I mean.
Yeah, yeah.
So we getting rid of those?
Morning, Ryan.
The market size
yesterday, right?
Yeah. So.
People will tell you that.
Yeah.
Just.
Yeah.
It was so weird that we're.
Because it was.
So. Boring. Oh.
All right.
Know.
Very.
Sorry at all for that.
You. Said
it's.
It's more.
You know,
it's commiserating.
I wish I had a better go.
I'm so. Apparently.
I mean, it's just.
I think, you know.
The morning.
You know,
I'll say.
Yeah.
The meetings of the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors are open to the public and are generally live streamed.
To join electronically.
Please visit bit ly forward slash Jocko meeting.
Written comments may be submitted to SUPs at Johnson County, Iowa. Gov.
If you require accommodations to participate,
please contact the board office at (319) 356-6000.
Prior to the meeting.
Public comment is at the discretion of the chairperson.
Comments should be limited to three minutes due to public meeting laws.
The board may only discuss or act on matters presented on this agenda.
Welcome.
Good morning.
Will come to order. It's 9 a.m..
Today is Thursday, September 18th, 2025.
This is a formal meeting of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.
Roll call please.
Sullivan here.
Thanks. Morris. Present.
Green. Present.
Remington here.
Green. Douglas.
With five supervisors, we have quorum.
The chair would seek a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
So moved.
Second, moved by Sullivan.
Second by six. Morris. Discussion.
Roll call.
Six. Morris nine. Green.
All right.
Remington.
Green. Douglas.
Sullivan. Motion carries 5 to 0.
The agenda is approved.
Item B is business from the public.
Public comment.
Is there anyone with public comment for an item not on today's agenda?
Yes. Good morning.
Good morning.
I'm Daniel McFarland, the long time resident of Johnson County,
to the address of 624
Summit Street in Iowa City.
Charlie Cook, welcome to his most
vociferous opponents on college campuses
and gave them a microphone because of this.
So the clock is not yet and I
and tens of millions more on this policy,
this board,
this county actively and insultingly constructed,
this will is dead because an individual that is on the express
wishes of a few inflammatory people,
as an example, here in Johnson County, we
we actually do need hard
core knuckle busting partizanship
with the stated goal of breaking the political
and institutional power of the Republican Party.
What is the party burning down?
And so the actually, this is from a post dated September the 10th.
This is the day that,
Charlie Cook was short of 2025,
but it's attributed to a John Green,
modest holdings.com.
Now, I am a longtime Republican.
We Republicans are not powerless to be on.
We got rid of critical race theory with intellectual construct
skillfully establishing what actions are
inherently and irredeemably racist and
we got rid of
diversity, equity and inclusion a racist movement.
This specifically tied to discomfort and destroyed any successful leadership.
And we are now getting rid of work from not all governments and institutions
shall encourage personal success
rather than rewarding those who fail.
Encourage the growth of families rather than protecting individuals
that recognize the true value of Western Christian societies.
Stimulating robust intellectual discourse
rather than policing speech.
Increase self-reliance, not expand dependency,
except that criminality is not equally distributed within our society,
and recognize the value of policing and criminal justice.
Enforce the law with respect to immigration,
and seek excellence in education not only with the opposite.
Johnson County does not live in a vacuum.
This state is the problem with an overwhelming majority
of the fathers of our schools and colleges.
This federal, the federal president,
House and Senate Republicans,
we have a governor, the House and the Senate.
Also Republicans, the Iowa Board of Regents.
Its concern to us all, the state and federal support
in this
uncomfortable reality of current supervisors.
We have to face the fact that thousands of new students
will be members of some point USA next year,
and they will vote
in supervisors, will have to buy a lawsuit.
We, on the other hand, will continue
to have microphones for those who oppose.
And I call on Joe Green for the trial.
Thank you.
Any additional public comment?
I I'm president number.
My solemn
and I just want to say a few things
first.
I find it rather embarrassing that,
the supervisors chose not to play by themselves.
This in private, don't have the authority to overrule the governor
or the president of the United States of America.
Yes. This was done.
The vast majority of Johnson County, the residence assistant
counties, the vast majority of them to their wives, announced that
whether they were liberal or conservative,
when Jack Nash that I was driving around and I noticed this.
So this was not represent the vast majority of the Johnson County,
and it certainly
was an embarrassment that they promised not.
For the colors.
I think they need to come down.
They need to be taken down and apology for who we should not need to
as a place of voluntarily speaking,
very needs.
Would continue to apply, but
that's a fair question
because we need to work to gap.
There was a great divide in our nation
and everybody.
Conversation.
The conversation.
When he was assassinated, he was on
the call of the tour
was that he would sit with commentators or with others.
I saw some of your man come and they would bring their ideas.
The opposing, and people often didn't want to be opposed to them.
Think about this and have a conversation
that is like,
welcome on America and it is powerful for.
It is respectful of the.
He was this was opportunity for people to be
told not to.
The entire city was oftentimes it was a.
It was shaken.
That was how we should you know.
And that is a wonderful moment for
or should never be met with by
and his at the time
were to go by.
We should never in this country
and it should never have been met with approval by not the one.
That's why we approved our candidate for that.
And that should never, ever happen.
Because we could be down in politicians.
Thank you.
Additional public comment this morning.
My name is William Ketel.
I'm a Iowa City native and resident.
For the last 25 years.
And, I'm a past
chairman of the Johnson County Republican Central Committee.
I wonder
when, Johnson County seceded from the Union
and seceded from Iowa
in the matter of flags,
the flag business was
a matter of custom.
The president declares, the governor declares, and the rest,
of government,
cooperates.
The Apparently there is no statute
requiring the county to cooperate.
This is something which we will try to remedy
in the next session of the legislature.
I, to have read,
the email that Don McFarland,
recited,
and I'm appalled,
the idea of,
destroying the Republican Party
and, pouring salt into
the ashes is an allusion to the way the Romans treated the Carthaginians,
and in our own history harks back to the way
the Southerners, after the Civil War treated the Republican Party.
This is
an attempt to introduce
the morals of the Ku Klux
Klan into Johnson County politics.
We won't stand for it. Thank you, thank you.
Additional public comment.
Is there any additional public comment this morning?
Any additional public comment?
Seeing none.
Item B2 in business from the public acknowledgment of correspondence.
Item A email September 4th, 2025
from Angela Stein regarding Lake Ridge Estates rent increase.
Seek unanimous consent from the members to accept that into the record.
Yes. Next is our consent agenda.
The chair would seek a motion for approval of the consent agenda items including
payment of claims against Johnson County in the amount of $2,271,790.31.
So moved.
Second moved by Sullivan.
Second by six. Marriage discussion.
Roll call.
Grant I Remington a green Douglas Sullivan.
All right. Thanks, Morris.
Motion carries 5 to 0. The,
consent agenda is approved.
Item D this morning is proclamations.
Our first proclamation is for welcoming week September 12th through 21, 2025.
Whereas Johnson County has long been home to people of many backgrounds, cultures,
languages and traditions, and our strength as a community comes
from the diversity, kindness and contributions of all who live here.
And whereas, during Welcoming week, our community will come together
to find common ground with our neighbors, seek similarities
within our different cultures and perspectives, and deepen
our commitments to building a stronger and more resilient Johnson County.
And whereas, fostering a spirit of inclusivity helps
to create opportunities for greater understanding, belonging and collaboration
among all residents and Whereas, Johnson County will continue to choose connection,
courage and love over divisions,
fear and hate and whereas
this year's Welcoming Week theme is Stories we Share
and reminds us that the experiences, traditions
and journeys of our neighbors enrich Johnson County.
And by listening and learning from one another,
we are supporting each other as people, friends and neighbors.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors,
do hereby proclaim the week of September 12th through 21st, 2025
as Welcoming Week in Johnson County, Iowa, and call upon residents
to join together to build stronger communities across Iowa.
Signed this 18th December 2025, in Johnson County, Iowa.
John Green, chairperson, Johnson County Board of Supervisors
approval second
moved by six members, second by Green Douglas discussion
roll call.
Remington I.
Green, Douglas. Sullivan I fix my rose. Hi.
Great.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The proclamation is a doc adopted?
Is there anyone here to speak to this proclamation this morning?
He has props.
I do thank you.
Chairperson of board staff,
greater Iowa City and Better Together 2030 are proud
to continually support our immigrant populations,
organizations and businesses and as important recognition each year.
My name is Evan Doyle.
I'm here on behalf of Greater Iowa City and Better Together 2030.
This year marks the third consecutive year of Johnson County Communities
collective efforts, and celebrating a welcoming week
and welcoming week is an over a week long celebration of immigrants.
And it started last Friday and officially ends this coming Sunday.
Officially launched
by the organization Welcoming America in 2012,
it's an annual campaign that celebrates the work in our communities
to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants.
Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together
neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections
and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places
and achieving collective prosperity
locally.
Our cities and organizations are leaning into welcoming more than ever in the past.
Each additional year celebration attracts more people and community groups
that want to get involved and show their support to
the growing local support for welcoming.
We exemplifies powerful collaboration to embrace the shared prosperity
for everyone.
This year, there's over 15 events scheduled during Welcoming Week, all
put on by local organizations throughout Johnson County
ready to embrace Johnson County's welcoming status.
These events are free and
open to the public, and we encourage everyone to attend one of these events.
There are still multiple events between now and this Sunday.
This welcoming week, let's declare that belonging begins with us,
that each and every one of us has the power to help others,
regardless of background, so that everyone is seen, embraced,
welcomed, and included in our communities.
To learn more about welcoming We, there's a local welcome
I c area.org website that has a list of all of the events
that have taken place throughout Welcoming Week, and there's multiple
Johnson County resources for new residents to the area.
Lastly, we do have these props.
These are Welcoming Week signs.
They were the same sign as last year.
This is an annual campaign, not a year by year separate thing.
So having these up each year will really,
embrace the welcoming status for Johnson County long term.
Thank you board, and I'll leave it open for anyone else.
Good day.
Board and staff.
No, I do appreciate the time and accepting the proclamation for Johnson County.
This is a big deal for for Johnson County.
I feel this is last year's signs.
We have this held up very well. Had outside all year.
So I want to show you that this a good where.
And I think this is a symbol of how well
the citizens of the county, and I am also a board
member of the Icy Compassion who held their welcoming welcome weekend,
a three day, event we just had,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12 to 14.
And, we had, great attendance with that, including,
I have to commend the mayor of Iowa City, Bruce Teague, who came, attended
the events and also even on Sunday, at the, Welcome festival,
sang a couple of songs and to big rejoice to the crowd.
That was there, was there?
I also am a counselor at the city by,
Lone Tree and accepted the proclamation for the city of Lone Tree.
And I think, this speaks very,
voluminous Lee
for the for Jackson County having, housing the city of Iowa City,
who is a city of Unesco, City of literature.
And I think this is a great extension and next step towards
the greatness of what Jackson County is and could become.
I have to say a big thank you to, Greater Iowa City,
city of Iowa City, Johnson County, and, you said neighborhood association,
amongst many others who had come and attended into their in person or had
booths or help support the, persons
that we're, endeavoring to, to connect with.
And the point and purpose of Welcome Weekend is to accept all
we are all immigrants and ultimately we are all human beings
that we should accept each other, regardless of background race situation.
And I think this year being the third year for us
doing the, welcome festival, really exemplified,
what we needed to do. And,
we learned once again that we're always better together.
So thank you all.
Thank you.
Well done.
Anyone else like to speak
to this proclamation?
Good morning.
It's a pleasure for me to be here.
My name is Marsha Martin, and I was born and raised in Iowa City.
I consider Johnson County my home.
And if it were up to me everywhere in Johnson County shirt.
I love the image.
But Iowa City today,
a couple things I want to say, and it's a pleasure to be a part of.
The welcome weekend that, Roger just talked about,
that we began three years ago as a symbol
of how wonderful it is in this community that we welcome people.
It's a celebration of all the people who are here.
And given what is happening around our world,
it is so important for us to step out and say, you're welcome here.
Two things I really want to tell you.
One is I've been involved in international programs, and one of the things that
I was able to do was to write about Johnson County's
welcome weekend, welcome America's work here.
And quite frankly, it's written up in a U.N.
report.
And I will forward that report to the chairperson.
Iowa City is in a UN report,
part of the Welcome America efforts.
We're just a little town in the middle of it.
Some people say no word.
So it is a pleasure to be a part of this and to continue the message
because people will say, Iowa, Iowa.
I once again, Iowa, this is happening in Iowa, where we welcome people.
The second thing I want to tell you is I was born and raised in this town,
and I think as the only African-American in this room,
I want to say there's a lot of conversation going on
about who's been welcome and who has not been welcome,
and kind of the legacy of past experiences.
I was born here
and my father moved here from
South, and when my family moved here,
there was all kinds of resistance
to my family being.
And the mothers and fathers
of Iowa City approached my mother and father
and they said, if you can get
the people in the neighborhood where you want to live
to agree and sign that it is
all right for you to live here,
then it'll be all right for you.
Now that's the story I grew up with.
And some people say, wow, wow, and I say, but you know what?
The neighbors signed.
And the neighbors agreed.
And that is Iowa City.
That is. And beyond.
We can talk the story, but the reality is the outcome from
my family was absolutely what we needed.
People said yes.
So I just want to say to Johnson County
and to all the cities in Johnson County, thank you for saying yes.
Thank you for being welcoming.
And I would just say to continue this open expression
of who we are as Americans, but mostly as Iowans.
And then I have to say, go Hawks.
Thank you.
Anyone additional
to speak to this proclamation?
All right, let's get a photo, folks.
Anybody is out here to the right.
So phone photo.
Yeah. And
so, for example, people say.
Yeah.
I mean,
right now because.
Everybody is in there, right?
Yeah.
I was you.
Okay. 123.
And I want you to make sure you.
Know everybody.
Go. You you.
You I think so.
So. Chair, if it's all right.
I did have something I wanted to say. Yes.
I want to thank everybody for coming for the proclamation.
It is incredible important in this moment to have welcome Week.
And, particularly for our immigrant population.
My mom and family are from the Philippines.
And I just wanted to say that today I'm wearing a barong Tagalog, and I wanted to.
It's not just trying to be fancy.
Obviously, it's cultural pride.
But this cultural pride
comes out of something that I think is incredibly salient right now.
The Philippines were colonized by the Spanish for 400 years.
And, it was not very welcoming.
Let's just say that this, attire, barong
Tagalog, actually was imposed upon, indigenous Filipinos,
because of the ruling class of Spanish
that came wanted to indicate, several things.
One, they didn't they wanted all the shirts to be untucked.
And I'll stand up so you can see this.
But it is it is untucked at the bottom.
Because they
didn't, they wanted to mark class and status.
They wanted, subservience to be marked by untucked shirts, transparent fabric.
This is actually made out of pineapple because they didn't
want Filipinos to have weapons.
And then lastly, no pockets because they wanted to prevent
what they saw as stealing, which was really survival.
And what ended up
happening was these garments were reclaimed as a point of pride
because Filipinos said, okay, you want to do that?
We'll do that, and we will make them fancy, because that's what Filipinos do.
They're extra, and to this day,
you know, the the resistance
that happened, the revolution that happened after 400 years,
all of a sudden you started seeing the the uprising.
Clothing was a marker of that.
We reclaimed these garments that we were forced to make to
a to wear and started turning them into beautiful points of pride.
And now it is, Filipino presidential declaration
that this is the formal attire, for the Philippines.
And I think it's just really salient in this moment
that we recognize, you know, our histories and our cultures
and the things that we can we can share, you know, food stories.
I love talking about my Filipino heritage because it honors
my ancestors and my grandmother who passed away.
But it is also in
this moment, a reminder of where we've come from.
Right?
And what we have faced before and what we are facing right now, quite frankly.
And so I want to honor all of our immigrants
and all of the people who are welcoming.
Thank you.
Particularly in this moment in our country,
I think it is very appropriate that we have welcome, Rick, right now.
And I'm so proud of our county and how welcoming we are.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Any other supervisors wish to address the welcoming proclamation?
I would like to, I think, we are stronger
through diversity
in the, through diversity.
And, I know this on a very personal level.
I have a very large family, and I
have people in my family who
first generation are here as immigrants,
and most of them have left for us
to associate degrees.
There's a virtuous right there and cultural,
awareness that our family has gained from that person.
So friends
have expanded our language skills in another language.
They also learn French, and they're, from Germany
and, from Vietnam.
And the richness that has been added to our family
through this city has been wonderful.
And something that I feel proud of
and just very much, enamored of.
And so I think that we all
should be proud of being a member of the community.
And that's our diversity that we allow and
and share and seek to embrace.
Yeah.
Thank you Lisa.
Just keep sharing those food recipes.
Talk a lot about food.
I just as somebody who moved every 2 to 3 years
from the time I was born until I was 15,
across the country to other countries
and back over and over again.
I know how much of a difference it can make to have a community
that has a very clear, welcoming environment
as opposed to one that does not when you are new to a place.
And I just want to thank you all for everything that you've done to help
make sure that Johnson County is one.
I guess
since I've been thrown in there two sense.
I had an interesting thing happen to me this summer where I realized,
unbeknownst to me, that I had,
a number of relatives who, distant relatives
who were killed in the Troubles in Belfast.
And, I was not even aware of that.
And to be completely honest, my response bothered me
because it's because I started to be bothered by that.
And I thought
I didn't even know that this was the case
a few weeks ago, and now it bothers me.
And, you know, why don't I have the same
feeling for the folks all over planet Earth
who are going through the same thing? I mean, obviously
you can look at Palestine right now or any number of places.
And,
I think that's the challenge to all of us, right?
Is like, it doesn't matter that those people
who were murdered were my relatives.
It doesn't matter at all.
I mean, nobody deserves to be murdered.
And, we've got to do better.
We've got to have more compassion for the other human beings, regardless of their
whatever background that is.
And, I fear that we're moving in the wrong direction.
I hope we can turn it around and, get back to a place
where really, we're talking about welcoming.
And so I think the timing of this couldn't come at a better time.
And I really appreciate all you folks for coming out and reminding us.
Thank you.
Supervisors.
Our second proclamation this morning is a proclamation
for Constitution Week, September 17th through 23rd, 2025.
Whereas September 17th, 2025
marks the 238th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution
of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention.
And Whereas the Constitution stands
as the cornerstone of our nation's legal and political framework,
securing the blessings of liberty, establishing justice
and ensuring the principles of representative government.
And whereas the Constitution affirms the principles of representative government,
separation of powers and individual rights that continue to guide our democracy,
and whereas, by strengthening our understanding of the Constitution,
we reaffirm our commitment to the rights and freedoms it guarantees
and the responsibilities it entrusts to each generation.
And whereas, in celebration of the Constitution
was started by daughters of the American Revolution in 1955
to our petition Congress to set aside September 17th through 23rd annually
to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that we, the Jones
County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17th
through 23rd, 2025 as Constitution Week in Johnson County, Iowa,
and urges residents to join in celebrating the ideals of freedom
and democracy guaranteed to us through this foundational document,
sign this 18th day of September 2025, in Johnson County, Iowa.
John Green, chairperson, Johns County Board of Supervisors, move
approval second moved by Greene Douglass, second by Sullivan.
Discussion
roll call.
Greene, Douglas.
Sullivan. All right. Thanks, Marisa.
All right.
Great. Remington.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The proclamation is adopted.
Is there anyone who would like to speak to the proclamation?
Of course.
Theresa Hart and Bumgardner.
Rose Solon and also chair of the Johnson County Republican.
Sorry, I forgot to.
That was, I just want to thank you for doing that.
I think that, a wonderful thing.
I think that the Constitution is one of the things that unites us,
whether we're conservative or liberal.
And I think it's wonderful that we as Americans
should come together and celebrate that.
I also think that that is the reason that,
you know, people immigrate here is because of our wonderful Constitution.
So thank you very much. Thank you.
Anyone else like to speak
to this proclamation?
Are we drawing straws?
Okay. Let's going.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
The painter, Johnson County recorder.
I did not time this.
It may be more than three minutes.
I don't know if that applies.
I'm willing to sit right back down if I can't say
what I came to say.
If anyone, any one person in this room
objects, I'd be happy to sit down.
For me, you know me.
Right and right up to the end.
Well, isn't this the height of irony?
Constitution day during Constitution Week?
And wait for it.
American Founders Month.
I thought about bringing in a tiny scroll and a tiny coffin
and having a burial ceremony
for our Constitution right here at the start of this meeting.
But then I got a hold of myself and realized that would be too on the nose
for Johnson County.
As we are presented with this proclamation,
we've seen a weekend of unrestrained fury over the fact
that our board chair chose not to follow the governor's proclamation
to lower our flag after 911,
in memory of Charlie Kirk,
a thought leader who was assassinated
on the university campus while engaging in Q&A
and debate with a crowd of students.
Threats have been made of fines against the county.
Calls have come for the removal of the board, chair and so on.
Yesterday, the Board of Regents here in the state of Iowa chose to call
for the initiation of what amounts to an electronic search and seizure
of regents university employees social media accounts.
Removal from these jobs at these institutions is blatantly on the table.
If they in any way said anything insensitive in the wake of Mr.
Kirk's murder.
Also yesterday, in the
entertainment realm, no less, Jimmy Kimmel,
a much loved late night host, was sidelined indefinitely.
Later in the day, it came out that Sinclair Media,
the Pravda of the US right now, will run a tribute to Mr.
Kirk during Mr.
Kimmel's customary timeslot this Friday on ABC stations.
So for now, our constitution and its guarantees of freedom of speech
is in danger of becoming little more than a lapel pin
for our current state and federal administrations as well as Congress.
Now, you know, I've stood up countless times in front of people
to say that life in America is the hardest bargain there is.
You have to put everyone else's
opinions, bumper stickers, put up with everyone else's opinions,
bumper stickers, t shirts, and of course, hats.
But when the chips are down, you forget about what
they have in their yard or on their bumpers or chests,
and you reach out to ask if they need anything.
After a family member passes, you offer to help them
clear their walks when you know they're sick.
In short, you don't declare them thought criminals and try to get them or fired.
Or as in some countries, have them slaughtered
by roving bands of opposing our military forces.
We've provided one another
with some semblance of safety, respect and security.
We do that in return for our own safety, respect and security.
Under the egis of our founding documents.
Never perfect by any means.
Ours has always been a country that tried to live up to those strict
ideals of civic respect, even during the hardest of disagreements.
It was a hard bargain, but I've never found a better one,
and I've cherished it and tried to live up to it
all that seems to be fraying now more rapidly
than any of us would have imagined possible two weeks ago.
Whatever we do in this moment, whether we rise to meet it
or stoop to do the worst we can in our anger, only this matters.
The Constitution is all we have.
The Constitution is all Charlie had.
His faith was massive and bedrock
for him, but the Constitution was his rock.
As a citizen, I believe he knew that.
I believe he lived by that.
And I pray that whether we
memorialize him or raise objections to his legacy,
we all remember the Constitution is our shield and sword.
Thank you, thank you.
I guess I was more nervous than I thought.
I don't know
anybody want to try and follow that?
Supervisors.
Yeah, I did, I did I mean, I, I wrote this down, I hope,
I hope I got it right because I was kind of writing contemporaneous.
But, you know, earlier today, Mr.
McFarland, stood up and said, you know, we will continue
to give a microphone to those with whom we disagree.
And I think this morning, hopefully you have seen
that that's exactly what we're doing here.
Because it's safe to say, after you spoke, that I think at least
you and I disagree on a lot of things, but, I'm glad you're here.
I'm glad you spoke.
I'm glad that anybody in this room has the opportunity to come up here
and give their three minutes.
Many times, I'm really relieved when the three minutes passes.
In the case of, our reporter, I'd love to hear her go longer, but,
we try to.
We try to live this.
We try to live this the best we can.
And, you know that that Constitution, it's been amended a few times.
It's a, not a perfect document.
That's pretty goddamn good. First try.
And, it's kept us together for almost 250 years.
And, I pray that'll keep us together
longer.
And your supervisors.
Well, we would be happy to invite anyone
in the audience to join us for a photo.
But we have such.
People sitting in.
With you.
But there are.
We have
some.
I don't know.
If anybody else can come up here.
Yeah.
I thought you were.
So thanks for
that.
I know that, yeah, yeah.
Those.
Thank you.
Was overplaying or,
Someone that we just got to.
Yeah, I know I spent my last year.
Thank you,
everyone, for your attendance participation this morning
and for your comments.
Moving on to item e, office Department business
item E1 this morning, third and final consideration of the proposed ordinance
associated with zoning application PCC
2528740 of Larry Barnes move.
Second move by Greene Douglas.
Second by Remington.
Discussion roll call. Sullivan.
All right.
Thanks, Marisa.
All right.
Green. Remington. Green. Douglas.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The ordinance is adopted.
Item E to third and final consideration of the proposed ordinance associated
with zoning application PCC dash 252874.
One of John and Carol Schneider move approval so moved by green Douglas.
Second by six summarize discussion roll call six more.
Rise.
Hi, green.
Hi Remington I green. Douglas Sullivan.
All right.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The ordinance is adopted.
Item e3 third and final consideration of the proposed ordinance associated
with zoning application PCC Dash 2528746
of Matt Slava move approval second moved by Remington, second by six.
Marisa discussion.
Mark.
Just yeah.
It's Mark.
I thought you said man. Thank you.
May the minutes reflect.
Discussion.
Roll call.
Grant. Guy.
Remington. Green. Douglas. Sullivan.
All right, that's Marisa.
All right.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The ordinance is adopted.
Item four, consider resolution setting a public hearing
on platting application for October 9th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
in the third floor board room 301 of the Health and Human Services Building
and authorize the auditor to publish the notice of approval
moved by Remington, second by green, Douglas.
Discussion.
Roll call. Remington I.
Green, Douglas.
Sullivan. All right. Thanks, Marisa.
All right. Great.
All right.
Motion carries 5 to 0. The resolution is adopted.
Item five.
Consider appointments to the Juvenile Justice
and Youth Development Policy Board. Good morning.
Good morning.
Push average communications assistant
board consensus is to reappoint Zachary Slocum
and Susan Valetta and appoint Michelle Bacon Curry to three year
terms beginning October 1st, 2025 and expiring September 30th, 2028.
This leaves two vacancies and we will re advertise.
Chair with seek a motion.
So moved.
Second moved by Remington second by six.
Morris. Discussion.
Roll call. Green. Douglas.
Sullivan. All right. Right.
All right. Green.
Hi, Remington.
A motion carries 5 to 0.
The appointments are confirmed. Item six.
Consider awarding Iowa Bridge and Culvert, LLC a contract
for Bear Town Road South West Bridge replacement, known as project FM.
Dash Q, dash 237--7-5 to move approval.
Second moved by six Morales.
Second by green. Douglas. Discussion.
Roll call.
Sullivan.
All right, that's my rise. All right. Green.
Hi, Remington. Hi, green. Douglas.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The contract is approved. Item seven. Consider awarding.
Peterson Contractors Incorporated a contract for the Greencastle Avenue
South West Bridge replacement, known as project L, dash cam.
Dash 18, dash one, dash dash 735 to move approval.
Second moved by six rise second by Remington.
Discussion
roll call six more rise.
Green. Hi.
Remington and green. Douglas Sullivan.
All right.
Motion carries 5 to 0.
The contract is awarded.
Item E consider resolution condemning the Trump administration's
executive orders and affirming commitment to resilience.
Unity and justice.
Move approval second moved by six Monroe second by Remington.
Discussion.
Thank you to everyone who made this happen.
Roll call green I Remington I green Douglas Sullivan.
All right. That's my right.
All right.
Motion carries 5 to 0. The resolution is adopted.
We have no business under item F this morning.
Item G supervisor reports supervisor Green Douglas.
Well,
thank you so,
last week, we had a meeting of the JCC.
I also had a special out of sequence meeting
of, conservation Board liaison.
Just because of conference, that it's important
they're trying to get things done before the board.
So, it was
just addressing these claims that support groups.
Thank you.
System of Care met that
that group has been,
has agreed to get some subcommittees working on
some of the things that we would like to see as our initiatives.
DCO had a meeting this month, which I attended.
The city assessor, Brad Comber, was reappointed.
And then I would like to address that.
I learned that, my address, the address
of all elected officials in
the county were removed from the website.
I was not asked,
about this being removed before it was removed.
It was just done.
Well, there's,
certain amount of,
risk having your address there to tell you.
It's kind of hard to find.
You have to seek it out.
There's that.
But the other thing is for elected officials, and we're elected,
assuming that we live in the county that we say we live in.
We we've seen abuses of this.
We're hearing of a potential upcoming abuse of this for an election
coming up of my own property there.
I don't reside there.
I'm just saying that I think that especially
given that we all are going to be put into districts,
it is the right of the public to be able to seek
that information, and, and find it readily,
to, to know what districts we live in when those are, out there.
They're not yet and they won't be for several months.
But I personally would like my address put back on there.
It is the right of refusal to have that there.
So that concludes my comments.
Thank you. Lisa.
Supervisor Remington. Yes.
I attended a couple of meetings, with
city councilors, with Jeff Fruin and Genevieve,
as we continue to work through the mediation application.
I did my work day training that was really well done,
really smoothly, thanks to the auditor's office and everyone else
who has been involved in getting those training set up and being done.
I attended the Welcome Week event at Mercer Park this last weekend.
Continues to be a great event every year.
Also, Food Policy Council
met Brad and I had our liaison meeting
with our social service director at Jacoby.
We have the DGO meeting.
City of literature met with new board members.
The university the other day and,
working on trying to see if some of the university programing
that were university related programing that's been lost.
That's within the the realm of literature.
Can potentially be re brought back at some point through community partnerships.
And then also had the Board of Health meeting last night.
And just want to also shout out our public health team
for how amazingly
well we had site visit went for that accreditation and that
that is really great job with that and that can of thank you Mandy.
Supervisor six for raising.
Yeah.
The attended several of the meetings that have been mentioned.
The ATO Iowa City assessors, ended up teaching a class,
a seminar on networking for the School of Planning and Public Affairs.
My order, which is always a joy to be with students.
And, the networking class is always interesting
because, you know, you're just basically teaching them
how to have an elevator pitch, and they're very nervous.
But, always, always wonderful to continue, that collaboration with the
with the University, historic Port Farm had a meeting there.
Just trying to get a handle on,
you know, how we're kind of interacting with the city for some of the things that,
you know, we're proposing some of the things that we've done, events
and things like that.
So we'll, I think continue down that pathway, working with staff with the city.
But then also potentially doing some sort of joint meeting.
And we'll be bringing that information.
I say we John and I attended that meeting.
It was requested by scheduled.
And I think in that meeting we also had Josh Bouchard
and, the building inspector, Neil.
So it was good actually to to have some concrete conversations about,
you know, what is it that the city will look
for in terms of requirements for events and things like that?
So we'll have more to bring back?
They're going to meet with the city staff and then we'll bring that back
to the full board.
Also met with, some concerned
citizens, including our former mayor, Jim Throgmorton, who are really trying
to look at ways in which, just engaged citizenry can,
in our current state of the world, address what's going on locally?
Address what's going on in the world locally?
And it was very it's just a very interesting conversation
to have, elders from generations.
I felt like I was talking across generations asking, you know, what?
What worked in Selma, what worked in Vietnam or resistance,
you know, all of these things.
And how can we apply that to this moment?
So it was really I just really appreciated kind of being a fly on the wall,
quite honestly.
And we do have to look to history to see how
we are responding to authoritarianism.
And I'll be attending a responder program webinar this afternoon.
I also wanted to give a shout out to the wings of Hope, Iowa
Welcome Network of Johnson County Gala that's happening this Saturday.
Check that out if you want to have, you know, a good time.
And, I, I wanted to just note something,
based on what I was just talking about authoritarianism and address.
I know we had some folks from the Republican Party here locally,
and, I just wanted to say, you know,
my response to the lowering or not lowering of a flag, which
I'm not going to go into
all of that and how, you know, politics continue to politic.
And it is interesting.
But I do want to note that there's a book, called On Tyranny
by Timothy Snyder, and I just want to recommend that folks read it.
It's talking about America's turn towards authoritarianism.
One story that struck struck me, which really, informed
kind of my response to Chair Greene defying the governor's orders
to lower the flag was, you know, during
the Nazi regime, there were shopkeepers.
There was a requirement that you put swastikas in your in your storefronts.
So that would indicate whether or not you were with Nazis or if you were Jewish.
And there were other things that went on.
But so what you saw was whether or not shopkeepers were aligned
with the Nazi regime, they put swastikas on their storefronts
because the alternative was obviously, you know, death or whatever.
It was very terrifying.
And in this moment, while we may not be,
in that level of authoritarianism,
the effect of having swastikas in every storefront, is the is
the condoning of that Nazi regime, whether or not you believed in it.
And I think that as we unfortunately, I agree with rod,
I think that we're headed in the wrong direction.
And I hope that we can turn it around.
And I'm very proud of the fact that,
you know, we are sticking to what is legal and what is not legal.
But we when you look around and see all of these flags that are half mast,
it gives the impression that,
you know, what is happening in our country is okay and it's not okay.
You can not agree with the way that somebody
was murdered or assassinated. And
I mean, you can you can
say I, I, I definitely am not, in, in favor
or condoning assassination of anybody.
And at the same time, I cannot ignore how that person lives their life.
It doesn't absolve you of that.
So I just wanted to say that that was one of the things that really struck me
was, yeah, you did look around and you did see flags at half mast.
And I was very proud of the fact that ours wasn't, because we need to signify that
this is authoritarianism is what is happening.
You cannot have a private citizen.
You know, I don't know.
So I'm going to stop there.
I don't want to get too far down that road, but also just to address
the taking down of our, our addresses.
And I appreciate what Chair Greene had said. Dr.
Greene, Douglas had said, about her opinion on that.
I, I was one of the ones that requested having mine taken down, because I also had
to put a security system in my house over the weekend.
And I'm really mindful of the fact that we've had
we're in a different world right now.
We've had legislators murdered in Minnesota,
for their stance on abortion.
And we just looked at what was happening with somebody who's
who stood up for his own beliefs and was and was assassinated.
This is just a different world that we're in right now.
And it happened quick. I mean,
Ken's not wrong.
Two weeks ago, I would not have thought that this was what was going to happen.
But we have to meet.
I want to meet the moment.
And, so I'm proud of what we did.
I do request that.
Yes, you can find my address.
It's required by law.
But it's not required by law.
I don't think that we have it on our website.
So that was my, request that that be taken down for, for safety reasons,
but I, I do agree that potentially we need to discuss that at further length.
Anyway, that concludes my report.
Thank you. Supervisor Sullivan.
Yeah. Thank you.
I will, try not to repeat anything that's been said, but I do want to note,
the city conference board that was mentioned, isn't just,
a regular meeting.
This was to reappoint our, our city assessor, Brad Comber.
To another term.
And I do think it's important to note, because these folks, just do their job
very under the radar, for the most part in, in, in this city in this case.
And,
for, I would say at least 35 years,
the Iowa City assessor's office is year after year after year,
ranked in the top three of every possible statistical measure
that they have for, doing a good job as an assessor.
Brad was a deputy for part of that time.
He he, it has been, the actual,
chief assessor now for,
I don't know, six, seven, eight years, something like that.
And, I may be underestimating. Sorry, Brad.
And, he's done a great job, and his office does a great job,
and we don't, very often get a chance to, sing their praises.
And so I just wanted to do that here today.
They really do a wonderful job here. Here.
A couple other quick things.
I had another opportunity to speak about the guide link center
and some of the services
that are provided there and the challenges that we face with,
getting some of those services
paid for, with a few more legislators.
And so,
I think there's a little bit of momentum and, I'm feeling good
about where that is headed.
Obviously for the public's sake, it's important to know
that, guide link is open 24 over seven 365.
We want you to go there.
But it is costing the county a lot of money,
and we need to figure out a way to, get some help with that.
And, the only other thing I wanted to mention real quickly was,
I was out at the Paw Farm on Saturday, or,
I'm sorry, Sunday as part of the Iowa barn tour.
This is a statewide, biggest one in the country function
where people do self-guided tours, around Iowa of various barns.
And so we had, everything open up at the poor farm.
And it was really fun, walking some people around and helping them,
see what we've done out there. And,
so thanks to the, Historical Society for the work on that, that's my report.
Thank you. Ron.
Given recent events, I don't
believe that any report from the chair is warranted.
I'd, that's the end of our regular agenda item h this morning.
Closed session for collective bargaining.
Item H, one possible closed session pursuant Iowa Code section 20.
That's 17 and three, which outlines the collective bargaining negotiation
procedure and states that strategy meetings of public employers
shall be exempt
from the provisions of Iowa Code, chapter 21 official meetings open to the public.
Open meetings law chair would seek a motion to go into closed
session, so moved second moved by Remington.
Second by six more raised discussion roll call.
Remington. AI. Green, Douglas. Sullivan.
All right. Thanks, Marisa.
All right.
Great. Motion carries 5 to 0.
We are in closed session, and we will stand at ease for five minutes.