SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 3, 2023
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/9/23
In this edition:
*Happy Birthday Zuri!
*Happy Mother’s Day!
*Loneliness
*Johnson County as an Employer
*Democratic Party Hall of Fame
*Did You Know?
*Happy Birthday Zuri!
May 10th marks the 6th birthday of Ms. Zuri Foote, our first grandchild! I can honestly say that being a grandfather is the best gig I have ever had! And Zuri makes it easy! She is sweet, kind, fun, and smart!
I found the following stats about grandparents today. I would have to say that I am in the majority in every category:
72% think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life.
63% say they can do a better job caring for grandchildren than they did with their own kids.
68% think being a grandparent brings them closer to their adult children.
90% enjoy talking about their grandkids to just about everyone.
Happy Birthday, Zuri! Papa loves you!
*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!
Eight 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!
*Loneliness
From the Associated Press: “Widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily, costing the health industry billions of dollars annually, the U.S. surgeon general said Tuesday in declaring the latest public health epidemic.
About half of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced loneliness, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an 81-page report from his office.
“We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing,” Murthy told The Associated Press in an interview. “Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that’s not right. That’s why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.”
I understand this. And I want to talk more about it. Look for something each of the next few weeks in Salvos. Want to talk about it sooner? Call, email, or message me.
*Johnson County as an Employer
Johnson County employs about 550 full time workers. How do we do as an employer? This can be in the eye of the beholder, obviously. But I think there are quantifiable ways in which we can compare Johnson County to other employers.
For starters, let’s just acknowledge that Johnson County is a public sector employer. There are things the private sector can do (bonuses, for example) that become much tougher in the public sector. That said, public sector employment is generally more stable than private sector, and typically has better benefits.
Because we are a public sector employer with some unionized employees, we have to be part of what is called a comparability group. This gives the unions, the counties, and any neutral decision makers data that is apples to apples. Our comparability group includes Linn, Scott, Johnson, Black Hawk, Dubuque, and Clinton Counties. Those are the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 12thmost populous counties in Iowa. All sit a short drive apart in Eastern Iowa. It’s really a similar group with the possible exception of Clinton, which has really been struggling economically.
So how does Johnson County compare as an employer? Pretty darn well, I would say!
For decades, Johnson County has chosen to set the pace for the comparability group. In other words, when comparing similar jobs, we pay the best. That is still the case. There are rare occasions where we will get passed in a category; when that happens, we take the steps to go back to the top. Our HR Director pointed out to me recently that Linn County was actually starting Sheriff’s Deputies a tiny bit higher than we are. But after 6 months, one year, and the rest of the way, Johnson County deputies earned more.
Paying the best salaries in the comp group started long before I was a Supervisor, but I have been proud to maintain that status. Johnson County employees deserve it, and they are getting it.
Health benefits? These are a little more difficult to compare because there are so many variables. Let’s start with health insurance. Johnson County seems to cover the most procedures. It is also the least out of pocket for employees. There may be bells and whistles offered by other counties, but I’ll take the best coverage at the lowest cost any day.
Vacation? We offer the most. Sick Days? We are all similar. Holidays? We have at least 1-2 more days. We have an employee assistance program that provides every employee 6 confidential counseling sessions at no cost. Johnson County certainly compares favorably when it comes to benefits.
And then there is the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System, or IPERS. Most employees in the US no longer have access to a defined benefit pension plan. Johnson County employees do. IPERS is well-managed and allows employees a peace of mind in retirement that most folks can only dream of! (Employees of all Iowa Counties have IPERS.)
Johnson County employees have access to all sorts of free trainings. We rate #1 or #2 in the state in safety. Johnson County employees have the tools they need. They have the vehicles they need. With a couple notable exceptions, most Johnson County employees work in new or relatively new facilities. Again, Johnson County compares very well as an employer.
If it sounds as though I am defending Johnson County, I am. There has been a rash of criticism lately from non-bargaining County employees. Obviously, these folks are free to ask any question or lodge any complaint. There will never be any retribution so long I can help it.
I also recognize that there is no way to keep everyone happy. If you want to take this info and feel good about it, you can. If you want to feel bad about it, you can. People are going to do what they are going to do.
That said, I think it is important for everyone – County employees and the general public – to understand the facts. I am proud of the job Johnson County does as an employer, and I think the data backs this up.
I have spent my whole career as a Supervisor fighting for Johnson County employees. Employees may not realize it. They may not care. But I have gotten results, and it shows.
*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 13 at 7pm at Courtyard by Marriott in University Heights.
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 2023 are: Sally Murray, Joe Bolkcom, and Mary Mascher. We hope you can join us in recognizing this remarkable group!
Tickets are available for a $35 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:
$125 includes two tickets
$250 includes 4 tickets
$500 includes a whole table (8 tickets)
$1000 includes 2 whole tables (16 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? Johnson County hires several hundred temporary election workers every year.
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 @ 4:38 PM
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