SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
November 14, 2026
Sullivan’s Salvos 11/19/26
In this edition:
*Local Voter Turnout
*GuideLink Kudos!
*Debt and Deficit
*Hot Topics Over the Years
*Consequential – Saving the Sutliff Bridge
*Did You Know?
*Local Voter Turnout
Voter turnout in Johnson County was amazing this election season! Here are a couple of statistics to consider:
Total Johnson County turnout was 77,575. That is an increase of 21% over our last midterm election in 2022. In addition, that turnout is greater than the 2012 & 2016 Presidential elections! The only election in Johnson County with higher turnout was the 2020 Presidential election.
Great job, Johnson County voters!
*GuideLink Kudos!
Children and Family Resources, otherwise known as CFR, is one of only a few substance abuse providers in the State of Iowa. They came to Johnson County a few years ago when they bought out Prelude. (For old-timers, Prelude was once known as MECCA.)
CFR has been a great partner for Johnson County, and we are glad they are here. According to CFR, we recently got some really nice kudos.
Residential Substance Abuse providers like CFR have to get certified periodically by a group called CARF – the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. I am very happy to report that CFR got the highest possible certification from CARF! Congrats to CFR!
I am particularly pleased by the attention CARF paid to the GuideLink Center. According to CARF, it was one of the finest examples they have seen in the whole country! The praise for GuideLink was effusive, and it makes me very proud!
Congrats again to CFR, and congrats to everyone at Guidelink!
*Debt and Deficit
It is true – the US has a real crisis with our debt and deficit problems. The US now has over $40 trillion in debt. Servicing this debt eats up a tremendous number of resources that could otherwise go toward promotion of the general welfare.
Under President Trump, the US has experienced the 3rd largest increase in debt relative to the size of the economy of any President in history. Number one was George W Bush, who gave a gigantic tax cut to the rich and followed it up with two long wars. Number two was Abe Lincoln, who had to fund the Civil War. Number 3 is Trump.
Before you start trying to excuse away Trump’s budget management, here are a few more facts: First, the vast majority of the debt incurred because of COVID came under Biden, not Trump. Second, while debt increased under Obama, it has been 3x as much under Trump.
Why all this talk of debt and deficit now? Because this is immediately where Republicans will go. Except for Thomas Massie, Republicans were SILENT about debt and deficit through six years of Trump Presidency. NOW it will become the number one priority for them.
So, expect to hear a lot of debt and deficit hand wringing soon. Just know that those same folks stood by and allowed it to happen while saying NOTHING.
Like I said, it is a very real problem. What can be done? I think there are many options that would help reduce the debt and deficit while also being popular with the public:
1. Eliminate the wage cap on Social Security.
2. Institute a national wealth tax.
3. Raise income taxes on every family earning over $400,000 per year. Then raise taxes significantly on folks who have the top 1% of incomes, and even more for the top one tenth of 1% of incomes. Finally, tax billionaires to the hilt.
4. Eliminate tax loopholes that benefit the wealthy.
5. Fully fund the IRS and collect all taxes owed.
6. Defund the Iran War.
7. Institute targeted cutbacks to the military. Preserve the pay and benefits of service members, but allow top military minds to decide where cutbacks can be made.
8. Remove the ability of private companies to suck profits out of Medicare and Medicaid.
9. Abolish ICE. (You will need some money for sensible immigration enforcement.)
10. End all aid to Israel.
These changes would go a long way toward reducing our deficit and debt without hurting the poorest Americans! I hope the new Congress takes up a few of these ideas!
Meanwhile, remember that elected Republicans have ZERO credibility on these issues! When they complain about debt and deficit, remind them of their inaction during the Trump years!
*Hot Topics Over the Years
Going through old records, it has been interesting to see what topics over the years have generated the most paper. Some of these will bring back some interesting memories, for sure!
Things that are unsurprisingly folders full of paper are titled Taxes, Jail, Chip Seal Roads Policy, and Poor Farm.
Topics that may or may not surprise you include Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Property Maintenance Ordinance, Conservation Bond, Minimum Wage, and Parking Policies.
Items that never happened but may jog your memory include the Muslim Youth Camp (MYCA), Public Power Referendum, Newport Road Extension, and Indoor Rainforest. Recall those?
*Consequential – Saving the Sutliff Bridge
Another consequential decision of which I am proud is the decision to save the Sutliff Bridge after the Great Flood of 2008. Below is one thing I wrote at the time.
The debate over whether 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 Museum 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 Museum, 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? Thousands of tourists spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the area – to businesses that pay lots of taxes. Doesn’t that qualify as economic development? Or can economic development only occur in the “big city”? Is this economic development worth more than a 2-mile road resurfacing? Is it worth more than a few loads of gravel?
There is ZERO local match required to restore the bridge. 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 $30,000 toward the future maintenance right now, with more to come very shortly. $30,000 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.
Most importantly, FEMA awarded this money to the people of Sutliff for the bridge. What right would Johnson County have to take it? The money was intended for the bridge. Stealing the money and using it for anything else would be wrong.
Some try to make this an issue of fiscal accountability on the part of the Board. Want to track how Supervisors vote when it comes to the County budget? I have kept track of the public record. Those who opposed the Sutliff Bridge have voted for far more spending and to forego far more revenue than those who voted for it. The totals go well over $1 million. Ask me some time if you want to see the record.
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. Linn County built the $1.6 million Lundby Bridge in a County park. Local tourism and economic development folks are calling this a huge draw. The DM project is 1/3 the length of the Sutliff Bridge, and spans a much smaller river. Why don’t we market our own treasure?
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? Chauncey Swan drove a wooden stake into the ground on May 4, 1839 – locating the historic site where Iowa’s new capitol building would be built.
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!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:58 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home