SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 10, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/12/24
In this edition:
*RIP Mydge Krob
*Supervisor Fixmer Oraiz
*Supervisor History
*Health Insurance CEO Murdered
*Budget
*A Win for Labor!
*Did You Know?
*RIP Mydge Krob
Mydge Krob of Solon recently passed away. Mydge worked in the Johnson County Auditor’s Office for almost 20 years, and was always a friendly face and hard worker. RIP, Mydge!
*Supervisor Fixmer Oraiz
You may have heard that Supervisor V Fixmer Oraiz was going to resign from the office. While V did consider leaving, they have decided to stay, and announced that at our 12/5 meeting.
The last couple of years have been very difficult for V and all trans people in Iowa. They have been under attack by Republicans in the Iowa Legislature and Republicans in the federal government, and Iowa has passed a host of anti-trans bills. I know it is not easy to live in Iowa under these circumstances. It is simply bullying, and it makes me very angry.
V is contacted by trans folks and their loved ones all the time. People are looking for help, answers, or just someone to talk with, and V has been filling this role. It is asking a lot of one person.
That said, if V ever feels they cannot give the job 100%, they should step down. Any elected official who feels that way should. The public deserves Supervisors who are all in. I’m glad V feels as though they are able! I thank V for their service, and I look forward to working with them moving forward!
*Supervisor History
V’s status caused me to look back at the many people with whom I have served over my 20 years in office. I hope you find some of this interesting.
*I have served with 14 different County Supervisors.
*13 were Democrats, one (John Etheridge) was a Republican.
*That includes 8 men, 5 women, and one nonbinary individual. I was on a Board with only one woman (Sally Stutsman) for 4 years, and I was also the only man on the Board for two years.
*I served with two nonwhite Supervisors – Royceann Porter and V Fixmer Oraiz.
*The oldest person I served with is now in their mid-80s, while the youngest is about 40. The oldest at the time of serving was about 75; the youngest was 34.
*6 of the Supervisors grew up in or near Johnson County; 3 grew up in other parts of Iowa; 5 grew up in other states.
*8 of those Supervisors lived in unincorporated Johnson County; the other 6 lived in Iowa City (one rural person did live two years in Lone Tree.)
*2 (Mike Lehman and Sally Stutsman) were farmers, though a couple others dabbled.
*One is not a college graduate (Pat Harney); one (Lisa Green Douglass) has a Ph.D.
*Interestingly, NONE worked at the University of Iowa immediately before becoming a Supervisor.
*I only served 2 years with 4 of those people; I served the most years (12) with Pat Harney.
*I served with one person who resigned before their term was up (Terrence Neuzil). I served with three Supervisors who lost primary races as incumbents (Mike Lehman, Mike Carberry, Royceann Porter). I served with one person who resigned because of being elected to higher office (Sally Stutsman). I served with two folks who died in office (Larry Meyers and Kurt Friese).
*Of all the people I have served with, Supervisor Etheridge served the shortest amount of time. It is not a record, though – in the very early ‘80s, Mike Cilek was appointed to fill the seat of his mother Lorada after she died in office. Lorada had already decided not to run again, and her successor had already been elected, just not sworn in. So Mike served about seven weeks in the position.
One thing that I have discovered during my tenure is that Johnson County really doesn’t have any records of election results prior to WWII. I find this incredibly disappointing! You can walk into the Iowa City Clerk’s Office and get information on everyone who has ever served the city. Johnson County has nothing. I find it shameful. I am glad we have it going forward, but much of our history is missing.
*Health Insurance CEO Murdered
I truly hate the way we do insurance in this country. It is awful. And yes, people die because of it. But to say that it is ok that a man got murdered because of our rotten system? I hope we can do better than that.
*Budget
Johnson County is beginning the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY25), which will begin July 1st of 2025. Here are some ongoing budget issues, and my take on them:
General Fund versus Rural Fund: If you pay property taxes in Johnson County, you pay into the General Fund. All taxpayers do. If you live in the unincorporated area of the county, you also pay into the Rural Fund. The Rural Fund covers expenses specific to rural residents – mostly roads, but also libraries, landfill, and a couple smaller expenses. There are wide variations between counties as to what should be supported by the rural fund.
Any single individual can easily create a budget: It isn’t that hard to support the programs and services you like, then cut the ones you don’t. It is much more difficult to do this for 160,000 people. Similarly, it isn’t that hard to decide how much you think you ought to pay in taxes, then apply that County wide. It is more difficult when you then recognize how many valuable services would need to be cut. Creating a budget that works for 160,000 people is challenging.
Taxes versus services: I had a man complain to me about his taxes. The next day, his wife complained about the condition of their road. They simply can’t have it both ways! Yes, this is an anecdote, but it sums up the fundamental budgetary difficulty- people want to pay less in taxes, but get more services. It cannot be done.
Mandated versus optional services: Some services are required by law. For example, Johnson County is obligated to hold elections. Other services are optional. For example, Johnson County has no legal obligation to fund DVIP. This is a very real phenomenon, and Board Members need to be aware of it. On the other hand, I take issue with things being portrayed this simply. Let’s go back to elections. While elections are mandated, there is no mandate as to the amount of elections staff, computer equipment, or other expenses. The law says we must do it, but it does not specify the amount we must spend. Funding DVIP may, in fact, be a very productive way to work toward Johnson County’s mission.
Conservative budgeting versus low taxes: It is important for folks to recognize that the lowest possible tax rate does not equate to the most conservative budgeting. For example – the most conservative budgeting includes money for maintenance. You need to spend money on upkeep, whether roads, buildings, or vehicles – or you’ll spend more in the long run. And I REFUSE to buy into the idea that taxes are inherently evil! Taxes are the price of supporting a civilized society.
Want to know a government’s priorities? Look at the budget. With that said, I encourage citizens to join us at our budget meetings. (The calendar is on the website.) Meanwhile, what are your priorities? Now is the time to let us know!
*A Win for Labor!
(From Iowa Public Radio)
The Iowa Employment Appeal Board has ruled a Woodbury County Supervisor violated Iowa labor law by interfering with the constitutional rights of county workers who are members of a union.
The board’s ruling refers to a news release Woodbury County Board of Supervisors chair Matthew Ung issued in late August, after local union members rejected a deal for better wages and benefits for lawyers in the county attorney’s office. Ung said the rejection endangered public safety and Ung promised county workers increased pay and benefits if they dissolved their union.
Ung has been ordered to make an official statement, admitting his promise of better pay if the union went away violated state law. Copies of Ung’s statement are to be posted for 30 days in places where Woodbury County employees regularly see notices about their employment. Ung says he’ll comply and won’t appeal the decision.
Todd Copley, president of AFSCME Council 61, which represents Woodbury County employees says the decision sends “a clear message that union-busting has no place in our state.”
*DID YOU KNOW? Three current Supervisors (Lisa Green Douglass, Royceann Porter, and Jon Green) were first elected in special elections. Green Douglass replaced Terrence Neuzil, Porter replaced Kurt Friese, and Green replaced Janelle Rettig.
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.
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 12:43 PM
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