Johnson County supervisors approve multiple zoning ordinances, ARPA apprenticeship memoranda, contracts and dozens of appointments

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 19, 2024, approved a package of routine but substantive local actions ranging from zoning ordinance adoptions to American Rescue Plan Act memoranda of understanding and a number of board and commission appointments.

The board voted to adopt third and final ordinances tied to several zoning applications — PCC-24-28597 for Dale and Edith Marlene Schrock; PCC-24-28598 for Jeff Carew (approved on a 4–1 vote with Green Douglas recorded as the sole dissent); PCC-24-28599 for Mitch Olson; and PCC-24-28600 for Austin Elizabeth Miller. Each ordinance was moved and approved by roll call during the meeting.

The supervisors also set a public hearing on additional zoning and planning applications for Jan. 9, 2024, at the Health and Human Services building, and authorized the auditor to publish notice.

On funding, the board approved changes to two child-care programs funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars: revisions to eligibility and reimbursement rates for the ARPA Child Care Assistance Incentive Program and changes to eligibility for an ARPA Infant and Toddler Scholarship. The board also approved two ARPA memoranda of understanding for apprenticeship programs: one with the ambulance department and one with the secondary roads department. The ambulance apprenticeship memorandum was read in the record as “not to exceed $480,000,” although an earlier speaker referred to $440,000 during discussion; the motion as presented and adopted specified $480,000. The secondary roads apprenticeship memorandum was approved at a not-to-exceed amount of $240,000.

Several procurement and contract items were approved. The board authorized a contract with Rave Wireless Inc. for mobile app emergency notifications at an initial cost of $5,500 and $5,000 annually thereafter, and authorized purchase of DocuSign software to integrate with Workday for electronic signatures at a cost of $7,413.12. The board also approved a provider purchase premium agreement with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services related to ground emergency medical transportation uncompensated-cost payments and an employee assistance program service agreement with Covenant Workplace Solutions for $11,972.88 annually plus a $1,497 implementation fee.

The meeting included a large slate of appointments and reappointments. Among the confirmed appointments were reappointments and new terms on the Board of Health (Zach Pollock reappointed; Michelle Wekman appointed), the Building Code of Appeals (Tristan Gingrich reappointed), the Conservation Board (Carolyn Buckingham reappointed; Zachary Hall appointed), the Historic Preservation Commission (Mitch Thompson, Anne Marie Taylor and Jan Foll reappointed), the Planning and Zoning Commission (Erin Hazen reappointed), the Zoning Board of Adjustment (Jared Kroll reappointed; Ashley Platts appointed), and recommended reappointments to local library boards (Frances Krechsmeyer to the Coralville Public Library Board and Bill Christiansen to the Solon Public Library Board). The board also approved reappointments to the county compensation commission and other advisory bodies as listed in the meeting packet.

Supervisors used their reports to highlight recent county work and community issues. Supervisor Fixmerize praised recent professional-development sessions and public-health outreach, noting recent avian-flu messaging and thanking county custodial and facilities staff; Fixmerize said, “I have a lot of appreciation for the professional development sessions that we've been having as a board.” Other supervisors flagged upcoming items, noted local wastewater-treatment outreach in Solon and work on a planned family resource center, and reminded the public of office closures and the next meeting on Dec. 26 at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting concluded with the board adjourning after hearing no further business.

What happens next: the public hearing on zoning and planning cases is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024; administrative steps for contracts, purchases and appointments will follow as staff processes required documents and notices.