SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
August 15, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/20/26
In this edition:
*Starting the School Year
*Lone Tree Fall Festival
*Number of Hogs in Iowa?
*Supervisor Workload
*Salvos Salutes – 2015
*Did You Know?
*Starting the School Year
I know January 1 is the official New Year, but in Iowa City, the New Year always feels like mid-August. Having lived here over 40 years, my circadian rhythms are set to a new academic year being the real new year.
Whether you live life by the semester or not, I hope you have a great academic year!
*Lone Tree Fall Festival
The Lone Tree Fall Festival is August 21 & 22 in Lone Tree. This event is a great opportunity to share some good times with the fine folks of Johnson County’s panhandle!
*Number of Hogs in Iowa?
I heard an interesting statistic recently, and I want to know if anyone can confirm or deny it:
The statistic we often see is that Iowa has 25 million hogs and 3.1 million people. Iowa has about 33,000 deaths each year, and about 33,000 people are born or move in. So the population of people stays pretty consistent.
But the hogs? I heard that over half the hogs turn over each year. Meaning the impact of the hog population is not 25 million, but 40 million!
I guess this makes sense. Thinking back to my childhood, I know piglets were born in the spring, and 7-9 months later they were ready to go to market. I imagine with genetics, antibiotics, etc. they have sped that process up.
So perhaps we should be talking about the impact of 40 million hogs, not 25 million!
*Supervisor Workload
I have long been concerned by the workload (or lack thereof) for Johnson County Supervisors. I sent the following Executive Summary to Chairperson Green, requesting a discussion of the topic. Hopefully, it will be discussed on Wednesday, August 19.
Executive Summary
Date: August 19, 2026
From: County Supervisor Rod Sullivan
To: Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Issue: Discuss pay and hours of Johnson County Supervisors
Background: Supervisor compensation in 2005 was approximately $39,000 annually. Supervisor compensation in 2026 is approximately $102,000 annually. That is an increase of 162% over 21 years. I believe it can be argued that the Supervisor workload has actually decreased during this time. Below are some arguments in support of this belief:
1. In 2005, there were 3 staff in the Board Office – a Secretary, an Executive Assistant (job title later changed to Executive Director), and a Budget person (that position was later transferred to the Finance Department). In 2026, there are 11.25 staff in the Board Office.
2. Staffing increases in other Departments have also reduced Supervisor workload, though somewhat more indirectly.
3. Electronic communications have largely replaced phone and in person communications. The number of phone calls and visitors is probably 5% of what it was in 2005. (IT may be able to provide incoming phone call data; visitors will be more difficult to measure.) Phone calls and visits required more time from Supervisors.
4. The number of outside boards and committees upon which Supervisors serve has been markedly decreased. While a few new committees have been created, more than a dozen either no longer exist, or professional staff have replaced Supervisor participation. As an example, in both 2006 and 2007, I served on 22 boards or committees each year. Post-COVID, that number has been closer to 10 each year.
How much time are Supervisors spending doing County business? It will obviously vary week-to-week. And we know that there are seasons (the budget process, specifically) that add a few hours to each weekly total. That said, below is what I believe to be a very accurate estimate.
2 weekly meetings, plus prep time = 5 hours per week maximum
Liaison meetings = 2 hours per week on average
Boards and committees = 2 hours per week on average
Emails, phone calls, etc. = 7 hours per week on average
Ceremonial and other functions = 2 hours per week
Other = 2 hours per week
Total = 20 hours per week
Each of the estimates above is generous. I would argue that most Supervisors do not hit each of these totals very often. On many weeks, the total numbers of hours spent in these areas might be half that total.
The piece that is not mentioned above is “spending time in the community.” Every Supervisor defines “their community” differently, and every Supervisor considers different activities to be “work.”
An example: I was recently the only Supervisor in attendance for the groundbreaking of the new Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Towncrest Center. I was there 90 minutes. One could argue that was work. One could argue that was personal. Though not in my case, one could argue it is campaigning. Which is it?
Supervisors can argue over how that time is categorized. But should the public pay a Supervisor to attend? Should the public pay 5 Supervisors to attend?
There are many other examples of grey areas. Is going to a bar with friends and talking local politics work? Is going to a coffee shop with friends and talking local politics work? Is going to the County Fair with your children work? Is attending a candlelight vigil work? Is volunteering to sit in a dunk tank for a nonprofit fundraiser work? Is driving around examining the crops work? Is eating at Senior Dining work? The correct answers to these questions vary widely from person to person.
Supervisors are salaried. Hours worked may vary. But the countywide expectation for salaried employees is that the salary is based upon approximately 40 hours of work per week. I would argue that Supervisor pay is calculated similarly, but that only half as much work (or less) is being done.
The job is now more akin to that of a City Councilor in a larger city. Iowa City City Councilors are paid $12,000 annually. Cedar Rapids City Councilors make $25,000. Des Moines City Councilors make $35,000. This level of compensation seems more congruent with the responsibilities of a Johnson County Supervisor.
Compensation for Supervisors goes beyond just salary. The positions have full benefits, including excellent healthcare and IPERS. While I personally believe those are important things to have, it is worth noting that they are an additional piece of the compensation package.
Plus, Supervisors do not have sick or vacation leave. They simply go when they want to go. They come into the office whenever they choose. It is hard to put a price on this type of flexibility.
Ultimately, the only accountability for Supervisors is the public. But I do believe Supervisors could give the public more information upon which to make decisions.
Board Office Executive Director Erin Shane had the Board and Board Office staff do a time study a little over a year ago. She later decided this was not getting her good information and abandoned the project. Personally, I feel there could be real value in trying once again.
Johnson County recently underwent a strategic planning process. During that process, there were calls to explore a County Manager form of government. Regardless of how one feels about this topic, it points out the need for Supervisors to justify the $510,000 plus full benefits and IPERS that taxpayers are asked to pay each year.
For anyone wishing to do more research, I have discussed this over the years at the annual meeting of the Compensation Commission. Minutes are available online.
*Salvos Salutes – 2015
What I wrote about some of the honorees from Salvos Salutes in 2015:
Tom Jacobs: After several decades as a respected labor leader, Tom decided to retire. He should have gotten a Salvos Salute at that time. Watching him serve as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend shows he deserves a Salute for those roles, too. What a kind, generous, thoughtful, caring man! I am proud to call Tom a friend!
Lisa Metzler: This Solon woman dutifully works every day to ensure that foster and adoptive children and foster and adoptive families have what they need. Then she goes home from work and serves as a foster and adoptive parent herself! Do not kid yourself - Lisa is a true hero!
Andre Perry: The Englert Theatre has become one of the most important cultural and civic resources in all of Johnson County. The building itself is beautiful, but the building did not do that. Andre Perry did. If this young man comes to you with an idea, do yourself a favor and tell him yes!
Dave Wehde: We are aware of the award winning writers and champion wrestlers in our midst. But did you know that Johnson County Conservation is home to probably the top Naturalist in the business? Dave Wehde has been serving the people of Johnson County a long time, and yes, he really is that good! Dave’s role will only grow (pun intended!) as we battle the many invasive species that threaten our landscape.
Chris Henze: Should we really recognize not one but TWO Johnson County employees who deal with weeds? Actually, yes we should! Johnson County won the award for having the top Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program in the whole country! This was the result of years of fighting, years of volunteering, and years of advocacy on the part of many people. But Chris is the guy who has pulled it all together and made it all work.
Jesse Case: Johnson County became the first county in Iowa to adopt a Community ID program. Then Johnson County became the first county in Iowa to raise the minimum wage. If you want to find a single person most responsible for these accomplishments, look no farther than Iowa City Federation of Labor President Jesse Case. Neither of those things happens without Jesse’s leadership – period.
Jean Jordison: Throughout our community, people donate time, talent, and treasure. Some people make a show of it; others do so quietly. One of the quiet heroes is Jean Jordison. She has given so much to a couple local low-income immigrant families that it boggles the mind. But that is just the start – her giving is felt throughout the community. If everyone contributed the way Jean does… well, I cannot even imagine. Her contributions are truly extraordinary!
Jessica Peckover: It is REALLY difficult to get the majority of all the public officials in the area to agree on anything. Jessica Peckover has done even better – she has convinced everyone to wholeheartedly support Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and bring it to Johnson County. CIT will help law enforcement officers to better serve people who are struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. While this approach makes sense, it would not be happening without Jessica’s knowledge, passion, persistence, and just plain hard work.
Mike Ryan: Did you follow the minimum wage discussions in Tiffin? The debate there was more robust than in any other city in Johnson County. Throughout that debate, one person emerged as a vocal champion for low wage workers – Councilor Mike Ryan. The fire Mike demonstrated while fighting for a higher minimum wage was really exceptional. The people of Tiffin are lucky to have such a passionate public servant!
Teachers: They all get a Salute. Every one of them. Not only have they done their typical great work – arguably our most important work – they have done so while under attack from the Branstad Administration. Teachers, you deserve so much better. Hang in there, and keep up the great work!
As you can see, 2015 was a year full of people worthy of our admiration!
*DID YOU KNOW? The College Community School District includes most of northern Johnson County including Swisher and Shueyville. Most people think “College Community” refers to nearby Kirkwood Community College. In actuality, College Community is named after Western College, a college that existed from 1857 to 1919 in the village of Western, just north of Shueyville.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 12:38 PM
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