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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 27, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 1/1/19
In this edition:
*Welcome to 2019!
*Welcome Pat!
*Serving as Vice Chair
*Election Turnout
*Government Shutdown
*Yes, Virginia…
*”Leaning In”
*Did You Know?
*Welcome to 2019!
Happy New Year! Here’s to a better and brighter year ahead! I have never been big on New Year’s resolutions – you can see that by my weight! But I certainly welcome the “fresh start” feel of the New Year. I hope 2019 is good to you and yours!
*Welcome Pat!
Pat Heiden joins the Board of Supervisors as of January 2nd. Pat was elected back in November, when she was the top vote-getter in a three-way race.
I am excited to be working with Pat. I didn’t know her particularly well until she started running for office in 2016, but I have learned that she is smart, thoughtful, kind, and progressive. I look forward to working with her! Welcome aboard, Pat!
*Serving as Vice Chair
I will be serving as the Vice Chair of the Board this year, while Supervisor Green Douglass serves as Chair. If things go according to plan, I will then become the Chair in 2020.
The Vice Chair assists the Chair in setting the meeting agendas, ands runs meetings in the absence of the Chair. It amounts to a little extra work, but not much.
*Election Turnout
The recent Special Election for Supervisor had a turnout of just under 10%. In almost any other endeavor, that would be considered an abysmal failure. Get 10% correct on a quiz, and you had best drop the class. Get 10% of your work done, and you will be looking for another job. Even in baseball, where getting a hit 30% of the time is outstanding, 10% finds you picking another line of work.
But for some reason, Americans accept very low voter turnout rates. And in special elections, we are even more forgiving. I really hate the fact that we Americans are so willing to ignore these abysmal rates.
I am intrigued by the way Australia does it. Voting there is compulsory; if you fail to vote, you get a fine. On the other hand, they have extensive mail in and early voting options, as well as an Election Day holiday.
I don’t know – I certainly do not have the answers. But I sure wish more than 10% of eligible voters actually voted!
*Government Shutdown
I was saddened to see yet another shutdown of the federal government. The country deserves better!
Just remember – this shutdown occurred while Republicans had control of the Presidency, Senate, and House. In theory, they can do anything they want. The fact that this shutdown happened simply reinforces how terrible this group has been when it comes to governing.
*Yes, Virginia…
Over Christmas I was telling the kids the story of Francis Church’s 1897 masterpiece editorial, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” I went back and reread it.
I can be overly sentimental. But this is one of the finest pieces of writing in the history of the English language. And he wrote it for a daily paper! There was no opportunity for lots of rewrites and editing.
Please take a moment and read it again. Especially in these times, it will really warm your heart!
*”Leaning In”
I was one of many people who celebrated when Michelle Obama called out the idea of “Leaning In”. By now we are all familiar with Lean In, the book written by Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg. Lean In (according to Sandberg herself) “meansto be assertive, to move toward a leading, rather than a following, role.”
There is nothing wrong on the face of that message. I’m sure that for many women and girls, it is good advice. Michelle Obama’s criticism is not that. Obama’s criticism is that the whole idea behind Lean In is that individual success is completely up to each individual woman, who just needs to pull herself up by her bootstraps. It is putting lipstick on a pig – in this case, the old American myth of rugged individualism. And that is crap.
We live in a world where literally billions of women are second class citizens. They do not enjoy the rights that men enjoy, and various combinations of government, religion, and big business are comfortable keeping them subjugated.
Things are better in the global West, but only when in comparison to the rest of the world. In America, women still only make about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. We still have policies that punish motherhood. And wealthy white women like Sandberg pile on by blaming women themselves for their lack of “achievement”.
When Johnson County raised the minimum wage in 2015, I was struck by the fact that it affected many more women than men, and that many of those women were mothers. Why are we blaming these women for that situation?
When the Iowa Legislature convenes in a couple of weeks, you will hear all kinds of stuff from leaders in businesses, education, and politics about how Iowa needs to do more to train its’ workforce. While I am certainly not against training, that is NOT the issue!
I would love someone to stand up at one of those meetings and say, “Want workers to do better? Why don’t we raise the minimum wage? Why don’t we mandate paid sick leave? Why don’t we offer free Community College? Why don’t we ensure that every Iowan has adequate health care? Why don’t we address our childcare crisis? Why don’t we do more to promote public housing and public transit? Why do we continue to blame all our problems on a lack of training?”
Women didn’t cause our problems. The men who run big businesses and the mostly-male politicians who grovel at their feet caused these problems. They should be held to account.
Unfortunately, Sheryl Sandberg joined her fellow big business partners in blaming women workers for our current state of affairs. Fortunately, Michelle Obama keenly noted that women workers are not the problem!
*DID YOU KNOW? What was the last county to relocate its courthouse from one city to another? The surprising answer - Linn. The Linn County seat was Marion from 1839 until 1919. However, the bond issue for the present Linn County Courthouse was not approved until 1923, and the county's records remained in Marion until completion of the courthouse in 1925. Source - Leroy G. Pratt, The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa (1977).
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
December 20, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/25/18
In this edition:
*Election Results!
*Happy New Year!
*Salvos Salutes!
*Did You Know?
*Election Results!
Democrat Royceann Porter defeated Republican Phil Hemingway 56-43 to win the open seat on the Board of Supervisors. Porter replaces the late Kurt Friese, and becomes the first African American ever to hold countywide office in Johnson County.
I want to take a moment to thank Phil for the positive way in which he ran his campaign. He stated multiple times that he liked and respected Royceann, and true to his word, he behaved accordingly.
Royceann can be seated as soon as the Canvass of votes is completed on December 26th. Congratulations!
*Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all Salvos readers! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful 2019!
*Salvos Salutes!
2018 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos Salute. A few observations:
* This is the twelfth annual set of awards, and there are always more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a great County!
* The focus is on Johnson County. It is certainly worth noting the daily heroism of someone like our firefighters, police, and paramedics. There are also examples that garner international attention. But we have everyday heroes right here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.
* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the question.
* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, and look out for the less fortunate.
Without further adieu, your 2018 Salvos Salutes go to:
Bob Dvorsky (again):A rare repeat winner! Senator Dvorsky is retiring from the Iowa Senate after 38 years in public office.Congratulations on your retirement, Senator. Thank you for all you have done over the years. You have been a friend and a role model. I have learned a lot from you, and you have my never-ending respect and admiration. To Sir With Love. Best wishes.
Dick Schwab and Katherine Burford (again):Another couple repeat winners! I listed their accomplishments once in Salvos; it took the whole edition! They have been the premier philanthropists in Johnson County for 30 years. Nobody else is close. And as they moved away, in a final act of charitable kindness, they make a $1 million donation to the Johnson County Conservation Department! They are truly good people, and I will really miss Dick and Katherine!
Christopher Taylor (again):What was that I said about repeat winners? The Mayor of Swisher and Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party, Mr. Taylor is a fantastic young leader and a damned good guy. I expect big things from him in the future! And why not? He is doing big things now!
Royceann Porter (again):This is the year of repeat winners! When she was honored in 2014, I wrote: “No matter the issue, Royceann Porter has become the “go-to” person for the local African American community. The community is too large and diverse to have a single spokesperson, but Royceann is widely respected as a problem solver. Understand – this is a tremendous weight to place on one woman’s shoulders! But Royceann has proven herself to be up to the task.”
Fast forward to 2018, and Royceann has taken the next step – becoming the first African American ever elected to Countywide office!
Cheryl Stowe:Since I am breaking all the rules anyway – Sherry was not from Johnson County. We used to work together, and during that time, she became one of my best friends. Sherry was absolutely one of a kind. Funny, smart, and caring. Unfortunately, she was brutally murdered earlier this year near her home in Western Iowa. RIP, Sherry. I will never forget you!
Bob Burns:Nobody in Johnson County knows more about affordable housing than local architect Bob Burns. He did the first tax credit project in the State of Iowa, and he has been developing affordable housing ever since. Many of the affordable housing units in existence in Johnson County today were done by Bob Burns. He is scaling back his work this year, and deserves our thanks!
Kevin “BF” Burt:The Board recognized Kevin “BF” Burt this year after he won the 34thAnnual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. We could have just as easily honored him for being a damned good guy who freely gives of his time and talent. Johnson County is so blessed to be the adopted home of this musical legend!
Jeff Edberg:Not only is he the best commercial real estate broker in Johnson County – Jeff Edberg is a wonderful human being who has been a strong advocate for fixing the Iowa Medicaid program. In addition, Jeff helped Johnson County and our partner cities to locate the best possible site for the new Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC). Thanks, Jeff! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Stephen Trefz: Personally, professionally, politically… Stephen Trefz is truly one of the good guys. Stephen recently retired from Abbe Health after a long career serving those with mental health needs in Johnson County.I have known Stephen since the 80s when he was a therapist at Mid-Eastern Iowa Community Mental Health, an organization he later led. He has always been a force for good in our community, and I wish him all the best in his retirement. Thanks, Stephen, for all your great work!
Flip It Iowa: This group of Johnson County residents worked their tails off to elect Democrats in neighboring House and Senate Districts. It is easy to say they weren’t that successful, but that would be wrong! Every time we stand up and speak out, we chip away at the wall. Thanks to all the Flip It folks!
Susan Craig:All she did was run the greatest place on earth for a quarter century! Top that! Congratulations on your retirement after 43 years of service to the Iowa City Public Library, including the last 24 as Director!
Eastside Democrats:The Iowa Democratic Party doesn’t need to staff Johnson County as thoroughly as it used to. Why? Because the Eastside Democrats kick butt! This group of (primarily) women decided to take on electoral politics a couple of cycles ago, and they have changed the game!
Sharon Lake:The leader of the aforementioned Eastside Democrats, Sharon is an indefatigable worker and a dynamic leader. Democrats throughout the State owe her for her remarkable volunteer work!
Little Village:Johnson County has really suffered from a lack of news coverage. Democracy depends upon an informed public; unfortunately, that has become difficult in our current environment. This is why Little Village shines like a beacon in the night! Not only do they cover important topics that others ignore, but they ask tough questions. They also write the things others are thinking but will not put in print. Bravo, Little Village!
Jim Pregon:A Deputy Treasurer for the past 28 years, Jim is one of the hardest workers I have ever met. He comes in early, stays late, and works until the job is finished and finished correctly. When you see a guy on his knees in the parking lot, changing license plates for a little old lady? That was Jim. And that is an everyday occurrence. While I congratulate him on his retirement, I know Johnson County will really miss Jim Pregon!
Kurt Friese:Oh, Kurt. My heart hurts. You were quite a character. Gone far too young, my colleague Kurt Friese made a huge impact in a short time as a member of the Board of Supervisors. I will always remember his flair, his wit, and his deep concern for those who are less fortunate. RIP, my friend.
Congratulations to all our winners!
*DID YOU KNOW? 175 individuals/groups have received a Salvos Salute since they were started in 2006.
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
December 13, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/18/18
In this edition:
*Merry Christmas!
*Holiday Office Schedule
*Caravan
*Vote!
*Being “Unrepresented”
*Choosing an Architect
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
*Did You Know?
*Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!
*Holiday Office Schedule
A quick note on the Johnson County schedule for the holidays – administrative offices will be closed on Monday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) and Tuesday the 25th(Christmas), reopening on Wednesday the 26th.
Offices will be open on Monday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) and closed on Tuesday, January 1st (New Year’s Day). Offices open again on Wednesday, January 2nd.
As always, the Sheriff’s Office, Jail, 911 dispatch, Medical Examiner’s Office, and Ambulance service will be running 24/7/365.
*Caravan
You have all heard about that big caravan of immigrants, right? No, not the ones the US Government tear gassed. The caravan in Syria 2000 years ago!
It went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem - the town of David. Ever heard of it?
*Vote!
If you are a Democrat and/or a progressive, I need your help. We have a Special Election on Tuesday, December 18 to fill the office of Supervisor. The Democratic candidate is Royceann Porter, and she needs your support.
Early voting is available from 7:45 am -5:30 pm from December 5th -14th and December 17th at the Auditor’s Office. There will be a satellite December 14 at UIHC, and December 15 at the IC Public Library.
We still need people who are willing to knock doors and make phone calls. Please email me if you are able to help.
*Being “Unrepresented”
I am frankly growing pretty weary of certain groups whining about being “unrepresented”. Especially old, white, straight men.
“Unrepresented.” In the immortal words of Inigo Montoya:“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
What does it mean to be "unrepresented"? If there has NEVER been a black woman elected to County office... Isn't that as "unrepresented" as you can possibly get? I did say NEVER!
Johnson County Supervisors are elected at large. We all represent the whole county – including those with whom we disagree.
*Choosing an Architect
One Supervisor has gotten a lot of publicity lately in her protestations over Johnson County’s choice of Newman Monson Architects to design the new Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC). I disagree strongly. Here are just a few reasons why:
1.) State law does NOT require a bid. It is very clear. So no laws are being violated in any way, shape, or form. It is true that Johnson County has typically done some type of RFP/RFQ in these situations, but there are reasons we chose to go a different direction on this project. (See below.)
2.) Kevin Monson has given a great deal of his own time to this project at NO COST to taxpayers. (This gave him a leg up in terms of knowledge of the project. But he earned that leg up through his volunteerism!)
3.) Once we began paying an hourly fee for architectural services, we began paying Newman Monson. The Board voted unanimously to do so. (There is a second leg up.)
4.) I spoke to a couple local architects about this situation. They were actually glad that the County was being transparent about Kevin Monson’s involvement. They REALLY didn’t want to go to the trouble of preparing a proposal knowing he had such a head start. It would have been a waste of their time and resources. They appreciated our candor.
5.) Other architects are free to volunteer on other projects. It just might buy them some goodwill! That said, there was never any quid pro quo – “Work on this for free, and we’ll give you a contract.” In fact, it was quite the opposite… at one point, the Board decided we were taking advantage of Mr. Monson and needed to begin paying him!
6.) Newman Monson’s rate is right in the middle of what is viewed as usual and customary by the American Institute of Architecture (AIA).
There is nothing to see here. Just someone trying to create a controversy where there is none. It is just another attempt to subvert the BHUCC project. I expect several more before we are finished.
The whole thing makes me angry, because the insinuation is that the rest of the Board and Mr. Monson are somehow unethical. That is simply untrue. Mr. Monson deserves SO much better, especially given his many charitable contributions to this project and others! Kevin Monson is a great guy and a very giving person. He deserves an apology.
My fellow Supervisor claims to support the BHUCC project, but votes against it every chance she gets. She takes every opportunity to delay and obstruct BHUCC progress. Trust me, the people actually doing the work on this project do NOT feel supported! With supporters like this, who needs enemies?
*Salvos Salutes Next Week!
We live in a GREAT county! Why? Because of the great people that live here! Unfortunately, we rarely do enough to acknowledge these wonderful people and the wonderful things they do.
That is why I really look forward to Salvos Salutes. It provides an opportunity to mention just a few of these cool people and the good things they do. I hope you look forward to it as well!
*DID YOU KNOW? There are two of Iowa’s 99 County Seats that span more than one county: Des Moines (Polk and Warren) and Forest City (Winnebago and Hancock). Cedar Rapids may end up number three; they own part of a road in Johnson County.
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
December 6, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/11/18
In this edition:
*Special Election
*Houses Into Homes
*Development in Southern Johnson County
*Did You Know?
*Special Election
If you are a Democrat and/or a progressive, I need your help. We have a Special Election on Tuesday, December 18 to fill the office of Supervisor. The Democratic candidate is Royceann Porter, and she needs your support. This election is no gimme!
Early voting began December 5th, and will be available from 7:45 am -5:30 pm from December 10th -14th and December 17th at the Auditor’s Office. There will be a satellite December 14 at UIHC, and December 15 at the IC Public Library.
We need people who are willing to knock doors and make phone calls. Please email me if you are able to help.
*Houses Into Homes
I am excited about the work of a newer group called Houses Into Homes! A bit of background: Many years ago, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) would find a woman and her family an apartment, but the place was completely empty. So DVIP began taking donations of furniture.
The results were great! So great, in fact, that DVIP formed “The Furniture Project”, an effort to get furniture to those who needed it. People could donate their used furniture and get a tax deduction; those receiving furniture simply needed a referral from a reputable social services agency.
I am very familiar with the work of the Furniture Project, because I volunteered there for almost a decade. I was a very good fit; I taught Batterer’s Education, so I was familiar with the dynamics. In addition, I had a strong back and an old beater pickup. I was exactly what they needed!
So I would go about once a week, for an hour or two, with staff from DVIP (typically Chris). We would get the furniture to those in need, and it felt great!
Unfortunately, as DVIP experienced greater demand coupled with less funding, they needed to give up some things. The City of Iowa City kindly volunteered to take over the Furniture Project. Regrettably, 5 years later, the Furniture Project was no more.
Fast forward to today. Another group of volunteers has decided to step in and fill this need. Houses Into Homes is the brainchild of Lucy Barker and Salina McCarty. And they need your help!
There is a big need for volunteer trucks and/or trailers for Houses into Homes delivery days. They have a waiting list of 22 referrals right now, and are really only able to get to about 8 in one day with one truck. The more vehicles they have, the more people they can help!
They have deliveries this month on December 16. They start loading around 9:30 and do a morning round of deliveries. They pause for lunch and then load up for afternoon deliveries. They have a sign up: Sign Up to Volunteer that people can use. They also have deliveries scheduled for January 6 and 20 and plan to do deliveries every first and third Sunday of the month after that.
Another way that someone with a truck could help would be to make pick-ups, and that can be arranged at times other than delivery days.
*Development in Southern Johnson County
Facebook can be a messy place. But sometimes it results in some interesting discussions. That was the case recently, when I jumped into a thread started by Lone Tree Mayor Jonathon Green.
Let me begin by saying that I really like and respect Jonathon Green. He is a good guy, an excellent Mayor, and I consider him a friend. I am also a big fan of the current Lone Tree Council. It is full of good people who just want to make their town a better place to live, and are willing to take a few slings and arrows in the process. I really do like and respect these folks.
Where the Mayor and I seem to disagree is on the matter of development in the rural areas outside of Lone Tree. A bit of history: southern Johnson County is generally home to better farmland than northern Johnson County. Boards of Supervisors dating all the way back to 1960 have acknowledged this fact, and thus directed development to the lower-quality land in the north.
Our most recent discussion of this took place as a part of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. While the general idea of continuing to maintain our best farmland as farmland remains, there were a couple of allowances made.
Previous plans were very map-based. Under the current plan, we can make an exception for a given parcel. If you have a piece of land that is not good for Ag and meets a couple additional criteria, it can be rezoned to residential. You just need to identify the spot and begin working with the Planning Department. I don't think this has been publicized very well yet.
Meanwhile, Jon and others feel the Comp Plan is inherently unfair. They feel unnecessary regulations are hindering the growth of the Lone Tree Community School District, and they are wondering why the southern portion of the county is treated differently than the northern portion, crop suitability numbers aside.
I understand this argument, but I must say, I disagree on several counts. First, as stated above, hopefully land owners will find a bit more flexibility in the new plan.
Secondly, people can already move to the Lone Tree School District. And I hope they do! There is a great deal to offer! There are existing homes, and existing lots for the construction of new homes. If you want to do some smaller scale agriculture, the County can accommodate that outside of town.
Thirdly, I think the focus on County land use policy is a bit of a red herring. Focus on the great k-12 school all in one spot - no bussing! Focus on the fantastic new fitness center. Focus on the proximity to large employment centers in Iowa City and Muscatine. Focus on the quaint downtown. There is just SO much to like about Lone Tree... the focus on this very minor issue detracts from the real issues. Lone Tree is a great town with a great school. Let's sell it! Just not in 10-acre pieces!
Fourth, I worry about CAFOs on small lots. Under current County rules, 40 acres would be required to operate a CAFO. Take away the 40 acre rule, and I am not certain of the impact. Why risk it?
Fifth, a vast majority of voters have asked the Board - over and over - to preserve farm land. So long ago, the Board made that the law of the land. How does anyone benefit by trading productive farmland for a bunch of ten-acre yards? We must weigh the desire of these families to live on an acreage versus the desire of farmers, environmentalists, and others to keep farmland as farmland.
I have stated my case. I am open to listening to new information. I think the challenge is articulating what would be a better policy, and why. If someone can make the case to me, I'll reconsider my position. I simply haven't been convinced yet.
Meanwhile, I am committed to helping the City of Lone Tree and the Lone Tree Community School District to grow and to thrive. I hope they will contact me if they need anything. And if you are looking for a new place to roost, consider Lone Tree! You’ll like it!
*DID YOU KNOW? Like most of Johnson County, Lone Tree has enjoyed substantial growth. The population in 1990 was 979, and it sits at over 1400 today. That amounts to 43% growth over 28 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
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