SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

September 21, 2022

Sullivan’s Salvos 9/27/22

In this edition:

*Happy Rosh Hashanah!

*Mary Mascher Celebration

*JC Dems Fall BBQ

*Sutliff Bridge Revisited

*Did You Know?

*Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends! Sunday marks Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of year 5783 in the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion. Shanah Tovah!

*Mary Mascher Celebration

There is a celebration planned to say thank you to State Representative Mary Mascher for her 28 years of service to the people of Johnson County. The event is Sunday, September 25 from 2-4pm at the Marriott hotel in University Heights.

It has been very easy to take Mary Mascher for granted over the years. Always showing up, always fighting the good fight. Obviously, it would have been great to have Mary in the majority more often during her years of service. But still, generations of Johnson County residents owe her a debt of gratitude for her work on education, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and so much more.

Thank you, Mary, for your outstanding service!

*JC Dems Fall BBQ

The Johnson County Democratic Party is having its Annual Fall BBQ Sunday, October 9 from 4-7pm at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/470867084629350/?ref=newsfeed for tickets and more information.

This is an important fundraiser that will help Mike Franken, Christina Bohannan, Deirdre DeJear, and all our state and local candidates. Plus there is always great food and good conversation. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the party! Please join us!

*Sutliff Bridge Revisited

I was talking to some folks at Sutliff recently, and a couple of us were reminiscing about the preservation of the old Sutliff Bridge. A couple others had no idea what I was talking about. I realized that many people do not know or do not remember the saga of the bridge.

The flood of 2008 knocked a couple of cabins off their foundations. Those cabins were swept into the bridge, and knocked down the eastern third of the structure. It was clear we would need to do something; the Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Natural Resources would not allow the remainder of the bridge to sit the way it was. It needed to be either fixed or removed.

FEMA gave Johnson County a choice: repair the bridge or remove the bridge. It was all federal money. But if the difference between removal and repair favored the county, we could sink the difference into roads.

Supervisors received hundreds of emails on both sides of this argument. I am very glad that the Board chose to invest in Sutliff, but it was never a done deal! It strikes me that people today fail to understand how close we were to losing the bridge. It was literally by the thinnest of margins.

The following article ran just before the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to restore the old bridge.

The debate over whether or not to rebuild the Sutliff Bridge raises several deep questions for both society and government. Let’s explore some of them.

As most of you probably know, I have biases here. I grew up at Sutliff. My younger sister lives within 200 yards of the bridge. My family has lived in the area since before Iowa was a state. My friends and family fought to keep the bridge in the early 80s. My senior class picture was taken on the bridge. The bridge is tied up in family, friends, childhood memories, current relationships, and more. I want to state that in the interest of full disclosure.

The Sutliff Bridge was built a couple decades prior to the advent of motorized vehicles. It is the longest Parker Truss Bridge in the US. It is listed on the National Historic Registry. To people in the area, it defines the place they call home.

As for those deep questions - What is history worth? What is ANYTHING worth? If we get rid of an old bridge because it does not function the way it used to, should we apply that logic across the board? Should we quit spending tax dollars on senior citizens, many of whom no longer function the way they used to? Should we have torn down the Old Capital Dome after it burnt, and instead built a new office building? Should we preserve the ruins in Athens and Rome? Do Iowa’s Century and Heritage Farm programs make any sense? Why do we mark graves? Should history be taught in our schools? What is history worth?

Frankly, it is impossible to place a value on history. I have been in the Old Capital probably ten times in the past year – almost certainly ten times more often than most Johnson County residents. Do more people visit the Old Capital, or do more folks visit Sutliff? (My guess is Sutliff by a 20:1 margin.) Should attendance matter? Must history focus only on government, or is there value in preserving the people’s history? What makes one thing historic and worth saving, and another less so?

The Sutliff Bridge is a destination for cyclists, motorcyclists, snowmobilers, farmers, anglers, hunters, boaters, birdwatchers, people exploring their Czech backgrounds, history buffs, and more. What is that worth? Can we accurately measure the economic impact of such a place? Is it worth more than a 2-mile road resurfacing? Is it worth more than a new Secondary Roads shed?

As of this writing, it appears there will be ZERO local match required to restore the bridge. So no County dollars will go toward the project. The cost of future maintenance would be a County expense, but given the fact that FEMA would be bringing it up to code, there should be very little in the way of maintenance expenses for 10-20 years.

Even the future maintenance looks good from a taxpayer’s perspective. The Sutliff Bridge Authority (SBA) has raised tens of thousands of dollars over 25+ years to maintain and insure this bridge. They are willing to put roughly $10,000 toward the future maintenance right now, with more to come very shortly. $10,000 should cover the maintenance costs for a long, long time. Plus, they have pledged to continue to raise funds into the future. I trust them and believe in them. History is on their side.

So the people of Johnson County are getting this replaced courtesy of the federal government. I can already hear the familiar refrain – “they are still our tax dollars!” Of course. No one wants to see the federal government waste money.

But this is an issue with any and every tax expenditure. If it benefits me, you think it is wasteful. If it benefits you, I think it is wasteful. People complain about waste in federal health programs, but ignore billions of waste in defense. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There is little agreement as to how federal tax dollars are spent. That will not change any time soon.

Interestingly, the State of Iowa, Polk County, Des Moines, and Principal have combined forces to build a $12 million pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Des Moines River. Local tourism and economic development folks are calling this a huge draw. The Des Moines project is 1/3 the length of the Sutliff Bridge, and spans a much smaller river. Why don’t we market our own treasure? Economic development folks talk about creating a unique sense of place. We already have that here! Why eliminate it? For a couple miles of road surfacing?

Johnson County has 59 structures on National Historic Registry, 41 of which are in Iowa City. These recognized structures include the Old Capitol, Plum Grove, Old Brick, the old Coralville Schoolhouse, the Johnson County Courthouse, the Englert Theater, Bethel AME Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and yes, the Sutliff Bridge. Federal, State, and local experts determined years ago that the bridge was one of 59 historic things in Johnson County worthy of saving. Can you imagine tearing any of these other structures down over a fear of future maintenance expenses?

My general inclination is to lean toward preserving things. I think we benefit from having a connection to and understanding of history. Too much of our past is gone, never to return. Do I think everything is worth saving? No. But I happen to believe that the investment in the Sutliff Bridge is worth it.

*DID YOU KNOW? Since the restoration of the Sutliff Bridge, Johnson County Conservation has invested tremendous time, effort, and money in the Sutliff area, including the Ciha Fen, Cedar River Crossings, and the North Maintenance shop.

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

September 14, 2022

Iowa lost a true giant recently with the passing of Bonnie Slatton. A Title 9 pioneer, Slatton served on the Board in Control of Athletics for over 20 years. She represented the UI to the Big Ten Conference. She served as the President of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. And she served as a member of the US Olympic Committee!

I had some really good instructors during my time at the UI. Slatton was one who really stood out. She was always very calm, but the content she delivered was always fascinating. I am glad I had the opportunity to learn from her.

A great annual event is almost upon us – the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization is proud to offer you nearly two weeks of excellent, one-of-a-kind, free, literary programming as part of the 2022 Iowa City Book Festival. Iowa City is a City of Literature for many reasons: The wonderful writing programs at the University of Iowa, our small presses and magazines, our wonderful libraries, our bookstores, and amenities like the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk.

The Iowa City Book Festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, a nonprofit 501(c)3 that manages the Iowa City area’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. The City of Literature works to advance its mission of celebrating and supporting literature on a local, regional, national, and international level, connecting readers and writers through the power of story. For more info please see:

One of my favorite people in all of Johnson County is celebrating her birthday on Sunday. Sandy Hanson is in the middle of just about all the good work that happens in Solon. And she is celebrating 88 years with a party at the Solon Legion on Sunday, September 18 at 1pm. Happy Birthday, Sandy!

I was thinking about generations the other day. You know what I am talking about – a social construct that goes something like this:

Lots of folks debate the years attached here. Frankly, I’m not certain there is a single correct answer. Perhaps more importantly, I’m not sure it matters. And while I find this interesting, I do not believe that it means much. I have always felt that there was little benefit to grouping tens of millions of people based solely on the year of their birth.

That said, I do think it is important to recognize that shifts are taking place. Very few people are left from the Greatest Generation. The youngest people in the Silent Generation are now 77. And well over half of the Baby Boomers are older than 65. Meanwhile, Millennials are the largest generation in history, and the Centennials are now in the workplace.

The Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) has acquired 83 acres in north central Johnson County. The property, known locally as the Two Horse Farm, was acquired through a donation and purchase agreement through the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Erin and Brian Melloy, former owners of the property. The property is located at 2257 Sugar Bottom Road NE, Solon and is adjacent on two sides to the US Army Corps of Engineers – Coralville Lake Project. The property was acquired through a generous donation from the Melloy’s, combined with funds from the State of Iowa REAP Grant Program and the Johnson County Conservation Bond fund.

This 83-acre tract is covered by 64 acres of forest, 15.5 acres of reconstructed prairie, and a 3.5-acre farmstead. The site includes 364 species of plants including at least 14 rare and notable species. Some of the woodlands are former high-quality oak-hickory savannas or open woodlands that have never been cropped and are worthy of additional restoration efforts.

In addition to their ecological importance, the woodlands and prairies invite human exploration and enjoyment. The view from the land’s high point provides a spectacular view of the Iowa River valley and Coralville Lake. Conversely, this land preserves the prairie-woodland viewshed seen from Coralville Lake or Sugar Bottom Recreation Area trails.

This project also includes an additional 7 acres of prairie that the Melloy family has gifted to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. The 7 acres of prairie are embedded within the boundaries of this project and include the high knob of land overlooking the Iowa River valley and Coralville Lake. This donation to the Iowa Tribe is historic in terms of providing a piece of land through which the Ioway people can reconnect, both physically and spiritually, to their ancestral homeland. Currently, the Iowa Tribe has no land holdings in the state of Iowa. The partnership with the Ioway people will provide outstanding educational opportunities for park visitors to relate to the earth and to Native American cultural values.

The farmstead, which is in excellent condition, invites visitors to consider Iowa farm life a century ago. Opportunities for immersion in such sites are rapidly disappearing across Iowa. The beautifully preserved and restored 1890s-era farmhouse is surrounded by English gardens with many native plant species. The original farmhouse will provide critically needed office space for JCC educators and management staff working here and at Cangleska Wakan. The newer, 1992 addition will be rented to families or organized groups for retreats and week-long visits.

The nearby good-sized barn, constructed in 1913 and also in excellent condition, has received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation. This barn, which is used by the wildlife-rescue non-profit organization RARE, provides flight pens for rehabilitating large birds of prey; these and several permanently injured birds are housed in a circular open-air grain-bin-sized pen at the site.

JCC envisions this land being used for quiet explorations by families or small groups through activities such as hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, environmental education, and nature appreciation (e.g. bird watching, wildflower identification, mushroom collection). The rental of the house will provide similar opportunities for additional users.

It may take 1-2 years to get the property fully adapted to public use. This will include signage, a new parking area and latrine or restroom facility. For more information about the site please contact officials with Johnson County Conservation at 319-645-2315 or email lgullett@johnsoncountyiowa.org

*DID YOU KNOW? The Conservation Bond, passed by the voters in 2008, has financed much of the Clear Creek Trail, the Solon to Ely Trail, the Mehaffey Bridge Road Trail, the Ciha Fen, Cangleska Waukon, the Melinda Reiff Reilly Prairie, big additions to Cedar River Crossings, and much more.

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 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!

September 7, 2022

I was sad to hear of the passing of author and activist Barbara Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich is perhaps as responsible as anyone for the renewed interest in economic justice over the past couple of decades. Her huge best seller Nickled and Dimed: On Getting By in America opened a lot of eyes as to how people working low wage jobs struggle. If you never read it, or have not read it in a while, please do so. It rings as true today as it did 20 years ago.

Labor Day is in the rearview mirror now. Unfortunately, that means most people quit thinking about organized labor for another year. Meanwhile, I want to call attention to some unwitting union busting that has happened and continues to happen in Johnson County government.

A couple of years ago, the employees covered by Johnson County’s Administration Unit decertified their union, which was Public Professionals and Maintenance Employees (PPME). PPME continues to have two other active units in Johnson County government – one in the Sheriff’s Office, and one in Secondary Roads. There are also three units affiliated with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). AFSCME has units that represent Ambulance, SEATS, and Social Services.

Why did the Admin Unit decertify? I think there are several reasons, and blame to go around. First, and most importantly, the law in Iowa is stacked against unions existing at all. We cannot underestimate how much laws that target unions make organizing (and staying organized) difficult.

Secondly, PPME had a local agent, but he was gruff and dismissive, and turned people off. This depressed union involvement amongst employees. He retired, and was not replaced locally. So workers were forced to deal with an agent who lived in Des Moines and simply wasn’t as available.

Thirdly, a longtime steward retired, and no one was willing to step up and serve in her place. When someone finally did so, he was viewed as “too close to management.” He offered to step down, but no one would step up.

Fourthly, we had a situation where an unpopular employee was going to be fired. She grieved her termination, the union argued on her behalf, and the Supervisors agreed with the union. She was reinstated. Several employees saw this as unions protecting a bad employee. Fact is, she may not have been a very good employee. But she did NOT deserve to be fired! She was then treated VERY badly by her peers until she left at a later date.

Finally, there was a very crafty, covert, anti-union campaign that was run to push decertification.

These incidents led to the vote to decertify. I was very disappointed in this, but life goes on. What has bothered me most is what has occurred AFTER the unit decertified. And Supervisors need to own this.

The Board may not have intended to send this message, but the message is clear: decertify your union, and we will increase your wages and benefits. It is the very definition of union busting. This is an exact tactic used by big corporations around the world.

So why is it a bad thing to get better wages and benefits? It is not, in the short term. But by undermining the unions, you eliminate the ability of the workers to have any voice. It might not matter today, or even next year, but there will come a time where employees will need those grievance procedures and they will not be there. That is typically the goal of union-busting. Give them something short term so they forfeit their long-term interests.

The fact that this Board seems willing to give a raise to most who requests it creates additional problems. First, it becomes an issue of fairness. Who gets a raise and who doesn’t? Right now, the Board is quite arbitrary as to how and when this happens. If you fight hard for yourself, the Board is likely to give you a raise. If your Department Head or Elected Official fights hard for you, the Board is likely to give you a raise. If you or your Department Head are unpopular? It will not happen. I am really bothered by the arbitrary nature of this. This does not happen under a union contract.

Timing is arbitrary as well. When do we give raises? With the unions, that is set. Right now, we get all kinds of requests that say, “Sue has been working outside of her job description.” The Board’s response is always to change the job description and give a raise; never do we ask the Department Head to simply stop having them work outside of their classification. And never do we say, “Wait until next fiscal year so it can be budgeted.” We just give the raise.

Merit increases? We live in Lake Woebegone. Every employee is well above average. Some bosses give perfect scores across the board, and claim that all their employees deserve it.

The current situation can exacerbate discrimination. Studies show that women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to speak up for themselves at work. So while the white men who nag Board Members about raises get results, the rest fall further behind.

There is also the matter of the budget. Arbitrary raises throughout the year have huge budgetary impacts. Not only do they impact the current year, but every year into the future.

Let me be very clear – I do not think my colleagues would purposely ever do anything to hurt any employees, union or not. But the decertification of this unit has shined a light upon and exacerbated all sorts of issues. The Board really needs to improve our processes when it comes to nonunion employees. The current processes are not fair.

Meanwhile, these experiences demonstrate the advantages of managing in a union environment. It is not just better for employees – it is better for bosses, too.

1.) Americans who say "I never had anything handed to me!" Wrong! You *DID* get it "handed to you!" The state paid for most of a college education. The state actually taxed the wealthy rather than the middle class and poor, meaning you paid less. You grew up with decently - compensated teachers and law enforcement. There were social workers if needed. Unemployment, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Job and technical training was available. Unions kept the area median wage high. You had good roads, bridges, and parks. Fire protection and libraries.

YOU didn't do jack shit to earn that. Neither did I. That is what a decent society does for each other. We used to have that. And we used to be willing to pay for that.

2.) My Dad was born in a house with a dirt floor, no running water, and no electricity. He always said, "Why would I want that for my kids?"

I have heard a lot of disgruntled Republicans use this term lately – “extremes in both parties.” Then they go on to compare Donald Trump, Paul Gosar, and Marjorie Taylor Green to Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Let’s really look at the “extremes” of both sides. The three Republicans have routinely supported Nazis and Klan members. They have called for violence against their opponents, and violence against the US government. All three have been caught lying innumerable times, including about election results. All three would strip rights from women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, non-Christians, and more. I could go on.

Sanders and AOC have advocated for universal health care, higher taxes on the rich, and a Green New Deal. Both are honest.

And again, very little of what the GOP extremists say is true. That is a fact. Politifact found Trump to make untrue statements about 75% of the time. Sanders, on the other hand, made true statements about 80% of the time.

OK. Take a moment and compare the two lists. Do you see a lot of similarities? Me, either. But we have this narrative out there, driven by the media and some Republicans, that our current state of affairs is due to “extremes on both sides.” NO! This is simply not true!

Our media has been failing us for a long time now, and nowhere has it failed worse than with the constant “both sides”-ism. For some reason, the media feels this is an appropriate way to cover politics, but not other topics. For example, the media never went to the shooter in Uvalde, TX and said, “What is your side?” They didn’t cover the recent Kentucky floods by saying, “Why didn’t you move away from the risk?” When a local person dies in a traffic accident, they don’t go to the parents of the deceased and ask, “Why didn’t you teach him to drive better?”

But that is EXACTLY what the media does to people like Bernie and AOC. The media refuses to recognize that our current state of affairs is NOT he/said, she/said. There is one party that has sunk into dangerous territory, and the media has an obligation to say so!

One of the biggest examples of an utter lack of courage? The Des Moines Register is not going to do endorsements this year. Cowed by Kim Reynolds, they have chosen holding onto a few Republican subscribers over their mission. It is cowardly and shameful. But that is what we get nowadays.

So next time you hear the phrase, “extremes on both sides,” just say, “Bullshit!”

*DID YOU KNOW? Iowa has the third-highest rate of motorcycle ownership in the nation.

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 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!

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