MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
JANUARY 19, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
AARP Representative Eve Casserly: Presentation of AARP Directory..................................... 1
Reports and Inquiries from the Board of Supervisors................................................................. 2
Chairperson Lehman called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 10:00 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.
AARP Representative Eve Casserly said they picked up the AARP directory from a publishing company last week, and were very pleased that they were able to shave $40 off the estimated price. They got 1,100 copies for $476.43. They are in the process of having the directories delivered all over the county. Every governmental unit, various organizations, and every library will receive them, and they are also soliciting suggestions about other places where they could be delivered.
Stutsman said that the directory looks great. Casserly said that if the Board hears anyone age 50 and over saying there is nothing to do in Johnson County, they should look at this directory. Casserly said they also want the directory put on the website. Executive Assistant Mike Sullivan suggested that they convert it to a PDF file and put it on the Johnson County homepage. Neuzil said that was a great idea, and said that if there were changes they could work out a system to edit it. R. Sullivan said he is really pleased that the directory is available electronically. M. Sullivan said that Casserly could send any corrections or revisions to him, and he would take care of it. Casserly said that the Heritage Area Agency on Aging may be interested in doing a link if it gets on the Johnson County website.
Stutsman asked if the directory is an ongoing project. Casserly said they haven’t made any plans. Lehman clarified that Johnson County was going to contribute up to $500 towards this project. Harney suggested putting some directories at the Visitor’s Bureau and also the McDonald House. Casserly said that if they thought of other places, to email her. Casserly reminded the Board that AARP would be asking the Board for a proclamation declaring May Older Americans month in Johnson County.
Project Manager for Older Americans Month June Braverman said that the feature of Older Americans month would be to call attention to seniors in Johnson County, and to look at their accomplishments and what they contribute to the County, cities, and the communities in terms of volunteering, money, and other support. She said that the important thing to remember is that they are number one doing outreach to small communities who have not had any support in programming or fundraising. They were in Solon last week and met with a group called Senior Advocates. Braverman said they were able to give the group many ideas on an ongoing basis of how to bring programming and funding into their communities. The important thing about the month is that it focuses not only on the County and making resources that are available in Johnson County to all; but the programs they are introducing during this month can be replicated and can be repeated on a regular basis across the county, which is very important since 23,000 of the seniors in the county are not receiving services and activities. She said they are doing lots of fitness and health activities; including tai chi, strength assessments and other things. Braverman said that they are also providing new and different low and no-cost activities to everybody.
Braverman said they need help from the Board of Supervisors with promotion, and reiterated that they are hoping the Board will do a proclamation. She said that they will be having a vaudeville show, and 50-60 county-wide activities throughout the month of May. The vaudeville show at the Englert will include a performance by Congressman Jim Leach and hopefully other civic officials from all levels of government. She said that they will be contacting members of the Board of Supervisors individually to ask if they would like to participate. She said that AARP is making a difference in Johnson County, and they are very gratified to have the support of the Board of Supervisors.
R. Sullivan said that the Board has been working on the budget, and explained that this should be completed in February at which time they would have more time to meet with the public. He said that on January 20, 2006 the Board will be attending the ISAC meetings. This week he met with Planning and Zoning to talk about the review of the land-use plan; a JCCOG meeting; and the Communication Committee meeting which involved a presentation by a photographer who is part of the organization Humanities Iowa. The artist offered to make a donation to Johnson County of some portraits of residents of Oxford in 1984 and then 20 years later.
Neuzil met with Dr. Mary Gilchrist and Jack Cameron from the University Hygienic Laboratory to have a look at the current facility at the Oakdale research park and gave them some suggestions for getting some funding for a new facility. He urged the Board of Supervisors to take the tour. He announced that there was meeting with Anderson-Bogert engineers next week to discuss the Newport-Prairie du Chien Road plan at Southslope in North Liberty. Neuzil will be having a listening post at the Senior Center on Friday, January 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
Stutsman met with Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Director Elaine Sweet for a liaison meeting; attended her first ICAD Board meeting; a parcel update meeting with the GIS Committee; a Decat meeting; the North Liberty Luncheon; and an urban JCCOG meeting as well as a rural JCCOG meeting.
Harney attended the Chamber Ag Committee meeting; the AARP Task Force Report on Aging; the ECICOG Transportation Technical Advisory Committee; the parcel workflow committee meeting; a caucus training at SEIU, as well as the actual caucus; and the MH/DD Planning Council retreat.
Lehman attended the Empowerment Board meeting and the Communication Committee meeting. He said he also worked on organizing a “meet and greet” in Hills, and announced that M. Sullivan is working on putting together an external newsletter.
Adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor
By Casie Kadlec, Recording Secretary