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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
April 28, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/3/22 In this edition: *Happy Mother’s Day! *Congratulations Mark! *Weiner for Senate *Iowa Legislature *ARPA Funds at Work! *Democratic Party Hall of Fame *Did You Know? *Happy Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8. I know that this is a difficult day for many people, and I want to respect that. Yet I feel the need to talk about some special people in my life. I want to wish a particularly Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom, Susan Sullivan Smith, and my wife, Melissa Fath. One is a birth mom, one is a foster and adoptive mom – both are amazing people who have touched many lives. I sometimes wish people could actually see how amazing Melissa is. We’ve had over 50 foster children over the years, and she has never missed a beat once. Melissa has done all that parenting, while at the same time doing full time cancer research. She is truly incredible! Seven years ago at this time, I was afraid I might lose her. Melissa was fighting cancer, and we did not know exactly what to expect. Thank God things went well, and this Mom-of-all-Moms is still with us today! I hope all the moms out there have a wonderful day! You deserve it! Thanks for all you do! *Congratulations Mark! After 37+ years of dedication to the Auditor’s Office, Mark Kistler has retired. His last day with Johnson County was Friday, April 29. He promised to return and help with elections, so you may see him around again sometime soon!
Mark began work in the Auditor’s Office on October 15, 1984. He spent four years as an Elections Technician before making the jump to Real Estate Deputy. In 1991, he opted for another challenge and as Mapping Deputy, he led the County’s new GIS mapping project. When that project finished in 1995, he redrew his boundaries again, this time as Minutes and Publications Deputy, where he tracked every vote taken by the Supervisors. In 2002, he reclaimed his title as Real Estate Deputy and remained there ever since.
We will sorely miss his institutional knowledge and experience, along with his can-do attitude, leadership, enthusiasm, and overall good cheer. In all seriousness, I have worked for Johnson County for 18 years. I have never seen a better public servant. Never. I tip my cap to you, Mark Kistler! Congratulations! *Weiner for Senate Democrats have several considerations as they prepare to go to the polls in the June primaries. Here is one decision that should be very simple: support Janice Weiner in Senate District 45. Senate District 45 is basically 75% of Iowa City plus University Heights, and is currently occupied by State Senator Joe Bolkcom. If you like Joe’s work and care about Iowa City, then supporting Janice should be an easy choice. Janice is a native of Coralville, and a graduate of West High. Her academic credentials are impressive – Princeton undergrad, followed by Stanford Law. Janice then spent 26 years in the US Foreign Service, including work in Germany, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, and Canada. Upon returning to Iowa City, Weiner decided that public service was still in her blood, so she ran and was elected to the Iowa City Council in 2020. She has also been heavily involved in the Democratic Party at the local, District, and State levels. Janice is a lifelong member of Agudas Achim, and if elected, would be the first Jew to serve in the Iowa Legislature since the mid-90s. I have gotten to know Janice well over the years, and I endorse her wholeheartedly. She is extremely smart, extremely thoughtful, works very hard, and really cares about people who lack power in this society. Janice has done the work and put in the time. I spend a lot of time volunteering for the Democratic Party. Janice is ALWAYS there. ALWAYS. I have NEVER seen her opponent volunteering for the party. NEVER. This is an easy choice, folks! I am voting for Janice Weiner for Senate District 45. I hope you will join me. *Iowa Legislature I have had a couple of people ask why I haven’t written more about the Iowa Legislature this year. Frankly, the answer is simple: my mental health gets much worse when I think about it. Every single day of the session, Republicans in Des Moines work to make our state less clean, less intelligent, less wealthy, less healthy, less caring, less safe, less fair, and less kind. I just don’t feel like writing about it. Don’t worry; I’ll work like hell to change it! But I just cannot write about it every week. It is too depressing. *ARPA Funds at Work! The Johnson County Direct Assistance Program application process will open at noon on Monday, April 25, 2022. Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 23, 2022. The Direct Assistance Program provides assistance to residents who experienced negative economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The County is investing $2 million of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The City of Iowa City has also contributed $1.5 million to the program. Eligible residents who are low- to moderate-income with documented hardship due to COVID-19 are invited to apply for a $1,400 emergency relief payment. The application will be available online beginning at noon on Monday, April 25, 2022. Because the number of applications may exceed available funds, eligible recipients will be chosen by random selection. Applying for the program does not guarantee that an individual will receive assistance. Only Johnson County residents are eligible for the Direct Assistance Program. Based on Iowa Code, someone who lives in Johnson County for the purpose of receiving services; residing in a hospital, correctional facility, halfway house, nursing facility, intermediate care facility; or for the purpose of attending a college or university is not considered a Johnson County resident. More information is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/direct-assistance-program. The list of accepted documentation is available on the website in English, Spanish, French, Swahili and Arabic. A Spanish translation of the website is available at https://johnsoncountyiowa.gov/programa-de-asistencia-directa. More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa. *Democratic Party Hall of Fame Save the date! The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding our Annual Hall of Fame Awards event on Saturday, May 14 at 7pm at Brown Deer Country Club in Coralville. Please join us for coffee, desserts, and plenty of old war stories! A cash bar will be available. Parking is free. The Hall of Fame inductees for 2022 are: Karla Smith and Mat Matthess, Chris and Mike Weinard, and Carol and Roscoe Porch. We hope you can join us in recognizing this remarkable group! Tickets are available for a $25 suggested donation. People who cannot afford that amount should still feel welcome, but please call 354-7199 so we can get a count. Sponsorships are available at the following levels: $100 includes two tickets $250 includes 4 tickets $500 includes a whole table (8 tickets) $1000 includes a whole table (8 tickets) and lots of love! Checks can be mailed to: Johnson County Democrats PO Box 1773 Iowa City, IA 52244 If you have any questions, please contact Rod Sullivan at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. We hope you will join us for a fun evening, and lend your voice to those who are honoring these very deserving people. We look forward to seeing you! *DID YOU KNOW? Mark Kistler is the last Johnson County employee who worked in the Courthouse prior to the construction of the Administration Building in 1986! Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. "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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you! ---Rod
April 21, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 4/26/22 In this edition: *All Ag This Week! *Farmer’s Markets *Johnson County Agricultural Data *Statewide Agricultural Data *ARPA Funds at Work! *Farm Roots *Did You Know? *All Ag This Week! Farmers will soon be out in the fields, and spring has arrived. Time to dedicate an edition of Salvos to agriculture! *Farmer’s Markets It is almost May, and that means it is time for our local Farmer’s Markets! My mouth is watering! People who know me know that I am a farmer’s market fanatic. I can be found at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market pretty much every Wednesday and Saturday. Unfortunately, there is no Wednesday market this year. I love the food, I love the farmers, I love the customers … I love everything about it! See you at the market! *Johnson County Agricultural Data The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers provided these statistics for both Johnson County and the State of Iowa: There are 1,257 farms in Johnson County, totaling 304,239 acres. That is an average of 242 acres per farm. If I had to guess, I’d say these folks are defining a “farm” quite liberally. Johnson County is one of the only counties in Iowa where the number of farms is going up, but the acres farmed is going down. This reflects our strong local foods culture. In 2012, the market value of Johnson County crops was $143 million. The value of livestock sold was $76 million. Agriculture and ag-related industries accounted for 4,044 jobs, about 3% of the county total. Ag and ag-related industries accounted for $171 million in wages, and $867 million in sales. Johnson County is a bit better than average when it comes to farmland; our average Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) is 69, while statewide it is 68. But of the land in production, the average CSR is closer to 80. We have more woodlands than most counties, which also affect things. We think of Johnson County as an “urban” county, and rightfully so. All of these ag numbers have dropped over the past 10 years. Yet it is important that we recognize the huge role that agriculture plays in our local economy. *Statewide Agricultural Data Statewide, the economic impact of agriculture is truly staggering. Ag accounts for one out of every three dollars in the Iowa economy. One in 5 Iowans works in ag or ag-related industries. Iowa ranks number one in hogs, corn, soybeans, and eggs, and in the top 5 for cattle, chickens, and turkeys. *ARPA Funds at Work! Johnson County will increase food security and access to local foods in the community by expanding support of local foods initiatives. The expansion is a result of Johnson County’s investment of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $200,000 for local foods initiatives over the next three fiscal years to support a more resilient and equitable community-based food system by increasing capacity and reducing barriers for local food and farm businesses. Of the $200,000 investment, $50,000 will be utilized in Fiscal Year 2022, which ends June 30, 2022, to support access to local fruits, vegetables and proteins for food-insecure residents. The project will also work to foster economic growth in the community food system by purchasing and distributing vegetable and protein shares grown by local farmers. The $150,000 allocated for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 will support the long-term growth of Johnson County’s community-based food system. Projects will support food supply chain infrastructure; access to food; bridging the wholesale gap; equitable access for food and farm businesses; and farmland access and sustainable land management. Additionally, the pandemic caused a disruption to and shortages in the national food supply chain, creating a surge in demand for locally grown and produced food. Ongoing disruptions highlight the need for a stronger and more resilient community-based foods system to meet food needs daily and in times of crisis. Though area farmers and food producers showed their ability to pivot and provide for the community, additional support is needed to grow our capacity and sustain these efforts long-term. More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa. *Farm Roots Anyone who has known me long knows that I grew up on the family farm. It is not just any family farm; both my maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather came from families that settled in Iowa prior to statehood. We have two family farms that have been in the family seven and eight generations, respectively. My family has been on the same land since 20 years before the start of the Civil War! So yes, I am proud of my family farm roots. After growing up out on the farm, on a gravel road, miles from the nearest town, I moved to Iowa City. And while I love the things city life offers, I often miss the farm. One small connection that I maintain is my screensaver. Both home and at work, my screensaver is a photo of my Grandpa, Ed Jack, winning the 1961 State Corn Picking Championship. I love the photo for a lot of reasons, but primarily the way in which he holds his hat in his hands. Though he had become quite wealthy through farming, he was a very humble man. The photo really captures that. And despite the fact that he had been using a mechanical combine for several years, he obviously had not lost his touch when it came to picking corn. We used to pick a lot of sweet corn when I was a kid. If you have ever seen anyone pick corn by hand, you know that it is not easy. And my Grandpa was a perfectionist – you had to do it right! I knew intuitively why he won that contest – he had the cleanest row and fewest deductions. Sure enough, that was true. My Grandpa loved to enter contests. He liked to experiment, and he had a competitive spirit. So his house was full of trophies and plaques. Only one, however, was first place. That was the State Corn Picking Championship. Also on a shelf were about a dozen trophies earned in various statewide competitions. There were 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place trophies – in some cases, multiples. Most of the awards were in yield competitions. He got second in a highest yield contest in the late ‘50s, and once averaged 200 bushels per acre, which was the farming equivalent of breaking the 4-minute mile. The statewide average now is 189 bushels per acre, so technology has certainly caught up. I remember the importance he placed on watching the markets. The guys who were working on the farm came into the house every day at EXACTLY 11:55. They washed their hands with Lava soap, filled their plates, and started to eat dinner. There was no “lunch” – dinner at noon, supper for the evening meal! Then they put on the WMT noon news, with the volume cranked, because years on the tractor (no cab) had ruined my Grandpa’s hearing. (KCRG showed a soap opera at noon and had no noon news. That was an unforgiveable heresy in the eyes of my Grandfather!) They would intently watch the markets, then decide what to do that afternoon. Maybe you got things ready to go to town and sell. Maybe not. The whole plan for the next 24 hours depended upon the market and the weather. Nowadays, the commodities are presold on contract. There is no need to closely monitor prices and react. It is probably a lot less stressful. But at the time, it certainly seemed exciting to a kid watching it all unfold! My Granny played a different role, and we kids were her helpers. Each family had HUGE gardens – between the 5 families, the garden space (not counting sweet corn and fruit trees) was probably over 2 acres. We spent all summer picking strawberries, asparagus, beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, apples, pears, lettuce, cabbage, radishes… then Granny showed us how to clean them, cut them, and store them. Farming has changed a lot since I was a kid. I was recently asking my Mom who was renting the family’s various plots of land. She reported that there are only 3-4 people farming in the whole area, and that these operations have become so large that what used to be considered a sizeable farm (say, 250 acres) is barely worth their time to rent! I never wanted to go into farming – I realized right away that I was a people person, and agriculture could get lonely. But I miss those days, and remember them fondly. *DID YOU KNOW? Iowa has 49,065 women active in farm operations, 34% of the total number of farmers. Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. "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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you! ---Rod
April 14, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 4/19/22 In this edition: *Happy Easter! *Earth Day *Ketanji Brown Jackson *Closing Glenwood *Tony in the House! *ARPA Funds at Work! *Did You Know? *Happy Easter! Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it! I hope you enjoy the holiday! *Earth Day As usual, Johnson County passed a proclamation noting Earth Day, and urging the people of Johnson County to act in defense of our planet. But did you know the history of Earth Day? First, there was a photo. The iconic “Earthwise” image snapped by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders from lunar orbit on Dec. 24, 1968, showed our planet as it really is: a lonely and fragile outpost of life suspended in an endless, inky-black void. That new perspective jolted many people awake and lit a fire under others, helping the nascent environmental movement gain cohesion and momentum, experts say. That photo led to Earth Day. The rest of the story, from Wikipedia: In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed at the United Nations. A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event "Earth Day". Denis and his staff grew the event beyond the original idea for a teach-in to include the entire United States. More than 20 million people poured out on the streets, and the first Earth Day remains the largest single-day protest in human history. Key non-environmentally focused partners played major roles. Under the leadership of labor leader Walter Ruether, for example, the United Auto Workers (UAW) was the most instrumental outside financial and operational supporter of the first Earth Day. According to Hayes, "Without the UAW, the first Earth Day would have likely flopped!" Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his work. *Tony in the House! Democratic voters in House District 89 have a choice to make in the upcoming Democratic Primary. In my opinion, the choice is easy: I support Tony Currin for the House! I have been very intimately involved in Democratic Party politics in Johnson County for the past 35 years. I know who does the work. And in this case, you have one of the hardest-working volunteers I know versus someone I have never met. Voters can choose Tony, who goes to every fundraiser, volunteers for every good cause, and works his ass off for Democratic candidates. Or they can vote for someone who does not. Participation MEANS something, people! Tony puts in the time, and he deserves your vote! But that is not all! Tony Currin is a great candidate! Tony is incredibly intelligent, extremely passionate, and very empathetic. Tony has a wide variety of life experiences that I want to see represented in Des Moines: Tony is a black man. He is a gay man. He is a Labor Leader. He is a Veteran of the US Army. He has worked for a women’s right to choose. Tony grew up in the foster care system, and did not grow up with all the advantages. Tony knows what it is like to be the underdog. He will fight for the underdog. I really do love Tony Currin. He’s damn fine human being. And he will do a great job representing HD89 in the Iowa Legislature! Please vote to send Tony to the House! *Ketanji Brown Jackson Justice Katanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the US Supreme Court recently by a 53-47 vote in the US Senate. Only three Republican Senators voted for Jackson. It is easy to get caught up in the way the GOP has broken this country. It is an existential problem, and on display whenever a Court opening is discussed. We cannot ignore it; we must fight against it at all times. But right now, I want you to just take a breath and think about the impact of the confirmation of Judge Brown Jackson. There have been 118 Supreme Court Justices over the history of this country. Only TWO were public defenders – Thurgood Marshall and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Jackson has tried more cases in her career than all the other members of the Supreme Court COMBINED! Justice Brown Jackson is the first Justice from the State of Florida. There have been 118 Supreme Court Justices over the history of this country. Only 3 have been black; two serve now (Brown Jackson being one). There have been 118 Supreme Court Justices over the history of this country. Only 6 have been women; four serve now (Brown Jackson being one). Right now, tens of millions of little girls – millions of them black – recognize that they can achieve anything if they work hard enough. Let that sink in a bit. My 4-year-old granddaughter is one of those girls. I am very pleased. *Closing Glenwood Governor Reynolds sent shockwaves through the disability community with her recent announcement that she was closing the Glenwood State Resource Center, home to about 200 Iowans with a variety of significant disabilities. Let’s be very upfront here – virtually every person on planet earth *CAN* live in the community. Very, very few people *NEED* to live in an institution. (I would argue only those who present a specific harm to others.) The problem is that as a society, we have failed people with significant disabilities. We have not provided the resources they need to live safely in the community. Those resources could be medical; they could be equipment; they could be highly trained staff; they could include other things. Whatever the case, we, as a society, have decided these folks are not worth it. It is more important that the rich get richer. So, from a purely philosophical standpoint, I’m glad the Glenwood Center is going away. People need to live in the community, close to family. Here is the problem: Reynolds will not do right by these people. Look what happened when the Mount Pleasant Center closed! Iowans LITERALLY died! But very few people noticed, and even fewer cared. Look what happened when she privatized Medicaid! Iowans LITERALLY died! But very few people noticed, and even fewer cared. Unfortunately, in Kim Reynolds’ Iowa, the future for these 200 people is very grim. So the closing of Glenwood, while long overdue, will likely be a death warrant for a number of our most vulnerable citizens. We must do better. *ARPA Funds at Work! Johnson County is pursuing a study to assess broadband internet capabilities, needs and deficiencies in the county. The study is a result of Johnson County’s investment of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Johnson County residents needed to or were required to work from home. Additionally, a number of area schools suspended in-person instruction and transitioned to online or hybrid learning. Many healthcare providers moved to online appointments to conduct non-emergency medical appointments. The increase in online use and demand caused a significant strain on area broadband internet capabilities. Though Johnson County does not own broadband infrastructure, the pandemic illustrated the need for a more robust system throughout the county. The study, which will be conducted by a qualified third-party consultant, will provide localized, accurate and actionable data regarding internet speeds and service area coverage. There will be an emphasis on the County’s smaller towns and rural areas. The study will: ·Conduct an analysis to better determine what areas are underserved; ·Recommend strategies to achieve coverage for the entire county; and ·Investigate partnerships with existing service providers. The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $50,000 to fund the study in Fiscal Year 2022, which ends June 30, 2022. The County intends to use the study to pursue additional funding opportunities at the state and federal levels. More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa. *DID YOU KNOW? Eight future Supreme Court justices clerked at the Supreme Court, including 5 current members. Byron R. White, William H. Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens, Stephen G. Breyer, John G. Roberts, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson were all clerks. Brown Jackson clerked for Breyer, the Justice she replaced. Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. "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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you! ---Rod
April 7, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 4/12/22 In this edition: *Happy 75th Birthday Gary! *Congratulation Medical Examiner’s Office! *Minimum Wage News *ARPA Funds at Work! *TC Boyle in Iowa City *Coralville Development Disaster *Democratic Party Hall of Fame *Did You Know? *Happy 75th Birthday Gary! Happy Birthday to local activist, Labor Leader, journalist, Scrabble Club President, and general man-about-town Gary Sanders, who turns 75 on April 14. If you know Gary, please drop him a line and wish him a Happy Birthday! *Congratulation Medical Examiner’s Office! The Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office (JCME) just received notification that we have been fully re-accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) for CY2022. The accreditation process is an extensive and thorough review of our policies, procedures and practices that assure we are meeting the national standards set forth by NAME. JCME is one of three fully accredited ME Departments in Iowa (along with Polk County and Iowa State Medical Examiner), and one of only 53 in the country. Congratulations! *Minimum Wage News The following is taken from a Johnson County press release: “The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has voted to increase the County’s recommended minimum wage by 81 cents to $11.56 per hour, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. The Board of Supervisors used Consumer Price Index data to set the increase, which is based on inflation. Though the wage increase is symbolic in nature and unenforceable under State law, the Supervisors approved the increase to remain in line with the Board’s vote in September 2015 to begin phased increases. The Board of Supervisors has voted to increase the minimum wage in Johnson County annually since 2015. The State of Iowa’s minimum wage was increased to $7.25 per hour in 2008, ahead of the Federal increase to $7.25 in 2009, but has remained at $7.25 and is not indexed for inflation. On Sept. 10, 2015, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance establishing a Johnson County minimum wage. On March 30, 2017, Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation eliminating the ability of jurisdictions within the State of Iowa to set a minimum wage above the State minimum wage. Johnson County had a higher minimum wage than the State for 17 months.” As I have written several times before, I am very proud of the fact that we raised the minimum wage. I think it had an incredibly positive impact on the lives of many of our poorest residents. But I sometimes get people saying, “The State took your power away. Why are you still setting a wage?” There are several good answers to that question. 1) Because our poorest residents still need more. 2) Because it needs to remain a part of the public debate. 3) Because annual updates demonstrate the importance of indexing it. 4) Because honestly? Even $11.56 is nowhere close to a living wage. I plan to continue to vote to increase this every year. I hope my colleagues do the same. *ARPA Funds at Work! Johnson County will reduce public transportation barriers in our community and provide reliable transportation to more residents by expanding SEATS on-demand services. The expansion is a result of Johnson County’s investment of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $400,526 toward the service expansion. The Johnson County SEATS Department provides rides to older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals who experience difficulties with daily public transportation. Existing services are not able to help hundreds of county residents who do not have reliable public transportation access and are not eligible for paratransit. Through the ARPA investment, SEATS will purchase an electric bus to provide environmentally-conscious transportation. In cooperation with Johnson County’s Mobility Coordinator, the funding will also help to serve residents who: request same-day service; are waiting to become eligible to ride paratransit; are unfamiliar with local transportation options; are in need of temporary transportation to medical care; or are unable to afford transportation alternatives. Additionally, SEATS staffing and hours of operation will expand to reach all of Johnson County from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week. More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa. *TC Boyle in Iowa City Hear Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate and PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author T.C. Boyle (74MFA) read from his acclaimed works at the Englert Theatre Thursday, May 5 at 7:30. Since the mid-1970s, Boyle has published 28 books of fiction that explore topics ranging from historical biography to ecological apocalypse—and tackle themes such as environmentalism, fanaticism, and the unintended consequences of technology. You may attend in person or via live stream. Register: https://foriowa.info/LitLegendsBoyle This talk is a partnership between the Englert Theatre, the UI Lecture Committee, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. *Coralville Development Disaster I have fielded numerous calls about the small-scale environmental disaster happening just off Dubuque Street, north of First Christian Church. This area is actually a part of the City of Coralville. And it points out why Coralville needs to join Iowa City and Johnson County in adopting a Sensitive Areas Ordinance. If you drive out there, you can see it: scores of 100+ year old oaks bulldozed. Steep slopes denuded. Creeks put in culverts. Thousands upon thousands of tons of fill brought in to alter the topography. Mud sliding down the hills that remain. It is shameful, really. It just simply should not be allowed in this day and age. And it is NOT allowed in Iowa City and Johnson County. Coralville should join the ranks of those two governments and make certain this does not happen again. The ordinances are already out there. Just copy them. But please don’t allow something like this to ever happen again. Yes, developers are going to tell you that it will slow them down and cost them money. To that I say, “So?” These policies work. They work in our own backyard. It is time all local governments got on board. Meanwhile… North Liberty? Tiffin? Solon? You are growing like crazy. Please consider similar ordinances before it is too late! If you live in one of those cities, contact your City Council ASAP. No one will make changes unless you push for them! *Democratic Party Hall of Fame Save the date! The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding our Annual Hall of Fame Awards event on Saturday, May 14 at 7pm at Brown Deer Country Club in Coralville. Please join us for coffee, desserts, and plenty of old war stories! A cash bar will be available. Parking is free. The Hall of Fame inductees for 2022 are: Karla Smith and Mat Matthess, Chris and Mike Weinard, and Carol and Roscoe Porch. We hope you can join us in recognizing this remarkable group! Tickets are available for a $25 suggested donation. People who cannot afford that amount should still feel welcome, but please call 354-7199 so we can get a count. Sponsorships are available at the following levels: $100 includes two tickets $250 includes 4 tickets $500 includes a whole table (8 tickets) $1000 includes a whole table (8 tickets) and lots of love! Checks can be mailed to: Johnson County Democrats PO Box 1773 Iowa City, IA 52244 If you have any questions, please contact Rod Sullivan at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. We hope you will join us for a fun evening, and lend your voice to those who are honoring these very deserving people. We look forward to seeing you! *DID YOU KNOW? June of 2019 marked the longest period in history without an increase in the federal minimum wage. We are now almost two years beyond that. The last time Congress passed an increase was in May 2007, when it legislated that the minimum wage be raised to $7.25 per hour in July 2009. Since the minimum wage was first established in 1938, Congress has never let it go unchanged for so long. Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. "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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you! ---Rod
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