Johnson County supervisors approve ordinances, contracts and personnel actions; several items approved unanimously

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved multiple ordinances, contracts and personnel actions at its February 2025 meeting and set a March public hearing, while removing one agenda item on the advice of the county attorney.

The board adopted three zoning ordinances in final consideration tied to applications identified in the meeting packet as PCC-24-28584, PCC-24-28624 and PCC-24-08/1937 and approved a resolution setting a planning public hearing for March 13, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Second Floor Boardroom of the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building. The board also approved several administrative and program items that included paramedic apprenticeship program standards and a $50,000 service agreement with North Liberty Community Pantry for construction of a new pantry.

Why it matters: The ordinances change zoning approvals recorded in the county’s planning files, the public-hearing resolution fixes a date for consideration of additional planning applications, and the pantry agreement directs county funds to a local nonprofit construction project. The board also approved personnel actions and payroll-related requests during the meeting.

Key actions and outcomes (Votes at a glance) - Consent agenda: Approved, including payment of claims totaling $1,057,856.53. (Roll call: board recorded ayes.) - Ordinance — zoning application PCC-24-28584 (Raymond’s Law): Adopted on third and final consideration. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Ordinance — zoning application PCC-24-28624 (David Brown): Adopted on third and final consideration. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Ordinance — zoning application PCC-24-08/1937 (Nicholas Havasak): Adopted on third and final consideration. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Resolution — set public hearing on planning applications for 03/13/2025 at 5:30 p.m., Second Floor Boardroom 203C, Johnson County Health and Human Services Building: Adopted. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Agenda amendment — Item D5 (consider amendment with professional services agreement with Acxiom Consultants for $283,695 for building envelope stabilization at 511 Capitol Street — sheriff’s office and jail): Stricken from the agenda by motion on advice of the county attorney. - Program standards — Paramedic apprenticeship program: Approved. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Service agreement — North Liberty Community Pantry, $50,000 for construction of new pantry: Approved. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Project support and correlating non-bargaining vacation accruals (as contained in the packet): Approved on a 3–2 vote; supervisors Green and Sullivan recorded negative votes; outcome recorded as carried 3 to 2. - Job description — Community Engagement and Policy Coordinator: Approved. (Roll call: ayes recorded.) - Appointments — Reserve deputy sheriff appointments: Approved. (Roll call: ayes recorded.)

Discussion and context Most actions were approved with routine roll-call votes and little extended public debate. Item D5 was removed from the agenda at the start of the meeting after the chair said the county attorney advised deferring it. The project-support item that changed non-bargaining vacation accruals drew the only recorded split vote (3–2), with two supervisors recorded in the negative; the packet contains the details of the accrual change but the board discussion recorded during the meeting was brief.

Meeting procedure and next steps The board convened with five supervisors present, approved the amended agenda, and moved through consent and departmental business. The planning public hearing on March 13, 2025 is now scheduled for 5:30 p.m.; the auditor was authorized to publish notice. Several approved items will be implemented through department procedures and the auditor/treasurer offices where applicable.

Ending The board concluded its session and noted the next general business work session will be held in the same room at 9 a.m. six days after this meeting.