Building a More Livable Community

Earlier tonight, Johnson County hosted a community dialogue about building a more livable community. There was a great crowd of about 50 people discussing how to continue to be the place for everyone to live and prosper.

About eleven years ago, the Board of Supervisors listened to community activists and created the Livable Community for Successful Living Policy Board. For over a decade many volunteers on the policy board and various action teams have worked to create a more livable county. They have led on many innovations, outreach and educational events. They were so ahead of the times, that the county owns the domain name livablecommunity.org

After all of these many activities and successes, now is a great time to reach out and gather more input and volunteers. We all know Johnson County is a great place to live, work, play and retire, but we can't just bask in our best of awards. We must constantly ask how we can be a more livable, more welcoming and more caring. We are hitting the road with this community dialogue, so if your group, board, etc. needs a speaker, please let us know.

Please check out this website for great resources and information. You can also sign up for the very informative newsletter:

http://www.livablecommunity.org/

Solar at the Ambulance and Medical Examiner Building

Johnson County's newest solar project is about to come on-line at the Ambulance and Medical Examiner Building (AME). The solar array is being built by Eagle Point solar and features two parts. The main array is on the roof and resembles the array built on top of the Health and Human Services Building. The smaller array is on the green roof creating a shade structure for outdoor meetings and space for downtime for the high stress jobs of Ambulance and Medical Examiner.

The AME building was built very energy efficient, so our preliminary numbers indicate that the solar we thought would provide 25% of the building's power needs may end up closer to 50%. This is also because the solar panels are so much more efficient in just a year later. 

I'm very proud to be part of a County leading on renewable energy.

Letter to the Editor: Vote Rettig On Or Before June 5th

"We are fortunate in Johnson County to have so many excellent candidates for the various offices up for election this cycle. Sometimes it is hard to decide who deserves our vote.  I do not have that problem with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors' race this year. I am voting for Janelle Rettig because I strongly believe that actions speak louder than words. It is one thing to acknowledge and talk about those struggling to put a roof over their head or food on their table, and Janelle pushed hard to increase the minimum wage in Johnson County, and even though the state took it away, she encouraged local businesses to continue paying a higher wage, and many have. Janelle also has fought for increases in funding for social services, affordable housing, mental health, and disability services. She is conscious of the many resources in our area, and has worked tirelessly for sustainability by encouraging solar panels for county buildings, building greener roads and bridges, and adding conservation acres and trails.  She does all this while remaining fiscally responsible. She promoted a finance department that has balanced every budget while lowering overall county debt. I encourage you to join me in voting for Janelle Rettig on or before June 5 for supervisor."

— Karla Smith, North Liberty

https://www.press-citizen.com/story/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2018/05/29/support-janelle-rettig-johnson-county-board-supervisors/616869002/

Janelle Rettig can get things done

"Janelle Rettig and the current Board of Supervisors have accomplished so much.  They have increased funding for social services and mental health/disability services.  They have increased sustainability, conservation and trails.  They have built solar arrays.  They have invested nearly $2 million in affordable housing.  They have improved infrastructure of roads, bridges and trails.  More amazingly, they have done all of these things while balancing every budget, lowering the countywide levy, and lowering the overall county debt.

  

Janelle is a numbers person, and these accomplishments are in large part due to her leadership and ability to evaluate budgets, find efficiencies, and develop creative ways to finance and bond.  One of her main priorities when she first became a supervisor was to create a finance department and update financial policies.  She led the effort, and now the county routinely wins finance awards.

Janelle is a supervisor who has vision, and who can get things done.  Please join me in voting for Janelle."

Carri Fox-Rummelhart, Iowa City

Iowa City Press-Citizen: Janelle Rettig can get things done

https://icp-c.com/2LHiYbV

Remembering Steven and Why Shelter House Matters

During the last year or so a number of Johnson County staff and electeds got to know a man named Steven. Steve was homeless and he hung out near the County Administration Campus regularly. He also worked a street corner.

Like many on the streets, Steve appeared to struggle with alcohol addiction and mental illness. He had a number of physical illnesses. All of that was heightened by his lack of shelter. Last fall he was in serious trouble and I, along with many others, tried to help Steve. He was so looking forward to the low barrier shelter opening and he said it would all be better when he had a place to sleep. Over the winter and this spring, he had periods of sobering and he opened up to County folks. He was described as a really pleasant guy and interesting to visit with.

Steven died over the weekend, possibly from exposure to the extreme heat. Steven is why we need the Shelter House FUSE program and a permanent location for a low barrier shelter. The lack of a home, made everything about Steve's life worse. In the end he died alone and in the elements. We can do better.

Thanks to the Johnson County staff that reached out to Steven and helped him during his last year. He knew we cared about him. RIP Steven.

I know we can make this a safer, healthier and more welcoming place for everyone. One of the agencies that is a key to this dream is Shelter House. My spouse and I are regular supporters of Shelter House and now we will put our bicycles to good use supporting the mission of Shelter House. Please consider contributing to this great cause.

If you want to join us in riding, join us on Team All In.

https://shelterhouseiowa.salsalabs.org/brakethecycleofhomelessness/p/janellerettigsfundraisingpage/index.html

Supervisor Candidate Forums

Candidate Forum

(Sponsored by the Johnson County League of Women Voters.)

 

https://citychannel4.com/cgi-bin/vdb/yt2.pl?id=F18506

 

 

 

Environmental Forum

(Sponsored by Environmental Advocates, 100 Grannies, Backyard Abundance, Climate Advocates, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Iowa City Area Group of the Sierra Club.) 

 

https://citychannel4.com/cgi-bin/vdb/yt2.pl?id=F18434

 

 

 

Social Justice Issues Forum 

(Sponsored by the Iowa City Federation of Labor and the Coalition for Racial Justice.)

 

https://citychannel4.com/cgi-bin/vdb/yt2.pl?id=F18687

 

 

 

Task Force on Aging Forum 

(Sponsored by the Johnson County Task Force on Aging.)

 

http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=corvia&eID=853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCI Candidate Surveys

Iowa Citizens for Community Involvement asked the candidates for Johnson County Supervisor to fill out a survey. The responses are below.