her matter-of-factly (but civilly) how they felt before she left.
In case you think this situation is new, I did get this tidbit - One man in Iowa City was decidedly quietly impolite to a politician with whom he disagreed... In 1993 former president Ronald Reagan came to the Hamburg Inn. As he walked past the counter shaking hands one man refused to extend his hand. Carl Schlueter of Iowa City later said that he “considered Reagan a sonovabitch” and so refused to shake his hand. A Local Access TV show called, "The Sanders Group" named the next day "Carl Schlueter Day in Iowa City". Carl is still in Iowa City and just turned 90!
*Doing Things the “Right Way”
Growing up, we all had that person in our lives who taught us that it wasn’t good enough to just complete a task; we needed to do it the “right way.”
For me, it was my Grandpa. He always preached that taking ten extra seconds to do something the “right way” – like putting the lid back on the paint can – could save you hours of work later. As an adult, I find myself preaching this at my house all the time.
Now, you could argue that my Grandpa took it too far. You could eat off the floor of his shop. He barely let a stray kernel of corn hit the ground; that would have been a waste. He saved every drop of used motor oil. His lawn was mowed religiously. He REALLY believed there was a “right way” of doing things!
Perhaps the person who said this to you took the idea of the “right way” too far; perhaps she didn’t. Perhaps you heeded that person; perhaps you didn’t. Whatever the case, we can all think of examples, such as coaches who refer to athletes as “playing the game the right way”.
There are a number of situations where government serves as a regulating agency. In most cases, most Americans regulate themselves. They don’t need written rules or enforcement to be have the “right way.” A minority of the people actually require regulation. These are the people who fail to do things the “right way.”
Take raising hogs, for example. If every farmer TRULY did things the “right way”, we would see much lower environmental impacts. Gun ownership is almost always done the “right way”; but when things happen otherwise, the results are tragic. There are reasons that doctors prescribe opioids; but we have a crisis (in part) because some doctors don’t do it the “right way”.
Unfortunately, we make laws precisely because some people do not do things the “right way.” If only they had had to answer to my Grandpa!
*Your Favorite Book?
I had the privilege of serving on the Board of the UNESCO City Of Literature at its inception. One of the best parts of being on that Board was the opportunity to discuss what people enjoy reading.
The City of Literature designation is certainly due to the presence of the UI Writer’s Workshop and UI International Writing Program, but there are other factors that are less discussed but also important.
The fantastic libraries and booksellers we have are also a key component, as are the citizens who do all the reading. Our literate citizenry played a big part in the UNESCO designation.
So, citizens… I would like to run a short and decidedly unscientific poll of Salvos readers. What is your favorite book? If a few titles outpoll all the rest, I’ll let readers know.
Personally, I have to divide it into genres. I read a lot as a child. Add that to being a father of three and a foster parent, and I have to acknowledge children’s lit separately.
People who know me well know that I could be described as a softy, a hopeless romantic, a sap – choose your term. This side of me is demonstrated in my favorite children’s book – “I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch. I can hardly get through it without tearing up!
My favorite work of fiction is “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole. I love a book that makes you laugh out loud!
So – how about you, Salvos readers? What are your favorites?
*Hypocrisy of the Year!
There is no shortage of hypocrisy in the Iowa Legislature. So it should come as no surprise that the single MOSThypocritical act of the year comes from a member of that body.
House File 2253 essentially put an end to lease/purchase agreements for cities and counties. This was a blow to our colleagues in Linn County, who had already begun a large Public Health Building using this process.
While the issue did not directly affect Johnson County, we were still very opposed to the Legislature removing yet another matter from local control. So we opposed HF2253. It passed nonetheless, and was signed by the Governor on April 4th.
Now for the hypocrisy: the leading advocate for HF2253 was a Republican from Johnston named Jake Highfill, who thinks he is smarter than everyone else in Iowa – therefore, he should make all decisions from Des Moines. Highfill has led the attacks on local control.
So what should we happen to discover in the Standings Bill? It just so happened to include a provision to exclude ONEsingle project from HF2253. That project? A lease/purchase agreement for the City of Johnston, where Highfill lives.
I am CERTAIN this is just an oversight, and Representative Highfill will quickly rectify the situation! NOT!
I give you Representative Jake Highfill, Republican from Johnston – Hypocrite of the Year!
*Kaufmann Update
As you may recall, on March 21 I challenged State Representative Bobby Kaufmann to a debate on HF2372. (I texted him the challenge before it appeared in Salvos.)
The bill was later changed, and passed in a different form. But he still supported taking away even more local control. (Not from his Dad, mind you, but from Johnson County.) I still think this is a terrible vote, and an important topic to discuss. I still want the debate.
I have not yet received a response from Representative Kaufmann. I will keep you posted.
*DID YOU KNOW? There have been 4 players in the history of Major League Baseball born in Johnson County, Iowa: Lee Meyer, who played in 1909; Craig Colbert, who played in 72 MLB games in 1992-3; Jeff Larish, who played in 101 MLB games from 2008-10; and Michael Wacha, currently with the Cardinals. (Many others lived in Johnson County at other times in their lives; this list is only those born here.)
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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