SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 28, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/2/22
In this edition:
*Happy Anniversary!
*August Leases
*Congratulations, Randy!
*Congratulations, David and Peter!
*Boards and Commissions
*Carbon Capture Pipelines
*Did You Know?
*Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary on August 1 to my wonderful wife, Dr. Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for!
Happy Anniversary, Honey! It has been a great ride! I hope we celebrate many more!
*August Leases
The August leases have begun, and people are pouring into our community. There are now lots of drivers, bikers, and pedestrians who are not completely certain where they are headed.
Please allow a little more time and a little more space. The newbies will figure things out in due time!
*Congratulations, Randy!
Congratulations to Randy Hausler upon retiring after over 37 years as the Youth Ministries Director at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church. During that time, Randy has joked and played around, but also accomplished the very serious work of trying to help generations of young people to get on the path of leading a moral life.
The Hauslers were very welcoming to our family when we arrived at St. Andrew over 20 years ago, and have maintained that warm, welcoming attitude ever since. With sincere gratitude and appreciation, thank you Randy for your service!
*Congratulations, David and Peter!
Thinking back upon my years as a Supervisor, I feel as though we have won some important victories. There are many policy decisions that have greatly improved the quality of life in Johnson County. These include our Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Conservation Bond, fighting for better TIFs, and raising the minimum wage, just to name a few. And in pretty much every case, the Iowa Policy Project was an important ally in these victories.
Very few elected officials have the background to do extensive research on environmental or economic policy. And even if they had the background, they don’t have the time. The other side has dozens of think tanks spewing out crap, and you simply cannot go into those arguments without some facts.
So elected officials require a source of solid information to which they can turn. We have always had that in the Iowa Policy Project (now Common Good Iowa). As two of the key players retire from that organization, I want to acknowledge their work.
First, David Osterberg. David founded the Iowa Policy Project in 2001 precisely because well-intentioned elected officials needed help. His background in all things environmental plus his service in the Iowa Legislature gave the organization instant credibility.
Then there is Peter Fisher. I cannot count the number of times I called him, flustered by a talking point from the other side, only to have Peter calmly talk me down. I really truly spent hundreds of hours in my career going through materials Peter provided.
These two did not just provide me with information. They helped teach me how to think about the policy issues that affect Johnson County. They made me, and many others, better public servants. If you like the policy direction of your local elected officials, you can probably thank these two men.
Congratulations, David and Peter! Enjoy your retirement!
*Boards and Commissions
Johnson County government consists of over 550 employees, 10 elected officials, and approximately 30 Boards and Commissions. I know I don’t talk enough about the tremendous contributions of our many Boards and Commissions!
From setting the value of your home, to cleaning up streams, to local foods, to historic preservation, to assisting veterans, seniors, children, and people with disabilities – Johnson County has a Board or Commission on almost every topic imaginable.
These many topics are tackled by scores of Johnson County residents, who bring their considerable talents, knowledge, and opinions to the table. Each one volunteers her/his time to make Johnson County a better place to live, learn, work, and play.
If you are NOT currently a member, please take a look at our list of Boards and Commissions on the County website. We’d love to have you join us!
*Carbon Capture Pipelines
I have written about this a couple of times previously, but I remain adamantly opposed to the three “carbon capture” pipelines that are proposed to cut across Iowa. There are many reasons to oppose these schemes, but they fall into 3 broad categories:
1. Safety. Iowa is crisscrossed by pipelines. But these are different. Liquid carbon dioxide is much more dangerous that what flows through other pipelines. This stuff is highly pressurized. Want to see what happens when a pipeline carrying liquid CO2 explodes? Take a look at this: https://www.dnv.com/oilgas/laboratories-test-sites/dense-phase-spadeadam-video.html. The public should not be exposed to this level of risk.
2. Private Property Rights. Eminent Domain exists so that governments can take pieces of private property, but *ONLY* when the taking is “in the public interest.” These pipelines are *NOT* in the public interest! We must not allow ourselves to live in a country where big companies can take your land just because they want to earn a profit!
Even if the process DID work (and it doesn’t), there is no benefit to local people. There is no “public interest,” only private profit.
3. Environmental impact. First, despite the claims of the pipeline companies, the whole process is environmentally unsustainable. The real answer is not to “capture” carbon, which they cannot successfully do, but rather to not produce it in the first place. Solar and wind are both carbon free energy sources.
Secondly, this “captured carbon” will be used to assist in fracking. No thank you! Again, wind and solar are the answers!
Thirdly, this simply continues the bad ag practices driven by an overreliance on growing corn. Our air, water, and land are all suffering from too much corn. Take ethanol out of the picture. Assist farmers in moving to other crops. Move to electric vehicles. This will help tremendously, unlike these pipelines.
These are but a few of the reasons everyone should oppose “carbon capture” pipelines.
*DID YOU KNOW? The following poem was written in response to the Lawrence, MA textile worker’s strike in 1912 – it was very much about women’s rights in the labor market. It still rings true today:
“As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.”
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 @ 2:05 PM
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