MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
DECEMBER 23, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Social Services Coordinator Amy Correia: Free Tax Help Program............................................ 1
Social Services Coordinator Amy Correia: Recently Received Grants........................................ 2
Reports and Inquiries from Executive Assistant Mike Sullivan................................................... 2
Board of Supervisors: Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee Coordinator Contract with Bob Elliott 2
Reports and Inquiries from the Board of Supervisors................................................................. 3
Chairperson Sullivan called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:07 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Larry Meyers, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.
Social Services Coordinator Amy Correia said she is handing out a flyer describing the Free Tax Help Clinics that will be offered in February 2009. The information is available on the County website. The project is a joint effort between the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business Accounting Program and the County. UI Accounting Professor Dr. Joyce Berg oversees the program. They have had wonderful support from student volunteers and their goal is to help 1,000 households file taxes in 2009. In 2008 the students helped 664 households file taxes. The outreach and promotion will go into gear in January 2009. They were able to do outreach last week with Project Holiday getting a flyer in every food box and gift bag. The State of Iowa is encouraging or requiring local Departments of Human Services to include information about free tax help in their scheduled mailings. Correia said she talked with Income Maintenance Supervisor Brian Meier about mailing flyers to the public. The Housing Authority will send flyers to all current Section 8 tenants and individuals on the waiting lists with local addresses. The flyers will also be distributed through the Family Resource Centers in local schools. Posters will be distributed and posted throughout the County at locations including Solon, Lone Tree, Oxford, and Hills. They did receive a grant through ISED Ventures. ISED Ventures receives some private foundation money and some State money. Correia explained that the Social Services Department collaborated with them as a site for an IRS grant. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program has made first-time grants available to local efforts to give free tax help. They received $8,400 to help with printing flyers, Spanish translation at all sites, and staffing outreach site locations. It was good news they received the money requested.
R. Sullivan asked Correia if she remembered the total money received in tax returns last year. Correia said the total amount of refunds was over $600,000. R. Sullivan said it cannot be overstated how wonderful the results are for poorer individuals within the community to get tax refunds to spend money on living expenses and support the community. Correia said they are also able to help people who have not filed taxes the last couple of years. The flyers inform tax payers that even if they do not owe taxes they may be eligible for Earned Income Credit. R. Sullivan said they have Spanish translators at every site for non-English speaking people and there is an ability to get other language translators as needed. Correia said the two posters she brought with her today will be posted in the Administration Building. The posters have 211 as the number listed to call if the public has any questions. The Crisis Center will have information and referral numbers to give out to clients also. Taxpayers who earn under $42,000 are eligible for the free tax clinic. All of the volunteers are certified with the IRS. The Accounting students also take an additional tax class. Harney asked if the income requirement of $42,000 is per household. Correia said yes. The Board thanked Correia for the presentation.
Correia said the Consortium for Youth Employment initiated grant applications with Decat and the Community Foundation of Johnson County. They received the $4,000 they requested from the Community Foundation. This will serve an additional two youth during the program year. Decat provided $6,000 out of the carryover for the Consortium which will support an additional three youth. The Consortium is a collaboration of Goodwill, United Action for Youth, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, Juvenile Court Services, and Johnson County Social Services. The Board thanked Correia for the update.
Executive Assistant Mike Sullivan said there is a Key Issues Meeting December 24, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. On December 29, 2008 there is a tentative meeting with GSA representatives from Des Moines at 10:00 a.m. A Board Meeting is scheduled for December 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
County Attorney Janet Lyness said she met with Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee Coordinator Bob Elliott to discuss the contract. She added a few additional items but it is basically the same as what was in the RFP. She added that the coordinator would attend other meetings that relate to jail population reductions as requested by the Johnson County Sheriff. They have systems meetings where she and County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek meet with people from the Department of Correctional Services, MECCA, and Jail Alternatives Program to discuss what they can do to reduce jail populations. She also added a responsibility to perform other duties as requested by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee because it seems things will come up that were not specifically delineated in the agreement. The conditions of the agreement are $100 a week and it extends from January 1 to June 30, 2009. She said Elliott made it clear that either party could get out of the contract quickly if it was not working so there is a seven day written notice on either side to end the contract. The parties agree it is not an employment contract but rather a contract for services. The total compensation will be the $100 per week for services. If there are additional services the Board feels should be added they should let her know.
M. Sullivan said they have the money available to pay for the contract in Central Services. He and Budget Coordinator Rich Claiborne have identified a line in the budget that has been underutilized this year. Money will not be taken from other divisions. R. Sullivan said they will put this item on the December 30, 2009 formal agenda.
Meyers wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Neuzil said he has a Listening Post scheduled December 30, 2009 at the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center at 12:00 p.m. He also wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Stutsman said Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays for everybody.
Harney attended the Chamber of Commerce Legislature Reception at the University of Iowa, and a meeting with the University of Iowa for its flood planning along the Iowa River. He attended a liaison meeting with Planning and Zoning Administrator Rick Dvorak, and the Coralville Chamber of Commerce Round Table. Harney wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
R. Sullivan attended the SEATS Grand Opening and the Johnson County Council of Governments meeting. R. Sullivan wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Adjourned at 9:29 a.m.
Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor
By Nancy Tomkovicz, Recording Secretary