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Supervisors flag intersection safety, housing shortfall, GuideLink demand and funding concerns
Summary
Supervisors used their reports at the April 2025 Johnson County Board meeting to highlight a problematic intersection on Dubuque Street, housing trust fund investments, GuideLink usage statistics and concerns about federal funding cuts affecting local services.
During the supervisors' reports section of the April 2025 Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting, members highlighted public-safety and social-service issues ranging from traffic safety at a busy intersection to the county’s ongoing housing and service funding challenges.
Supervisor Rod Sullivan described a site visit with the county engineer to the intersection of Dubuque Street and Oakdale/Oakville (as described in the meeting). Sullivan said they observed frequent improper turns at that location and that a state trooper who joined the visit confirmed similar concerns. He said county staff will pursue possible changes and that the county engineer, Ed Bartels, will bring options back to the board.
Supervisor Fitzmaurice used her report to underscore the county’s housing work and the role of the Johnson County Housing Trust Fund. She said the current funding round is $4,000,000 and that the county has invested “a couple million dollars” into the fund. “It never feels like enough,” Fitzmaurice said of housing production, adding that projects of 40–70 units help but do not meet longer-term demand.
Supervisors also discussed GuideLink, the local behavioral-health drop-in center. Board members noted that since opening in 2021 the GuideLink Center has recorded 6,289 encounters (people seeking help), that roughly 16% of encounters have involved law enforcement transport (more than 1,000 such encounters), and that the largest presenting age group is 35–44.
Other items noted in reports: the board acknowledged correspondence from a constituent, Heather Blatt, expressing concern about National Endowment for the Humanities funding terminations that could affect libraries; the emergency management office has recovered about $3,000 of an approximately $104,000 FEMA shortfall; the county is reviewing door security in the HHS building following concerns about staff safety; and staff and supervisors marked Empower Johnson County Day and related diversity and inclusion training events.
Why it matters: Supervisors’ reports flag issues that can lead to county action — safety changes at a busy intersection affect everyday drivers and emergency response, housing trust-fund allocations affect dozens of residents, and GuideLink usage figures inform decisions about behavioral-health resources.
What the board said it will do next: county engineers will return with proposals to address intersection safety; staff will continue administering housing trust-fund awards and report back on project progress; the county will pursue security assessments for building doors and follow up on FEMA recovery work; and the board will monitor state and federal funding developments that affect local programs.
