MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
FEBRUARY 3, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
County Treasurer Tom Kriz: Application for Tax Suspension for 1350 Deerfield Drive, North Liberty, Iowa 1
County Engineer Greg Parker: Resolution of Johnson County Council of Governments Capital Transportation Projects and Cost Estimates for Johnson County Projects to be Included in the Designated Urbanized Area Map in the Revised Long Range Transportation Plan to be Adopted May of 2012.............................................. 2
County Engineer Greg Parker: Resolution Authorizing Weight Embargo(s) on Secondary Roads for Calendar Year 2011....................................................................................................................................... 6
County Engineer Greg Parker: Review of Bids Received and Opened on February 1, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. for a Bridge Replacement, RCB Culvert Extension, Grading and PCC Paving Project on Oak Crest Hill Road Just South of 565th Street Over Crooked Creek in Section 33, T78N, R6W Known as Johnson County Project LFM-R-33-9--7X-52....................................................................................................................................... 8
Public Health Director Doug Beardsley: Hiring Secretary II.................................................... 10
Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District Soil and Water Conservationist Kate Giannini: 2010 Annual Report...................................................................................................................................... 12
SEATS Director Tom Brase: Progress Report........................................................................ 17
Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek: Sheriff’s Contract for the Provision of Law Enforcement Services to the Town of North Liberty.............................................................................................................. 19
Executive Assistant Andy Johnson: Reports and Inquiries........................................................ 21
Board of Supervisors: Reports and Inquiries............................................................................ 21
County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek and County Attorney Janet Lyness: Property Acquisition on Capitol Street. 23
(Possible Executive Session).................................................................................................. 23
Chairperson Harney called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:15 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Terrence Neuzil, Janelle Rettig, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.
County Treasurer Tom Kriz said the Treasurer’s Office has an application to the Board requesting a suspension of taxes on a property located at 1350 Deerfield Drive, North Liberty, Iowa. Kriz said the person has the proper paperwork in place with the Department of Human Services (DHS) that qualifies him for this tax suspension. This would be the first reading of the proposal and the Board would formally approve it at the next Board meeting. He said tax suspension means that taxes continue to accrue on the property; they are not abated, do not go away and are due and payable upon the sale or change of ownership of the property. The tax suspension does stop a tax sale on the property every year if there are taxes due. It removes the property from the tax sale list, so the person can stay in their house until the property changes hands, and then all of the taxes are due in full without interest. Kriz said the tax suspension is an aid for people who are in a transition period and gives them some time. These individuals have to be current with their taxes at the time the suspension begins, and in this case the people are. This property meets all of the requirements for suspension.
Harney asked how it works if a property is suspended for one year but then the individual can make the payment for the next year. He asked if the owner pays the old amount and if they have to reapply for the second year of tax suspension. Kriz said the Treasurer’s Office checks with the DHS each year to see if the person still qualifies for tax suspension and if they do there will be no payments due. He said the person has the options to make the payments if they would choose, but it is not required. If they would make the payment, then there would be no interest along that line. They have to requalify each year.
Stutsman said this individual is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for disability. Kriz said once someone qualifies for the SSI, they have the option of a tax suspension. Some of these individuals get approval but choose not to utilize the suspension. Some lenders will not let the taxes be suspended because the taxes become a lean in front of the mortgage. He said there are all kinds of reasons why it may or may not happen. Kriz said with around 60,000 parcels, there are less than 10 properties on suspension at any one given time.
Harney asked if there is a consensus to move this item forward. Rettig and Stutsman confirmed. Harney thanked Kriz.
County Engineer Greg Parker said this plan is relatively new. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has requested the County to work with Johnson County Council of Governments, now known as the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) to proceed with a plan that would put out projects four years from now. It is a long time in the future but it is a planning tool and that is what it is being presented as.
Parker referred to an urbanized map he presented to the Board. Parker indicated on the map the area that he was requested to view by MPOJC. He said only County roads would be in that area. Over the next 40 years the boundaries will probably change as cities continue to annex. He said they are taking a picture of something now that in five or ten years is not going to look as it currently does. However, in compliance with FHA’s request, Secondary Roads has come up with a list of projects that are within the boundary area.
Parker said at the Board has looked at two lists of requirements for these projects including requirements pertaining to both Federal and local funding. There are several criteria, one of which being that the project must be eligible to receive Federal funds. Parker said Secondary Roads has evaluated the federally funded listing and those projects are available for Federal funds if approved by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC). He reminded the Board that MPOJC funds are Federal funds but all of the different cities in the MPOJC would have the same right to vote on these projects. He said all of the cities within this boundary, including the cities of Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, and Iowa City, would be applying and working for the same funds that Johnson County would be asking for.
Parker said another criterion is that the project would be located within the planning boundary, which they are. One of the requirements is that the list of projects received be approved by the governing body with a resolution, which he has attached for the Board. The inclusion of the projects on this long range plan does not require that the organization complete those projects. He said Johnson County is asked to put a plan out there so they have something to plan towards sometime in the future.
Parker said this plan will be approved in May 2012. FHWA has asked that Johnson County try to get this to them in the next couple of weeks so they can put the information together and start holding public hearings. Harney asked Parker if the County is allowed to make any changes or to adjust the plans at all. Parker asked if Harney is talking about changes regarding the prioritization of projects. Harney confirmed. Parker said he thinks that this is just a planning tool. It is a snapshot right now of what the County thinks projects may be in the future. He thinks that every time the program is up for a renewal that will change because the boundary areas will change, prioritization of projects will change, and funding will change. Parker said they are anticipating that the Federal funding stream is going to continue the way it has in the past but that may or may not happen. The funding stream may be increased, decreased, or the County may not receive any funding at all. Harney said that was his point, this is not necessarily what is going to happen but it is what is proposed for the future. Parker agreed.
Parker referenced the map that he presented to the Board. He said some of the projects Secondary Roads evaluated and included into the federally funded list would have followed the Trails Plan approved by the Board. Any projects Secondary Roads would have listed would have included seperated trail projects as part of the Trails Plan. Parker said he wanted to make the Board aware of that and they do have a copy of that map.
Parker said the resolution was to include two parts. This is the Federal listing that he and staff have put together. There is a locally funded part of this resolution which is appendix b. Secondary Roads has listed 15 projects and included their best estimate of when the projects could be included. Parker said they could add, remove, or change projects as needed and as the boundary changes.
Parker said he learned through a conversation with MPOJC Assistant Transportation Planner Kent Ralston that there are several projects on the proposed boundary map. He said those items are indicated on the map by a question mark and a circle around the boundary area of the MPOJC. Those entities would have had studies completed concerning those projects and would have incorporated the project into their plan, so there was no reason for Johnson County to do the project. He said if the Board is wondering why the future expansion of Highway 965 was not on the list, that would more than likely be a job for Iowa City or Coralville.
Sullivan asked about North Liberty Road. Rettig said it is partially included. Parker said there are two sections of North Liberty Road, one is south of Dubuque Street and the other is a gravel section to the north. Sullivan clarified that half of the road is in either Coralville or North Liberty’s plan and the other half is in Johnson County’s plan. Parker said there were no studies completed by other entities regarding those projects, so they were incorporated into the Johnson County plan. Parker said his recommendation is to present that project to the MPOJC for approval. Rettig said the part that is not included is north of Dubuque Street. She said the part included is from Coralville’s corporate limits to North Dubuque Street. She asked if the part that is not on anyone’s plan is left out because it is outside of the boundary. Parker said no. He put a circle around that area on the map and it has a check mark on the location. He reminded Rettig that there are two parts to this resolution; they have to list their federally available funded projects. Rettig said she now sees the item on the locally funded list. Parker confirmed. He said that section of North Liberty Road is not available for Federal funds according to the listing. It is listed on the local level because Secondary Roads felt that project would most likely be incorporated into the program sometime in the future, whether it is annexed into North Liberty or handled by Johnson County. Parker said he can briefly show the Board the locally funded list.
Parker presented to the Board the list of locally funded projects. Secondary Roads have reviewed these two projects and feel that they would need to be included as locally funded projects. He said if the Board would want Secondary Roads to incorporate some other locally funded projects, Secondary Roads can come up with an estimate and include them in this plan. These projects are estimated to be done between 2021 and 2030 as part of this plan.
Rettig clarified that even if a project is locally funded, it still has to be eligible for Federal funding in order to be a part of this plan. She said that is what is weird about this. There are probably other projects that are within this boundary that the County will do in 30 years, but they are not eligible for Federal funding. Parker confirmed.
Parker said there are difficult decisions to make regarding this resolution. This is a federally funded plan, but the County is asked to provide locally funded projects which are currently not on the federally funded listing. He is also unclear about why the County is being asked to do that. However, Secondary Roads felt that these projects would be worthy projects at some time in the future that the County may want to take a look at.
Rettig asked about the list of federally funded projects. Parker clarified that the Highway 965 separated trail may have a scrivener’s error and it should be listed as 2012-2020. Parker said on the last item, road 15 would have the 2031 to 2040 time frame. Parker said he will have those numbers corrected
Parker asked if the Board has any concerns with the projects that are listed. He knows that they are planning for many years in the future and the next time the program comes around the County will have the opportunity to add, delete, or change programs, and to modify the time frames for construction. Historically Secondary Roads has completed the Five Year Road Program, but this is asking them to go out 40 years.
Rettig said she thinks the awkward thing about the planning is that what was called JCCOG Policy Board, now the MPO of Johnson County Policy Board, informed the Board that if a project is not on the list, it will not receive Federal funds. She said the Board was not told that there will be an opportunity to modify the list of projects in the future. Rettig said that is why she expressed her concerns to Parker and told him to dream big regarding this list because the Board was told that if a project was not on the list it could not be completed. Rettig asked if Policy Board will let Johnson County open up the list in 15 years. She does not know the answer to that. She said she cannot tell Parker to add a project to the list because she does not have that level of knowledge, but the Board was told that if a project was not on this list, it would never receive Federal funds.
Parker said Secondary Roads did follow Rettig’s comment to dream big. They included a lot of projects that have been extended out many years. They calculated 19 miles of potential projects that the County would be looking at. He would be surprised if this program does not change over the next 40 years, because as they have discussed the mapping is going to change, the annexations are going to change, and the boundaries are going to change. Those changes will influence the existing program. The projects are based on the County’s Federal funding cycle and the resolution is just a planning tool. Every time the Federal funding cycle changes or they get renewed, the plan is presented and public hearings are held. Parker said that would be the opportune time to make any modifications to the projects, which is what they currently do. Sullivan said in 40 years there can be ten different presidential administrations with ten different FHWA’s. He said there are plenty of opportunities for things to change. Rettig agreed.
Sullivan said he thinks the County should do what has been asked of them, but he would assume the County is going to have some opportunities to change and update the project list. Parker agreed. This program may be consistent for three years or until the next funding cycle, but at that time FHWA will say the boundaries have changed and the program needs to be updated again. At that point there would be the opportunity for adjustments. Sullivan said as long as they view this as a fluid document, he thinks it is a good exercise to consider what the County will do in 30 years. It is a good exercise as long as there is there is flexibility over time to change the plans.
Harney said the only project he had a possible thought about adding is the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) recreation area near the City of Shueyville. He said the County always gets a lot of calls about that area being flooded. He knows that would be a difficult project. Parker agreed. That area is unfortunately outside of the boundary area. Harney said OK. Parker said at some point in the future the boundaries may be expanded and that road could be covered.
Stutsman asked Parker if they will be going through the same process for East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) funding. Parker said that is a good question because the first thing Secondary Roads asked was what the other MPO’s and council of governments are doing. Those entities are all handling this slightly differently. The MPO in Cedar Rapids is doing something similar to what the MPO here is doing, but it is a little different. Parker said it is his understanding that the current system Johnson County has with ECICOG is acceptable to FHWA. That does not necessarily mean that something is not going to come through and change. Parker said right now the County is not asked to supply this type of documentation for the ECICOG group.
Neuzil asked Parker about the potential extension of Highway 965 which would go south from Coral Ridge Mall. He asked if that is a project that Coralville would submit, because it gets close to the County boundary and some planning may need to take place there. Parker said that is a good comment. That would be in the area that Johnson County would want to include as part of the plan. He took all of the studies and included them in the program. Then he spoke with Ralston who said those projects could be removed from the County’s list because Coralville, Iowa City, Tiffin, and North Liberty will incorporate them into their plans. Parker said he removed those items and the list is now shorter than what it initially was. The Highway 965 extension would likely be included as part of Coralville and Iowa City’s plans but he has not seen their list of projects yet. Harney said part of the extension would be in Johnson County. Parker agreed. Sullivan said yes, unless the area is annexed in the future. Harney and Parker agreed. Harney clarified that Parker would not include that project even though it is part of the County. Parker said MPOJC staff informed him that the roads that had studies completed would be incorporated on another entity’s list.
Harney asked if there is consensus to move this item forward. Stutsman and Neuzil said yes. Rettig thanked Parker.
Parker said this is a standard resolution Secondary Roads brings to the Board annually. As part of the Iowa Code, this resolution allows Secondary Roads to place embargos on roads throughout the County to minimize damage from heavy traffic in the spring. As the Board knows, there is a time limitation because an embargo can only be on a road for a certain amount of time. Secondary Roads has complied with that limitation in the past and residents have been very good about reminding the County that they are reaching the end of an embargo and they need to be pulled. Parker said Secondary Roads certainly complies with the time frame.
Parker said this is something the County has been approving over the past couple of years. A listing has been incorporated on the website and it would be updated on a daily basis. They would list when the embargo takes place, the embargo information and dates detailing when it was embargoed and when it was removed. It is his understanding that they would be showing a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of those locations throughout the County. Stutsman said that has been a great addition and she is glad the County is doing it.
Sullivan asked Parker if State law requires the County to take this action every year. He asked if there is a way to give Parker the ability to do this annually because nothing changes. Sullivan said he wonders if it would be easier to do it one time and make it apply every year. It is essentially what the Board already does, they just currently vote every year. Parker agreed. He would have to confer with the Attorney’s Office to find out if that is something the County could renew perpetually. Sullivan said his only fear would be that if a Board somehow overlooked the item and they got to the point where Secondary Roads needed to embargo a road but had not had the authorization passed, then they would run into trouble. Parker agreed. Sullivan said it seems like for the sake of ease and security it might make sense if they could do it just one time.
Rettig said she supposes that it is a protection that the Board of Supervisors is actually giving the authority to embargo as opposed to it being a blanket approval. Stutsman agreed. Rettig said there could come a time that the Board of Supervisors could disagree with the County Engineer. Sullivan said that is true. Rettig said she supposes that is why the process is currently an annual decision. Stutsman said if somebody wanted to challenge an embargo, there would be a resolution every year saying the Board authorized this action and that is why the embargo is there. Parker said he can search and poll other counties and talk to the Attorney’s Office to explore the option. Sullivan said this may be interesting to at least consider doing it a different way. They would not have to. Rettig said the item could be plugged into this meeting agenda every year.
Neuzil said in regards to weight embargos, they normally talk about chip seal or bituminous road treatments. He said when it comes to some of the gravel roads, for example the concerns with the chicken factory in the southern part of the County, there have been concerns about the impact the factory has had on the gravel road. He asked if Secondary Roads would consider putting some embargos on the gravel surfaces. Parker said the County has embargoed gravel roads and paved routes as needed. If Secondary Roads feels the surface is coming apart or if they notice damage from heavy traffic, possibly due to construction projects not related to the County, they would embargo that or tell the entities they need to conserve and preserve the infrastructure. Neuzil clarified that in regards to the process, Secondary Roads staff informs Parker. Parker said for an embargo they would look at the road and make a determination if the cost or the damage to the road would increase the cost of the County, and then they would enforce the embargo resolution and put embargo signs out on the road. Neuzil said OK. He wanted to make sure because he knows that one of the roads is going to be monitored very closely by some of the neighbors nearby.
Sullivan asked Parker if typically people receive some notice of the embargo. He clarified that there is at least a couple hours of notice. Parker said it is sometimes difficult to notify the entities regarding when they are going to place the embargo. If Secondary Roads places the embargo and somebody was not aware that was up and needed to get out, they would allow those individuals that access. Stutsman said it is surprising how people are in tune with the embargos. Sullivan said word gets out. Rettig said residents drive on the roads and they know the embargo is about to occur. Parker said for the entities that the County still allows to drive on the road with embargos are required to obtain a permit from the County. It gives the County the opportunity to assist in routing the vehicle. It may not be the shortest route, but Secondary Roads would look at the route and determine what they feel is a better saving to the infastructure that may not do as much damage.
Stutsman asked if landscaping businesses are now included in the exemption. Parker confirmed. Sullivan said the exemption was specific agricultural items and trees. He does not know if someone could take out limestone block or something similar. Stutsman said that is what she meant; it was for trees where there was a time sensitive issue. Sullivan confirmed. Harney said they still had to get the permit from Secondary Roads. Parker said correct. They still need to apply for a permit from Secondary Roads and that is when they invoke the route they would like those individuals to take when traveling.
Harney asked if there is a consensus to move this item forward to the meeting scheduled for February 10, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. Harney said there is a consensus.
Parker said this is a combined project and has been done a little backwards because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds that came through. Historically, Secondary Roads would do the structures first and then come back to pave afterwards. However, they could not acquire the ARRA funds right away, so it reversed this process.
Parker said these two structures are south of Hills and north of Harry’s Road on Oak Crest Hill Road. He said this is also one of the areas where the paving has not been completed, and as part of this project, the paving will be completed. The County received four bids for this project. The low bidder is Taylor Construction, Inc from New Vienna, Iowa for $664,162. He asked the Board if they would like him to go through the four bids. Harney said sure.
Parker said Peterson Contractors, Inc out of Rhinebeck, Iowa bid at $679,088.38. The next bid was Iowa Bridge and Culvert out of Washington, Iowa for $683,177.28. The last and highest bidder was Muscatine Bridge Company, Inc out of Muscatine, Iowa for $765,288.66. The engineer’s estimate for this project was $621,100. He said Secondary Roads has been evaluating the bids over the past couple of years and they have seen very attractive bids. The County may be seeing an end to those attractive bids; they knew that it was coming. Parker said they feel comfortable with the differential on these bids amounts; it was less than 7% over the engineer’s estimate. It would be the recommendation from Secondary Roads that the County proceed with Taylor Construction, Inc for the bid amount of $664,162.
Harney asked if the amount includes the paving on both ends of the bridge. Parker confirmed. The concept for this project is that one bridge would be replaced, they will extend a box culvert, and then they will pave the section that was not paved as a part of the project in 2010.
Harney said he made a mistake. He said the meeting on February 10, 2011, is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. but it is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Executive Assistant Andy Johnson confirmed. Harney asked if the Board is willing to move this item forward at the meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on February 10, 2011.
Parker said he would like to give the Board a brief update of the most recent snow event. He said it has been a long couple of days for Secondary Roads staff and he thinks they have done an excellent job. Secondary Roads did not get all County roads plowed as of the night of February 2, 2011. He said they feel that all of the roads should be able to be plowed at least once by the end of today, February 3, 2011. Crews started at 5:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. this morning and will be working until the County gets all of the roads plowed this afternoon. There were lots of drifting problems and lots of vehicles were stuck in the middle of the road. Until those vehicles are removed from the road it dampers some Secondary Roads functions because they cannot get the road plowed or gain access to some roads. Staff is working diligently to accomplish the plowing. He said Secondary Roads appreciates everybody’s patience. Harney thanked Parker. The County has received a lot of calls but a lot of them are satisfied too at the progress that has been made.
Sullivan said the Cedar Rapids Gazette had a poll on how people feel the municipalities have responded in terms of snow removal. It was not just for Johnson County, it was the whole Gazette area, but the response was overwhelming positive. People were supposed to grade the municipalities, and most were A-grades. Harney said he likes to remind the residents they need to be aware due to blind spots at intersections; snow is plowed in high piles and it is difficult to see very far. Rettig said there is nowhere else to put the snow, for another six weeks or so it will be difficult to see and people need to slow down. Parker said if the Board gets the opportunity to drive down Herbert Hoover Highway, east of Iowa City, they will see that the County has piles of snow drifts, 15 to 16 feet high along the side of the road. They are sending a snow blower through to cut that out so future drifting will be minimized for future events. He said that is an example of what the County is dealing with. Harney thanked him.
Public Health Director Doug Beardsley said a Secretary II employee who has been with Public Health for some time is retiring. This is the position which supports the Environmental Health programs, including Food Safety, private sewage, portable water, the Non-Community Public Water Supply Program, the Tanning Facility and Tattoo Establishment Program, the Hotel/Motel Program, and the Nuisance Program. There are seven professional staff members working in Environmental Health. This secretary has been dedicated to all of those programs. Public Health has started cross-training other staff members. He said Business Manager Becky Mills and Deputy Public Health Director Mary Klahn-Ramstad are looking at different ways of cross-training and supporting all of the functions. The incumbent was hired under and elected to stay at the County’s old 37.5 hours per week or 75 hours per pay period system and the County has changed to the 40 hours per week system. Beardsley said he believes Public Health needs to fill the position with the 40 hours per week system because they do not have the 37.5 hours per week option.
Beardsley said the incumbent was at the top of the pay scale which is $18.53 per hour. This is a union position. The incumbent’s current wages are $36,133.50 per year. He said when looking at the high end, and if the incumbent was at 40 hours a week, it would equal $2,400 more per year. The starting wage is at $15.89 and it is unlikely they would get someone at that rate, so they would have to open it to current union members who would be paid at the wage they are currently at. If they look at the low end with a starting wage of $15.89 for the position, even at 40 hours per week, it would be a savings of $3,082 annually. He said the midrange is $669.00, so financially it comes out as a wash. Beardsley said Public Health would not ask for an adjustment in the budget, they will find the money and make do through FY11.
Stutsman asked how long Public Health has had this position. Beardsley said the incumbent, Secretary II Mary Sue Jiras, has been there 23 years. Stutsman clarified that Jiras has been doing the same job. Beardsley confirmed. Rettig said the chart Beardsley handed out does not show that this position includes benefits. Beardsley said no and Jiras is currently receiving the family health coverage. He said the benefits are about $19,485 with the family health coverage including vision and dental. He said they need to assume it would be family coverage to be sure there is enough but any difference in benefits would go proportionally from the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) contribution. Those amounts are not calculated out.
Rettig clarified that the position is an increase of 2.5 hours per week but there is no ability to replace the job with the same level it is currently at because of the contract. Beardsley said he will defer to Human Resources (HR). He said they talked and he was told the position needs to be filled with a 40 hour per week position. Stutsman said there was a time when there were positions at 37.5 hours per week and the County made an effort to move everybody to 40 hours per week positions. It was too confusing to have different departments on different hours. Sullivan said some staff was grandfathered in. Stutsman agreed. Beardsley said that is his understanding and Public Health still has one employee who is at 37.5 hours per week. Stutsman said that is the exception and everybody in the County who is full-time should be at 40 hours per week.
Harney said his only concern with filling this position is that the County is looking at ways of merging job duties. He asked if there is any way to merge the job duties to relieve some of the hours or to reorganize the position in any way. Beardsley asked Harney in what way. Harney said in terms of staffing. Beardsley said Public Health is looking at cross training. This position has been pretty much been exclusively taken up full-time to support Environmental Health. He said it is an opportunity now, with someone new coming in, to make sure the position is cross trained. There is still going to be a primary person supporting all of the programs but there will be crossover. Beardsley asked Harney if he is talking in terms of not filling the position and having the opportunity to merge job duties. Harney said yes. Beardsley said it is such huge workload right now, it is one person supporting seven professional staff and all of the Environmental Health programs, and things are already tight. He said this is not the first time Public Health has asked the Board for clerks. He does not see how Public Health and Environmental Health will be able to meet all of their needs if they do not fill this position.
Sullivan said it seems like an opportunity to make sure that the new hire is familiar with other programs and that other people are familiar with these programs. Beardsley agreed. He said Mills has already started doing the cross training. They may rearrange some of the desks and where employees are situated in the office. He said Public Health will have their primary people, but their plan is to provide better coverage when someone is on vacation or gone from the office. Currently this position has not been able to back up other programs and Public Health wants that cross training.
Rettig asked Beardsley how much of the position is funded through General Funds. Beardsley said the only offset Public Health would have would be through some of the fees, including food, well, and septic fees. This is all County dollars. Rettig asked if 50% is covered by fees or less. Beardsley said less, but he does not have all that information broken out because those fees come back in per program. It is going to be substantially less than 50%.
Neuzil thanked Beardsley for the information. Rettig said it is unfortunate Public Health has lost a long term employee and she wishes Jiras well in her retirement. It is problematic to see people leave. Beardsley said Jiras has been with Public Health for a long time and she has a lot of plans for retirement.
Harney said he does not think the Board needs to move this on to another agenda. It is a consensus to allow Beardsley to move forward. Stutsman and Neuzil agreed.
County Soil and Water Conservationist Kate Giannini said Johnson County funds the salary and health stipend for her position. She will be reviewing what she has accomplished in her position since 2010. Part of her position is conservation planning and providing technical assistance to landowners. Throughout 2010 she was able to develop about 27 farm plans for private landowners, most of which also included technical assistance for structures or the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). A couple of the projects were grade stabilization structures which are ponds or basins. She was able to survey, design, construct, and complete two of the projects in 2010. That is great because in 2009 and 2008 they were unable to complete a lot of the projects due to the rain. Giannini said she had one structure surveyed and designed and it is scheduled to be constructed this spring 2011, pending the weather.
Giannini said she was able to help staff in the office as well. She assisted with two wetland surveys, contour buffer strips, and pasture management. She was able to help survey a couple of water and sediment control basins, outlets, a windbreak, and a repairing buffer.
Giannini referenced an image in the presentation and said that is what the County has been looking at a lot lately after the rains in 2008 and 2009. The Soil and Water Conservation District has to prioritize what they are doing for projects when people come in and need structures or Federal or State dollars. The Soil and Water Conservation District assesses the area and most of the time they see what is shown in the referenced photo. Unless they see gullies and holes, the proposed project is moved down the list. They have to prioritize the parts of the County that are struggling the most.
Giannini referenced another image and said that the structure shown is all surveyed and designed and is scheduled to be constructed this spring. Above the pond will be a little wetland to help with sedimentation and water quality. Sullivan asked what creek is running through the land. Giannini said the area is west of Swisher and she is unsure of what creek it is. She said it is all outlet fed and it is about 1/3 bigger than the first time she went out and looked at it. It is continually getting bigger. Rettig asked if they will repair the area with a detention basin. Giannini said in this instance they are putting in a large structure which will be a 2.5 acre pond. It needs to be that big in order to cover the overflow of where the down cutting is starting to happen. They are going to construct a wetland above to help with treatment as well. Rettig clarified that would be before it comes into the pond. Giannini confirmed.
Giannini said in order to construct ponds and rain gardens they like to do soil investigations, which is a protocol to ensure that there is good soil there. The Soil and Water Conservation District does not want to build a pond if there is sandy soil and if it will not hold the water. They want it to work how it is supposed to function. They call a soil scientist who covers about 40 counties in southern Iowa to do the investigation. Giannini said scheduling this scientist is a little difficult but it is a necessity that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has to do in order to build ponds. Since Johnson County is an urbanized area, they also do soil investigations with rain gardens. Stutsman asked if the soil scientist is a Federal employee. Giannini confirmed.
Giannini said she has created a couple of GIS databases for efficiency. The Soil and Water Conservation District has to do cultural resources on all of their projects to ensure that they are not destroying any cultural resources. She put together a database to check on that which is easier than going into the Iowa website. A database was also created for Rapid Creek. It is a database with different layers and it is more efficient when researching Rapid Creek information. She continued to update the contractor list and habitat list. There is no protocol, so anyone can be on those lists. These lists offer resources for landowners to contact when they need work done. They do not know if these people are good or not but anybody can be on list. Giannini said she has submitted a couple of articles to the NRCS local newsletter as well as the Soil and Water Conservation District newsletter. She completed a couple cultural resources requests that must be sent to the State to ensure that they are not harming any resources.
Giannini said the Natural Resource Inventory is a nationwide protocol under NRCS. Most counties look at 50 points in their county but Johnson County looks at 150 points due to the urbanization of the County. They look at different slides, this happens once a year and it gives an overview of how land use changes over time.
Giannini said County projects she has worked on with Planning and Zoning include Cedar Ridge Vineyard, BP products, and Celebration Farm. They briefly touched on the storm water ordinance last year and are currently looking at the ordinance again. Other projects include Driftwood Lane, S & G Materials, and the tower site.
Giannini said the City submits projects to the Soil and Water Conservation District for technical assistance comments. She said Soil and Water Conservation District Urban Conservationist Amy Bouska is starting to look at working in a more regional area. Giannini has been job shadowing her over the past year. The best time to do urban projects seems to be in the summer when there is a lot rain. Giannini said it is good time for her because that is when the farmers have a lot of crops in and they are not doing construction anyway. Her summer was full with a lot of urban visits, most of which include people who are experiencing water issues in their yards and are interested in a rain garden. Some may have a creek in their backyard and are interested in bank stabilization. Giannini said the Soil and Water Conservation District works with condominium associations as well to give them comments regarding their pond or detention pond.
Giannini said Rainscaping Iowa is a great program that the Iowa Storm Water Education Program put out a couple years ago. The Soil and Water Conservation District was starting to see was that when people were constructing rain gardens, they were failing. The Iowa Storm Water Education Program has revamped the Rainscaping Iowa program and they want people who go through the training to become certified rainscapers. Instead of just going through the training, individuals must now submit work to become certified. This ensures consistency throughout the State and results in less failed projects. Giannini said she and Bouska also met with about 15 private professionals throughout the County that are starting to do rain gardens and other green landscapes. She and Bouska met with these professionals to get the word out about Rainscaping Iowa and also to certify them as rainscapers.
Giannini said Thinking Outside of the Barrel is a volunteer project the Soil and Water Conservation District puts on. They had a new volunteer in November, 2010 who had attended one of NRCS Urban Conservationist Wayne Petersen’s workshops. The volunteer had worked for a company called Innovative Water Solutions in Texas. There are more drought issues in Texas and Innovative Water Solutions is harvesting rainwater outside the rain barrel. This volunteer comes with a lot of expertise and the Iowa Storm Water Education Program has contracted out his services to develop a workshop for just rainwater harvesting. Giannini said he was able to work on residential projects, commercial projects, and an underground bladder used for irrigation.
Giannini said Rapid Creek Watershed has been a fun watershed to work on. They held a couple public meetings in the Village of Morse and have developed a Watershed Board out of those public meetings. They are continually working with the watershed efforts in Rapid Creek due to the bacteria impairment. The Soil and Water Conservation District just recently had a pasture workshop at Morse's well which was successful. They will finish the Watershed Management Plan (WMP) and apply for grants on April 1, 2011, for more funding to hopefully hire a coordinator.
Giannini said goals for the Rapid Creek Watershed include holding another Watershed Board Meeting and a public meeting in the next couple of months. Additionally, they would like to complete the WMP. Once she completes the WMP it will go to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who will submit their comments and make changes as needed. She will submit a grant by April 1, 2011, pending the approval of the WMP.
Giannini said meetings she attended in 2010 included local foods, watershed meetings, a prescribed burning refresher, and a lot of training on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). She said LiDAR is a great tool allowing them to do a lot of their designing in house and not have to use engineers. Giannini attended the Certified Inspector of Sendiment and Erosion Control (CISEC) training in Indianapolis, Indiana and completed her Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership program.
Giannini said certificates she received in 2010 include the Native Landscaping Certificate and the Soil Quality Restoration Certificate, both from the Iowa Storm Water Education Program (ISWEP). She was already certified in rain garden design. She became a certified inspector of sediment and erosion control.
Giannini said she is also the Soil and Water Conservation District's volunteer coordinator. She works with a lot of volunteers from a lot of different backgrounds. They clocked nearly 300 volunteer hours in 2010, which is the highest amount in the area. The Soil and Water Conservation District works with a lot of students from both the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College. Giannini said a student from Kirkwood approached her with the idea to do a rain barrel project which would teach students to purchase the materials and build their own rain barrel. She said the student was able to build the rain barrel for less than $30.00. There are volunteers who want to get their hands dirty, so they work on surveying. The Soil and Water Conservation District also has volunteers who help with clerical assistance, urban conservation, and education and outreach. Giannini said she was fortunate to work with the Lone Tree Future Farmers of American (FFA) and their natural resources class where they did a couple of presentations. The group also toured the Kirkwood Natural Resources Horticulture building.
Giannini said she will be coordinating the annual tree and plant sale for 2011. They will also have compost bins and rain barrels for sale. Giannini said new products for the 2011 sale include a wooden rain barrel that Upcycle Products just introduced, and Aronia berry bushes, which grow small berries that resemble blueberries but contain three times the antioxidants. She said Red Fern Farms Owner Tom Wahl grows the Aronia berry bushes.
Giannini said the Soil and Water Conservation District does the Interface with Agriculture at the Johnson County Fair on Wednesday nights. The program involves interactive activities for kids, including the EnviroScape model, which is an overview of how a watershed works.
Giannini said Move It, Dig It, Do It is an event that happens in the fall, and it was held at the Coralville Marriott Hotel in 2010. They had a compost activity for kids to participate in. The Soil and Water Conservation District held a potluck dinner and farm tour cookout at Highland Hunting LLC. There was a hayrack ride and they toured the hatchery. Stutsman asked if the hatchery is for pheasants. Giannini said yes, they hatch about 21,000 pheasants a year.
Giannini said Atlas of Mud: A Cautionary Tale was a play put on in December, 2010. She said Blue Planet Green Living CEO Joe Hennager moderated a panel that included herself, Backyard Abundance Executive Director Fred Meyer, and Chris Vinsolhaler from Iowa River Call. They sat on the panel after the play and answered questions from the audience.
Giannini said the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District will be getting a new website in 2011. They hired Meyer to assist with this project and hope to have a new website by the fall of 2011 that is updated and easier to navigate. The Soil and Water Conservation District is on Facebook which she coordinates when she has the time to reach out to a different demographic.
Giannini said her goals for 2011 include finishing Rapid Creek, hosting a pasture walk, receiving wetland training, and finishing the NRCS Certified Planner program.
Giannini asked if the Board has any questions. Harney said she has been busy. Stutsman agreed. Giannini said yes, but it is fun. Harney said it looks like an interesting field. Rettig said that with the abundance of snow and threats of flooding, the work of Giannini and people like her becomes more and more important. She was intrigued to see the rain garden participants because she knows a lot of people on that list. She said she obviously needs to get her act together and build a rain garden. It is important that everyone becomes more aware and starts handling water where it lands and slowing it down. Giannini agreed.
Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator R.J. Moore said Giannini understates how much she helps Johnson County. Each of the projects she listed has three elements. For example, there will be a storm water plan, a soil erosion control plan, and a sensitive areas response, so there is triple the amount of work involved with each of those projects mentioned. He said Giannini is one of the principal people they rely on to help guide staff and he, Assistant Planner Joshua Busard, and Planning and Zoning Administrator Rick Dvorak try to keep up on topics they are not experts in, so they rely on Giannini a lot. Moore said she provides a lot of assistance to Planning and Zoning. They would like to thank her publicly and thank the Board for funding part of her position. Stutsman said it is and has been a great collaborative effort. She asked how much Giannini’s position is funded by Johnson County. Giannini said she does not know but she can find out. Stutsman said Giannini is a Federal employee but the County helps with funding her position and she thinks it is money well spent for the County. Harney thanked Giannini for the update, the Board appreciates it.
Recessed 10:19 a.m.; Reconvened at 10:25 a.m.
SEATS Paratransit (SEATS) Director Tom Brase said as the Board knows, the SEATS garage and administrative building is located at Secondary Roads at 4810 Melrose Avenue. SEATS provides service throughout all of Johnson County to the general population and in rural areas. SEATS also provides American with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service wherever a fixed route service is offered in Johnson County, which includes Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and University Heights.
Brase said SEATS' mission statement is to provide independent living by providing a transportation service for people throughout Johnson County. This promotes and enhances the quality of life for the people in Johnson County, and groups like Livable Community participate in this goal.
Brase said SEATS' efficiency is largely due to the experience of the staff. Dispatch schedulers have over 60 years of combined experience. The full-time SEATS drivers have over 200 years of combined experience with 75% of the full-time staff having worked over 18 years at Johnson County SEATS. He said the dispatch schedulers’ work on scheduling rides, making adjustments, resolving delays, and answering questions for the public and the drivers. The number for SEATS is 319-339-6127.
Brase said SEATS provided 104,312 trips in FY10. This demand is growing. After only six months in FY11 SEATS has had 4,175 more trips then they had in the first six months of FY10, an average of about 700 trips each month more than in FY10. 74% of trips SEATS provided in FY10 were in Iowa City. 12% of the trips were to Coralville, 12% to Pathways Adult Day Health Center (Pathways), and about 2% were in rural areas. Brase said the rural transports decreased from FY09. Through December, 2011, transports to Coralville have slightly decreased and Iowa City and Pathways are increasing in total transports. He said rural transports are about the same and transports to University Heights are slightly less. Brase said SEATS also offers nonemergency Medicaid trips with the TMS Management Group, Inc., which were not done in the previous fiscal year.
Brase presented a photo to the Board of the shop where mechanical work is done. He said the facility has been very helpful by saving taxpayers around $50,000 last year for SEATS due to savings from the purchasing of equipment and the hiring of a mechanic. SEATS has 24 vehicles with three that were replaced within the year. All three vehicles were funded through Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds. Brase said those funds saved money locally, so SEATS did not have go into their capital investments. Brase said one of the vehicles replaced was for the Coralville area and arrived on March 26, 2010. Two vehicles were received from ECICOG which arrived in September 2010.
Brase said SEATS fuel costs in FY08 were the highest they have been. Even though the mileage has increased since then, FY08 had the highest fuel costs. IN FY08 SEATS traveled 424,000 miles, in FY09 they traveled 446,000 miles, and in FY10 they traveled 473,000 miles. He said they are doing more trips with more mileage, but fortunately their fuel costs have gone down. This is partly due to sharing a facility with Secondary Roads and using some of their services. Brase said the maintenance costs for SEATS over the last year went down and they continue to work on that.
Brase said some of the accomplishments SEATS has seen over the past year included a software system upgrade. They upgraded to a new version for their route match scheduling software, which has helped SEATS move along and stay organized. When a vehicle goes on a trip, the software monitors the vehicle's estimated time of arrival, and in the future it will monitor how long it will take the rest of the trips in the day. For example if SEATS is behind schedule the system will show how to get back on schedule by adjusting the trip schedule for the day. The GIS mapping has been improved, so they are able to add roads and update roads with the new version.
Brase said SEATS worked with both JCCOG (now called MPOJC) and ECICOG on transit planning strategies to develop a long term plan. They have done online training through Iowa Municipalities Workers' Compensation Association (IMWCA) for defensive driving. SEATS had an individual come to their facility to provide ergonomics training for staff. So far SEATS has sent four drivers for passenger training, which is assisted training to ensure safety. This includes extensive training regarding customer service and driver training. Two more drivers will attend this 16 hour training in February 2011, which is held in Cedar Rapids. The employees receive training to train other drivers so they pass the information along. It costs SEATS $35.00 for the certification plus the travel miles to attend.
Brase said SEATS has improved their service efficiency with trips per hour increasing from 2.68 trips per hour in FY09 to 3.05 trips per hour in FY10. The maintenance per vehicle mile in FY09 was about $0.27 per mile and in FY10 it was about $0.16 per mile. The 4,147 no-shows in FY09 decreased to 3,614 no-shows in FY10, which is another improved efficiency of SEATS.
Brase said SEATS has developed a strategic plan and is in the process of incorporating the plan. SEATS has a contract with TMS Management Group, Inc., the group that does the nonemergency medical trips. SEATS maintains a positive work environment and quality labor with the Labor Management Committee (LMC) group. They continue to work on customer service through training sessions. Brase said they promote and encourage intergovernmental collaboration with contracts. He said SEATS continues to hold public meetings in order to improve communications with the public through presentations and educating the public on the services offered by SEATS. One of these public meetings is scheduled for February 9, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library. They will be explaining the services of SEATS, the challenging transition from driving to not driving, and what other options exist.
Brase said SEATS has purchased four vehicles under the ARRA worth about $148,000. He said the State transit operating funds were about $84,000. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) granted SEATS $13,400 for software and hardware support services. SEATS received over $5,000 from Iowa DOT for trainings and fellowships. Brase said SEATS continues to grow and that is expected to increase even more as assisted living in this area is promoted and more housing is available for that demographic.
Brase said SEATS' future goals include continuing to find grants and keeping percentages of expenditures below the percentage of revenue increases which SEATS has been able to do. Another goal is to plan and develop ways to meet rising growth demands which will be a big challenge in the future. Customer service and draft development are also goals for SEATS.
Brase said everyone is welcome to attend and contribute to the Paratransit Advisory Committee. It is a great group and very productive for the County and paratransit services.
Stutsman told Brase it was an excellent presentation. Rettig as if Brase will have this presentation put on the SEATS website. Brase confirmed. Harney thanked Brase for a good presentation.
Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek presented a contract with the City of North Liberty that was originally slated to end in 2010. North Liberty has continued to extend the contract due to personnel issues and an inability to hire new employees. The contract is being revised and traditionally revisions are done annually, but they would like to extend this contract for a nine month period at which point they believe the contract will end. The contract is for January 2011 through September 2011 at which time North Liberty will be ending the contract. Pulkrabek said North Liberty has also cut their hours in half for this short contract, so it is a minor extension. He said North Liberty is getting closer to being up and running all on their own.
Sullivan said he is assuming Johnson County has plenty of places to patrol, so it is not an imposition for the County if North Liberty says they do not need the County’s assistance anymore. Sullivan clarified that Johnson County has plenty of other places they can deploy the same deputy. Pulkrabek said absolutely. The focus has been on trying to get more people patrolling in the rural area and the Sheriff's Office has been trying to cut the strings with North Liberty. Sullivan said to some extent there will be benefits to the County when North Liberty is fully staffed and can stop contracting help from the Sheriff's Office. Pulkrabek confirmed.
Stutsman said to North Liberty’s credit she thinks they have managed the situation well. Their community has expanded and they have recognized that this expansion means they are going to have to have a police department, which is a cost to them. Stutsman said they have done this in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office and she thinks they have managed it well. She has always had some questions about these contracts and thinks the Board needs to continue to evaluate these contracts. Her point is that there are other communities that she does not think have managed as well with growth, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and the demands those communities put on the Sheriff’s Office. She has no problem extending the contract and would like to tell North Liberty she is glad they are managing their growth as they should be. Pulkrabek agreed.
Rettig said Pulkrabek has been inching up the per hour charges for North Liberty to get a little closer to the actual cost to the County. This contract has the per hour rate at $34.00. She asked Pulkrabek to remind her of the actual rate amount. Pulkrabek said salary plus benefits for a topped out deputy is around $41.00 per hour. Major Steve Dolezal said it is around $41.00 per hour, but there are also incidental costs for the vehicle which always fluctuates due to fuel and maintenance. He wants to say the hourly rate is around $45.00 or $47.00 including those incidental costs. Pulkrabek said he knows the amount is around $41.00 per hour including benefits. If the car is included it probably increases the rate $10.00 per hour or so.
Pulkrabek said the Board will see that North Liberty is at a different rate and this is because when they started their police department, the rate somehow got off on an odd year so he accelerated their rate up faster than everybody else. He said on July 1, 2011 everybody else’s rate will be increased to $35.00 per hour and as North Liberty completes their contract, they will end at $34.00 per hour. Sullivan said every time Johnson County does a contract like this it is important for people in the small communities to understand that they are getting a very good deal from the County. Rettig agreed. She said this is not making the County money. Pulkrabek agreed. Sullivan said the County is subsidizing this service for the small towns.
Pulkrabek said the communities still ask why they are being charged for this service if they already pay taxes and pay the County for these services. He always has to explain that this rate is a user’s fee. For example, if he were a farmer living on a rural County road, he may not see a deputy sheriff on patrol as often as they do in the towns because they are paying for the patrol units to be present a certain number of hours. The County taxpayer does not have additional hours set up. Sullivan said small communities are not getting an additional bill when a detective is needed or when there are civil papers being served. Pulkrabek agreed. Sullivan said those items are part of the general taxes. There are other services the Sheriff’s Office is providing as well.
Pulkrabek said he tried explaining that information. He also threw out the offer approved by the Board that the Board would welcome a joint meeting with each town if they so desired. Pulkrabek said he is guessing none of them have asked for that yet. Rettig said the Board will be having a joint meeting with Solon; they just have to pick the date. Pulkrabek said that is good. Rettig said that has been the first community to request a joint meeting. Sullivan noted that Solon has been very cooperative in terms of working with the Sheriff’s Office. Pulkrabek said Solon is very unique and steps up to do a very unique contract. He said Solon pays for 40 extra deputy hours during the month of July, because of the Solon Beef Days activities. He always uses Solon as an example to the other towns due to their creativity and how they have kept up with what they should be doing. Sullivan said as confirmed.
Neuzil said he is comfortable moving forward with this contract with North Liberty. Harney said there is consensus to moving this item to the Board Meeting scheduled for February, 10, 2011. Pulkrabek said he will probably not attend the meeting because the Board has had their discussion. He thanked the Board.
Executive Assistant Andy Johnson said the Board has a Work Session with Secondary Roads scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today, February 3, 2011, to discuss the Five Year Road Plan. The Board had a busy day scheduled on February 2, 2011, which was disrupted by the weather. Johnson said agendas had not been posted for any of those meetings prior to the point where they were cancelled. The cancellation was covered by email rather than by press release. The Board had a budget work session scheduled in the afternoon and that item has been added to the beginning of the Strategic Planning Meeting scheduled for February 4, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) meeting was cancelled and will not be rescheduled. The next CJCC meeting is scheduled for March 2, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. Johnson said the Board had a department head evaluation and a site visit to the Recorder’s Office scheduled for February 2, 2011. He said they will work on rescheduling the site visit to the Recorder’s Office. The department head evaluation is tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. The Assessor’s Conference Board was also scheduled for February 2, 2011, and was postponed. The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.
Stutsman said she does not have any reports due to being on vacation the prior week.
Neuzil said he was unable to attend last week’s Board meeting because he was in Des Moines, Iowa, for the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Winter School. Neuzil attended a County Rate Information System Board of Directors Meeting, the Johnson County United Way Education Committee Meeting, an Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Economics of Agriculture Breakfast, the Legislative Breakfast, the Coralville Chamber of Commerce meeting, and the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce meeting. Neuzil presented an award with Linn County Supervisor Ben Rodgers at the ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Awards and was unable to attend the Iowa City Assessor Conference Board meeting. He said the Iowa City Federation of Labor had their annual Chili Supper. Because he is unable to attend the Board meeting with Secondary Roads scheduled for the afternoon of February 3, 2011, he met with the Department as well as Assistant County Engineer Ed Bartels and Assistant County Engineer Rob Winstead, and was able to chime in on some of his issues and concerns with the Five Year Road Plan. His next Listening Post is scheduled for Friday, February 4, 2011, at 7:30 a.m. at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery on Riverside Drive in Iowa City.
Rettig said the Iowa City Assessor Conference Board met on Monday, January 31, 2011. There was an indication that it would be desirable to have Stutsman serve on the subcommittee for the Iowa City Assessor Conference Board about employee performance evaluations since she has served on the Johnson County Assessor Conference Board. Rettig said January 29, 2011, was when the Legislative forums were held and the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce held a members only meeting while the League of Women Voters held a forum for the public. There was a good turnout at the Chamber forum but unfortunately two House members representing Johnson County did not attend the League of Women Voters forum. Johnson County is represented by a lot of legislators and it would be nice to see some of them from time to time. Rettig congratulates Zach Wahls, a 19 year old engineering student from Iowa City who attends the University of Iowa, who gave a testimony on House Joint Resolution 6, and whose speech has since gone viral. She encourages people to watch his testimony.
Sullivan said he had the opportunity to speak to a graduate level social work class at the University of Iowa, where he received many questions concerning how social issues fit into County policies. He met with Iowa City Manager Tom Markus and Department of Planning And Community Development Director Jeff Davidson as part of his assignments on the CJCC to discuss a couple of issues that might become problematic as the County moves forward with the planning for a justice center. He is pleased to report the meeting went extremely well and he is confident Johnson County will have the full support of Iowa City as they move forward with the plan. Sullivan said with the recent inclement weather he would like to thank all of the 24 hour employees for Johnson County, including the facilities staff, Ambulance staff, the Sheriff’s Office, the Medical Examiner's Office, and Secondary Roads staff. The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) has their annual Souper Bowl event scheduled for tonight, February 3, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. It is their biggest fund raiser every year and is located at the Clarion Hotel Highlander Conference Center.
Harney said he attended the ECICOG Board of Directors meeting for Stutsman and the ECICOG Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Policy Committee. Johnson County had the Public Hearing on the Public Improvement Plan, a transportation planning policy. There was also a Public Hearing on the Trails Plan and the State recommends they develop a trails or enhancement committee in order to make decisions on recommendations. He said they did adopt the public improvement plan. He attended a meeting for the Riverfront Crossings Plan that the City has in effect, and attended a JECC meeting. He had an Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce meeting and they discussed their upcoming trip to Washington D.C. He attended the Chamber meeting as well as the League of Women Voters forum regarding the Legislative forums. He spoke with Newton Kiwanis Club about the new communications center. He said the Johnson County Assessor Conference Board Meeting scheduled for February 2, 2011, at 6: 30 p.m. was canceled due to weather and has not been rescheduled. The Board will let people know when it is rescheduled.
Motion by, Sullivan second by, Stutsman to enter into Executive Session at 11:05 a.m. to discuss Property Acquisition on Capitol Street under section 21.5(1.i), Code of Iowa, “To discuss the purchase of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property.” Roll call: aye: Harney, Neuzil, Stutsman, Sullivan, Rettig.
Motion by Stutsman, second by Sullivan, to leave Executive Session at 11:25 a.m. Roll call: aye: Harney, Neuzil, Stutsman, Sullivan, Rettig.
Adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
By Nancy Tomkovicz, Recording Secretary