• Report (Lehman): Attended Planning and Zoning Site Visits

• Report (Neuzil): Upcoming Geographic Information Systems Committee Meeting

• Reverend Bob Welsh: Important Issues in Upcoming Year

Vice-Chairperson Neuzil called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:17 a.m. Members present were: Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, and Carol Thompson; absent: Pat Harney and Sally Stutsman.

Neuzil: Call to order the informal meeting of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors for January 2, 2002. The first item on the agenda is business from the County Attorney.

Assistant County Attorney Janet Lyness: Nothing, thank you.

Neuzil: Next item from the Board of Supervisors, reports and inquiries. Mike do you want to start?

Lehman: I just have a few comments. Pat Harney and I went out and looked at a few of the Zoning applications and met with Mike Gardner of Secondary Roads. Talked a little bit with him on some of the applications and we also looked at some of the property out there that we’re proposing to trade with the National Guard next door here. Just get an idea. They’re going to be doing some surveying. The National Guard would like to have give or take 25 acres. We’re just trying to get a rough of idea of how that’s going to lay out there. Our impression is that maybe the National Guard won’t flatten that ground and lay it out. They’re going to want some of that left as it as for some of their training along with the pond and some of the rougher terrain. So there may not be a lot of change in the scenery out there. So it’s nice to hear that. That’s all I have to report.

Neuzil: Carol?

Thompson: I have no report today.

Stutsman entered at 9:20 a.m.

Neuzil: Sally I was just going to ask you if you have any reports? Good timing.

Stutsman: Let’s see. One thing I was going to say, I sent an email to the Board about the Lighten Up competition. I’ve not heard anything back. Does that mean nobody’s interested in doing it?

Neuzil: It doesn’t mean lighten up like loosen up right?

Thompson: That we could handle.

Stutsman: I thought it would just be fun to participate, but if there’s not any interest I don’t know. Janet would you like to join.

Lyness: Sure, tell me what it is.

Sullivan: Actually I submitted your name with my name to Human Resources because they’re putting a team together down there. You’re all welcome…

Neuzil: Is this Public Health again doing this to us?

Sullivan: Yes.

Stutsman: Doing it to us? For us.

Neuzil: For us, yes that’s it.

Stutsman: Anyway, I think that’s the only thing. It’s been kind of a quiet week with the holidays, which is kind of nice for a change. Mike and I, we met with Elaine. Did you talk about that?

Lehman: No, I didn’t.

Neuzil: You and I met with some developers discussing some of the North Corridor.

Stutsman: Sure. But I think that’s about it.

Neuzil: Again it’s because of the holidays, it’s been kind of a sporadic week of activity. We want to remind people that we do have a Geographic Information System meeting. That’s a GIS Committee meeting. For those interested you can come. The dates have been change a little bit because of scheduling. It will be held on Wednesday, January 9 at 9:00 in the Johnson County Administration Building. That’s the only thing I really have as far as reports as well.

Neuzil: Go ahead and close that item and move to item number 4, inquiries and reports from the public.

Reverend Bob Welsh: I did come for the express purpose of saying that I’m always amazed at how many items come before. I’ve said that repeatedly. You sort of think, boy every year is really going to be the important year. I think 2003 is going to be a very, very, very important year in the decisions you make. Let me mention 3 of them. The Jail. I am one of those that believe that if your proposal is just to "build a new jail", that it won’t fly. I think that there really needs to be a collaborative partnership with the County Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies, the judicial in terms of a real package that includes a lot of alternative services. That does not rule out a "new jail". (Inaudible) I as one citizen think that is important. The reason why I mentioned that as one of the important decisions is once that decision is made, you’re sort of stuck with it for at least 2 or 3 years. You don’t reverse that kind of a thing very easily. The 2nd one is a whole land usage for County business at this point. As you know I happen to be one of those that favor the campus plan. There are others who are opposed to that because of the cost. You may find it necessary to change that plan as you proceed. This year you’re going to be making some decisions again that are going to impact this County for at least the rest of my life and probably the rest of all your lives at that point. The 3rd one since it was 2003, I felt why just have 3. I ruled out the budget, OK. Now I think that the budget is one of the most important things that you do. But the fact of the matter is you can cut funding to one source this year and you can reverse it next year, so although it’s an extremely important decision that you make, it’s sort of reversible in a sense. It’s not that easy, but it’s up within a year’s time. The other one I thought about and didn’t put on my list of 3 was in relation to some of your departmental policies. Of course, MH/DD has been the one that’s in the… But again I didn’t list that as one of my 3 because that can be changed (inaudible) at that point. The 3rd one though that I came up with, which again it borders. It’s one that you can change not awful doggoned easy and that is your whole discussion in relation to your North Corridor and your land use policy. I was here when you debated that and decided to keep the draft that you had. There wasn’t 3 of you that was for that. There needed to be some tweaking of that. But that tweaking, at least on my list becomes your number 3 item. I just wish you the very best. At least I hope people are aware of the fact that although those are major decisions that you face, really all the decisions that you make each week really impact the citizens of this County. Most people are not really aware of the impact that you all have. So just as one citizen I just wanted to come to one, wish you all a happy New Year, wish the County a happy New Year and to offer a little prayer that you make very wise decisions this year. Happy New Year.

Neuzil: Thank you. Happy New Year. Any other?

Lehman: I was just going to make a comment in light of Bob’s. I’m not going to debate him or anything. I really feel comfortable in terms of football, a veteran Board, a good staff, good department heads and good volunteers. That’s what helps us shape everything together and stuff. Not everybody agrees 100% whether it says here or members of the public. I feel much more comfortable knowing that everyone is, I guess has an interest, whether it might be a personal or overall for the whole County. I feel more comfortable than I did when I came in here 4 years ago. You get your feet on the ground and stuff, but you start relying on other people that you have a lot of faith in. That really helps.

Welsh: If I can make one other statement. I sure as heck hope that when this is being played live, nobody is listening because they will all have to be focused on Iowa’s victory.

Neuzil: That’s right. May there not be freezing rain like Iowa State fans had to deal with.

Stutsman: My niece went to the game. She said it wasn’t all that bad.

Neuzil: Except for the score.

Stutsman: They did OK the first half. When you don’t have half your team playing, what can you expect? I think they did pretty well.

Neuzil: Now we get along pretty well on the Board, but when it comes to Hawkeyes versus the Cyclones there’s…

Stutsman: I’ll be rooting the Hawkeyes on.

Neuzil: Are you really? Well then I supported the Cyclones.

Stutsman: Sure I wore black and gold today.

Neuzil: Yes, yes. Hearing any other business from the public. Any other business from the Board? Hearing none, this portion of the meeting is adjourned.

Adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor

By Casie Parkins, Recording Secretary