SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
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-
"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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 11:09 AM
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