SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 12, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/18/22
In this edition:
*Early Voting
*GFOA Award
*Showing Up is Half the Battle
*Real Questions!
*Tough Kids!
*Neighbors
*Did You Know?
*Early Voting
Wednesday, October 19 is the first day you can vote early in Johnson County. I am of the opinion that voting early is really important. Here is why:
First, your party is spending resources to ensure that you get out and vote. The day after you vote, those resources begin to be utilized elsewhere. That only helps your party.
Secondly, if you somehow made some sort of mistake – for example, forgetting to sign your name – there is time for the Auditor’s Office to contact you so that you may correct it.
Finally, it reduces the odds of big lines at the polling places on Election Day, which can serve as a disincentive to some voters.
So, please vote EARLY beginning on Wednesday, October 19!
*GFOA Award
Johnson County recently won an 8th consecutive Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA) Award for Budget Presentation. The honor recognizes Johnson County for having a budget process and product that are transparent and accessible. This is a prestigious award, with only three counties in Iowa achieving the feat.
One on the candidates running for Supervisor would have you believe the County budget lacks transparency. This is one of many data points proving him wrong.
Congratulations to our Finance Director Dana Aschenbrenner and the Finance Department for this wonderful achievement!
*Showing Up is Half the Battle
Did you notice how the Republican candidates for House Districts 91 and 92 and Senate District 46 failed to show up at the League of Women Voters forum?
Take note. They don’t care about the people of Johnson County now, and they will care even less if they are elected.
*Real Questions!
Normally, you could assume you knew the answers to these questions. But we do not live in normal times! So it is truly critical that GOP candidates at every level be asked some very basic things.
As you get the opportunity to question GOP candidates for office over the next couple of weeks, please consider asking these very real questions:
*Who won the 2020 Presidential election?
*What is your take on the January 6 riot that killed two police officers?
*What are your thoughts on COVID-19?
*Do you support a federal ban on abortion? (It has been proposed.)
*What should we be doing about climate change?
*How would you improve public schools?
It DOES NOT MATTER what office the candidate is running for! The answers to these questions will tell you what you need to know!
*Tough Kids!
As you may know, local high school football teams are once again having outstanding seasons. City, West, and Regina will likely all make the playoffs. Solon is having another fine year, as is West Branch. Mid-Prairie, Lone Tree and Clear Creek may also be playoff bound.
This incredible success led a friend of mine from the Des Moines area to comment, “You sure do have some tough kids in Johnson County!” I think he is absolutely correct. But I think it is a different group of kids who should be praised for being tough.
Kids who do not get three daily meals? Those are tough kids. Kids who absorb the slings and arrows from peers who tease them about their sexual and/or gender identities? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents beat them? Those are tough kids. Kids whose families are homeless, going from place to place? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents struggle with drugs or alcohol? Those are tough kids. Kids whose families have been disrupted, and now live in foster care? Those are tough kids. Kids who deal with disabilities? Those are tough kids. Kids whose parents struggle with mental illness? Those are tough kids. Kids who have to work to support their families? Those are tough kids. Kids with cancer? Those are tough kids!
Yes, we have great high school football teams in Johnson County. I am proud of the efforts of those kids. I am even MORE proud of the efforts of the many kids in Johnson County who struggle against incredible odds. They will not be getting any pep rallies in their honor, but they are our real heroes.
*Neighbors
“Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” – Jesus Christ
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” – Fred Rogers
“Good fences make good neighbors.” – Robert Frost
“Can you believe my neighbor had the nerve to knock on my door at 3am? Luckily, I was still up playing the bagpipes.” – Steven Wright
We all know that neighbors can make your life great, miserable, and everything in between. I have been very lucky when it comes to neighbors. I grew up down the road from my grandparents. I bought my first house from my next-door neighbor at the time. The Dalys were our neighbors in our old house for 21 years, and they are wonderful people and great friends. I know not everyone is so lucky.
I have been thinking for a while about this, and I have come to realize that a big part of my job as a County Supervisor revolves around the relationships between neighbors.
When I look back at my time on the Board, many of our fights have been over someone wanting to do something, and the reaction of the neighbors to that something.
Junk yards. GuideLink Center. Hog confinements. Compost facility. Muslim Youth Camp. Gun range. Parks. Fences. Event centers. New roads. Pesticide and herbicide applications. Affordable housing. Dogs. Group homes. Mobile homes. Loud parties. Open burning. Wildlife. Subdivisions. Nuisance properties. Churches. Bright lights. Construction. Cemeteries. Mining. Trails. Pipelines. Fireworks. Concerts. Local food production. Migrant workers. Hunting. The list goes on and on.
Almost everything that has ever happened in Johnson County had some type of impact on neighbors. And then we run into conflicting rights. The owner of a property has certain rights. Neighbors have a right to enjoy their property without interference. Those two sets of rights can and do come into conflict all the time. So how do we balance this?
Sometimes the law is clearly in favor of one party or the other. And largely because of the GOP, sometimes the more egregious the use of the property, the more strongly defended the right. (See hog confinements and carbon pipelines.) But in other situations, the law is vaguer.
When the law is less clear, working with neighbors becomes more individualized. There is no set method. The most obvious is a test of “reasonableness.” Is the property owner being reasonable? Is the neighbor being reasonable? Many times, our job is simply to appeal to their better natures and attempt to negotiate a solution.
This is how we spend our time as Supervisors. Neighbor versus neighbor. How are you going to work it out? I try to be fair, and make the best decision possible. I try to make certain I am not influenced by who is the wealthiest, loudest, or most articulate. Instead, I try to focus on the facts. Sometimes it is easy. Most times, it is not.
It seems funny when you think about it, but a really big part of our jobs is handling disputes between neighbors.
*DID YOU KNOW? The redder the leaf, the more sugar that leaf is storing. That is why Maple trees are so vibrant.
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 @ 7:19 PM
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