SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
March 19, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 3/24/20
In this edition:
*Coronavirus Update
*Accessing Johnson County Services Remotely
*GOP Legislative Priorities and Covid-19
*Did You Know?
*Coronavirus Update
I have been extremely busy with the Coronavirus outbreak. It is scary, and there are a lot of things we simply do not know. Things will change daily; perhaps hourly. I know it is difficult, but we need you to be kind, patient, and calm. Here is some info from Johnson County:
Yesterday, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) identified Johnson County’s first case of COVID-19 with no known exposure, suggesting evidence of community spread in the county.
It is believed coronaviruses are primarily spread through respiratory droplets, which means to become infected people generally have to be within six feet of someone who is contagious and have the droplets land on them.
We know these recommendations to socially distance yourself from others is challenging, JCPH wants to thank you for distancing yourself from others in the community. Together we can help protect the health of our most vulnerable populations from this virus.
It is critical that all residents continue to take preventive measures including:
•Stay home when ill.
•Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
•Wash hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds.
•Social distancing.
Anyone who believes they may need to be tested for COVID-19 should call their health care provider, explain their symptoms and ask about testing. Do not show up unannounced at a local health care facility, as that can spread the virus.
Following the recommendation of JCPH, as a precaution to protect those who are most vulnerable in our community, Johnson County will close governmental buildings, excluding the Johnson County Courthouse, to the public at the end of business today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, no later than 5:30 p.m., through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. This is in line with Governor Kim Reynolds order earlier today to close other facilities to the general public.
Johnson County employees will continue to report to work and provide County services. Many Johnson County services are available online, by phone, or through mail or email. Contact information for all County departments and offices are available on the Johnson County website at www.johnson-county.com.
JCPH is in constant contact with IDPH and local health care providers and is dedicated to containing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating its potential impact.
*Accessing Johnson County Services Remotely
As announced on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, following the recommendation of Johnson County Public Health, as a precaution to protect those who are most vulnerable in our community, Johnson County closed governmental buildings, excluding the Johnson County Courthouse, to the public at the end of business through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. This is in line with Governor Kim Reynolds’ order to close other facilities to the general public.
Johnson County employees will continue to report to work and provide County services. Many Johnson County services are available online, by phone, or through mail or email. Contact information for all County departments and offices are available on the Johnson County website at www.johnson-county.com.
Information about individual departments and offices follows:
Ambulance: Emergency services remain available 365 days a year. In an emergency, residents should always dial 911. If you have COVID-19 specific questions, call 211. If you have symptoms, contact your health care provider. Johnson County Ambulance Service bill pay options are available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_ambulance.aspx?id=1961.
Attorney’s Office: Information on how to pay unpaid court fines, including how to pay court fines online or by mail, how to set up a payment plan, or how to get on a County Attorney Payment Plan (CAPP) to get a license back or release a vehicle registration hold are available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_attorney.aspx?id=20827.
Auditor’s Office: A dropbox is available outside of the Administration Building for voter registrations, township information, COBRA checks and auditor certificates. All requests from the public can be done online or via mail. Information about applying for a tobacco or alcohol license is available at https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_auditor_min.aspx?id=14570.
Board of Supervisors Office: Fireworks applications; proclamation/recognition requests; and board and commission applications are available at https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_supervisors.aspx?id=2011.
City Assessor’s Office: Information, applications and property valuations are available at https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_ic_assessor.aspx?id=1095 or https://iowacity.iowaassessors.com/. Applications relating to Homestead, Military and Business Property Tax Credits, as well as petitions to the Board of Review can be found under Important News at https://iowacity.iowaassessors.com/. Applications may be mailed or emailed. Emails should be sent to cityassr@co.johnson.ia.us .
Conservation: To get information about reserving facilities and all other business related to operation of the County managed park and recreation areas, call Conservation’s administrative office at 319-645-2315. Other information can be accessed at https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_conservation.aspx?id=3943.
County Assessor’s Office: The public can view property information, apply for a homestead credit, apply for a business property tax credit or submit a data correction request online athttps://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=86&LayerID=841&PageTypeID=2&PageID=568.
Emergency Management: Available for emergency call in 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 319-356-6800.
Human Resources: View current job openings and apply at https://agency.governmentjobs.com/johnsoncountyia/default.cfm. Additional information, including benefits, compensation rates and collective bargaining agreements are available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_hr.aspx.
Medical Examiner: The Medical Examiner Department (JCME) is available for emergency response. Next-of-kin communication and other general business can be accomplished via telephone at 319-339-6197.
Mental Health/Disability Services: A dropbox is available outside of the Health and Human Services Building. The application for regional Mental Health/Disability Services is available atwww.ecriowa.org. Click on “Resources” and then “Forms.” It can be submitted by mail or through email.
Planning, Development and Sustainability: Information about submitting a building and / or development permit application is available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_zoning.aspx?id=19567.
Public Health: A dropbox is available outside of the Health and Human Services Building. Food License Renewal can be paid online at https://dia.iowa.gov/. If you choose not to pay the license renewal online, you can mail a check and a completed renewal form to Johnson County Public Health Department. New Food Establishment License Application Packet can be found at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_health.aspx?id=20326. Completed packets for New Food Establishment License with check can be mailed to JCPH. Well and septic system payments can also be mailed to Johnson County Public Health, 855 S. Dubuque St, Suite 217, Iowa City, Iowa 52240. If you have an appointment or questions about Clinical Services, call 319-356-6042. Questions regarding Environmental Health or Community Health, call 319-356-6040.
Recorder’s Office:
· A dropbox is available outside of the Administration Building for birth, death and marriage certificate requests; real estate recordings; and OHV and boat renewals.
· Birth, death, and marriage records are available by application through U.S. Mail. Overnight mailers are accepted for fast return. Fillable applications are available athttps://www.johnson-county.com/dept_recorder.aspx?id=1155. The application must be printed off, notarized and mailed in with required documentation and payment that is on the website. These records are also available through the Iowa Department of Public Health by using their partner/vendor VitalChek, though additional costs are involved and may not be as rapid, at https://idph.iowa.gov/health-statistics/request-record.
· Applications for license to marry in Iowa are available as fillable/printable forms online. Parties must appear before a notary prior to mailing in with payment to Recorder.
· Boat registration (renewal only, not for new boats). Must be done by mail or by phone through the Recorder.
· All off-road vehicle (OHV) registration (renewal only; not for new vehicles) is available online through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website athttps://gooutdoorsiowa.com/ or available by mail through the Recorder.
· Real estate recordings: electronic service through Iowa Land Records is available at https://iowalandrecords.org/. This requires registration and is typically used by high-volume submitters. U.S. Mail recordings are always accepted by the Recorder.
SEATS: SEATS has suspended fares for all riders. SEATS information is available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_seats.aspx?id=581.
Secondary Roads: All Secondary Roads business can be done online, or via telephone or mail. Secondary Roads information is available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_sec_roads.aspx?id=1371.
Sheriff’s Office: Emergency services remain available 365 days a year. In an emergency, residents should always dial 911. For non-emergency services, we will continue to offer services to the public by phone, mail and online. At this time, services that require in person application processes will resume on Wednesday, April 1. On-site visitation in the Johnson County Jail has been temporarily suspended. Visit www.inmatecanteen.com for an off-site video visitation option. The jail is open to lawyers and to process bond outs. We are continually receiving and evaluating new information as it becomes available, so please check back regularly for any updates to our online processes. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 319-356-6020 or by visiting our website atwww.johnson-county.com/sheriff.
Social Services: A dropbox is available outside of the Health and Human Services Building. General Assistance, Navigator and Aging Services appointments are being conducted via phone and email. Social Services can be reached by calling 319-356-6090. Additional program information is available at www.johnson-county.com/ss.
Treasurer’s Office:
· A dropbox is available outside of the Administration Building for license plate payments and property tax payments.
· Property taxes must be paid online or postmarked by Tuesday, March 31, 2020, to avoid a 1 ½ percent monthly penalty that will begin on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Property owners can pay property taxes conveniently online at www.iowataxandtags.org. Payment options include VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit cards; debit cards or eCheck. If paying by eCheck, the online fee is only 30 cents. Credit card payments have a non-refundable service delivery fee added to the tax amount due for the service of paying taxes online with a credit card. Property taxes can also be paid by mail. To ensure proper credit, the stub portion of the tax statement must be submitted with the payment. If paying by mail, return payment to the Johnson County Treasurer, PO Box 2420, Iowa City, IA 52244-2420. Payments postmarked by Tuesday, March 31, 2020, will be considered paid on time and no interest will be charged. The U.S. Postal Service postmark is the only date recognized for date of mailing. The date written on a check or a business metered date cannot be accepted as proof of the mailing date. Residents who would like a receipt must include a self-addressed stamped envelope with their payment.
· Tax sale redemptions and due dates, call the Treasurer’s Office at 319-356-6087.
Veterans Affairs: Most applications are available and able to be completed online or via email or mail. More information is available at http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_vets.aspx?id=115.
*GOP Legislative Priorities and Covid-19
Remember when Johnson County raised the minimum wage? The legislation that the Republicans in the Iowa Legislature passed that repealed the minimum wage also outlawed local ordinances on several other topics. Want to know what else was covered?
The GOP banned ordinances requiring paid sick leave. They banned ordinances requiring family medical leave. They banned predictable scheduling. And, of course, the big one – they actively prevent poor people from having access to health care. How does that law look now?
To make matters worse, the Iowa GOP were attempting to throw vulnerable Iowans off of Obamacare, SNAP (food stamps), and Medicaid just a week ago! It is unconscionable!
The leaders of the Iowa GOP have always put corporate profits ahead of human health. And the chickens are coming home to roost.
*DID YOU KNOW? You can get answers to Coronavirus questions by calling 211.
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.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 5:07 PM
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