IOWA CITY

Hundreds of responses to vehicle emergencies occurred during recent winter storms, but at the same time thousands were on the road to attend athletic events at the University of Iowa.

And that apparently created more problems across Johnson County when plow drivers and police were dealing with large snowfalls and extreme cold.

“I guess, it’s our turn to be bad guys, right?” Supervisor Jon Green said during the Johnson County Board of Supervisors formal session Jan. 18. “During the winter weather, one of the frustrations that we’ve heard from our emergency management partners was a frustration, the continuation of some Iowa athletics events. I hope that we can continue to work in partnership with the university because by failing to cancel or postpone some of those events, they had people on the road in peril, our employees in peril.”

Among those events were a women’s basketball game against Indiana on Jan. 13, when wind-chill temperatures dipped nearly 30 degrees below zero following a snowfall of nearly a foot.

Green cited a Facebook message from a Hawkeyes fan that went like this: Hey, I have season tickets, come plow me out please.

“That is not the purpose of Secondary Roads, especially during a crisis there to ensure the people who have bonafide emergencies can be accessed and rescued,” Green said.

Poor Farm Storage

Kalona Post & Frame’s proposal to build an equipment storage building at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm was approved by the Board.

The company was recommended for the project by Poor Farm management in early December, then recommended again following a formal bidding process.

Kalona Post & Farm’s bid of $94,680 came in more than $5,000 under the Poor Farm’s estimated budget of $100,000. Peak Construction of North Liberty had bid $104,000 for the project.

The 25-by-100-foot pole building will be used by farmers enrolled in the Land Access Program at the Poor Farm.

Official Newspapers

The News remains one of three “official newspapers” of Johnson County following an amended resolution covering the 2024 year.

Joining The News are the Press-Citizen of Iowa City and the Solon Economist. The Gazette of Cedar Rapids was removed, per recommendation from the county attorney’s office and the Board’s executive director, citing state code, because the newspaper is published in Linn County and not Johnson County and only three newspapers can be labeled “official.”

The News qualifies because it is the home newspaper for Lone Tree, which is a part of Johnson County. The News also covers Hills, a Johnson County city, and large parts of southwestern Johnson County.

Conrad in Supervisor race

Bob Conrad, a public resource officer at the Iowa State Patrol and a resident of Johnson County, announced his candidacy for the Board of Supervisors 2024 election.

Conrad has served on the Johnson County Planning & Zoning Board and the Rural Housing Trust Fund Board.

“I have spent my adult life building strong relationships and serving the people of Johnson County,” Conrad said in a statement. “I’m ready to use my experience and expertise to make an even greater impact as a Supervisor.”

Conrad joins Mandi Remington and longtime Supervisor Rod Sullivan as contenders for three seats that will be up for election in November.

Primary elections are scheduled for June 4.

Board Action

The Board set Feb. 8 as the monthly evening session for rezoning and platting public hearings, along with other formal actions. The meeting is set for a 5:30 p.m. start.

The Board approved adding three deputy county attorney positions.

Next meeting: The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. Jan. 25.