IOWA CITY

When the possibility of a county manager system surfaced in a draft proposal of the Johnson County Strategic Plan, Jon Green, Board of Supervisors Chair, shot down the idea.

“It’s a red line for me,” Green said during the Board’s work session June 24 which featured the presentation of the five-year plan by Michelle Kennedy of the BerryDunn consulting firm following a number of county staff and community resident meetings.

“I’ve spent months and will spend months campaigning against this boneheaded idea,” Green said. “We already have externally had so much disruption visited upon us by the state government. I think that now is the time for continuity rather than ever putting this board, this organization, under additional pressure.

“I cannot support a work plan that one of the outcomes is the destruction of what I’ve worked the last five years to create.”

Of the Board’s five supervisors, V Fixmer-Oraiz was the only one to show support for a change to a county manager system.

The current county governmental system includes the five supervisors, all elected officials, along with a Board staff that includes Executive Director Erin Shane.

Of all the proposals discussed in the strategic plan, the culmination of months of meetings and surveys, the county manager suggestion caused the most angst in a work session that lasted more than 90 minutes.

“It seems out of place on this document,” Supervisor Mandi Remington said.

The plan also calls for the addition or rehabilitation of 100 housing units in rural areas by June 30, 2030.

“That’s just not going to happen in some of these places,” Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said. “We’re imposing a number that could be totally outside of their reach.”

The strategic plan was split into five focused priorities: Thriving Economy, Health Economy, Community Infrastructure, Governance and Leadership, and Natural Environment.

Other proposals included increasing public transportation in rural areas, enlarging the Johnson County bike trail network, improving the affordable childcare system, improving three bridges in the secondary roads system per year, updating the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm plan by the end of 2028, establishing a code of conduct and standard operating procedures guide for County Supervisors by July 1, 2027, and increasing the wetlands acreage along the Iowa River.

Once a final version of the five-year plan is approved, it is expected to be in place for the beginning of Fiscal Year 2028, or July 1, 2027.

Jail Property Delay

Following a closed session June 25, the Board agreed to send an interest letter of “low” from the county attorney’s office in negotiations for land that might be used for a proposed new Sheriff’s office and jail.

Board Chair Jon Green, of Lone Tree, has been leading the county’s efforts to find a site for a new jail.

While details of a new jail property have been discussed in closed session and are not yet public, Green said the item will be back on the Board’s agenda this week.

Due to the delay in getting a potential property finalized, Green told The News that a planned June 25 vote on budget referendum language for the November 2026 election was delayed.

July 3 Holiday

Most Johnson County offices will be closed Friday for the Fourth of July holiday.

Emergency services will continue to operate.

Board Action

The Board approved $344,000 in FY27 Juvenile Justice Youth Development agreements, including $70,000 to United Action for Youth and $65,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County.

The Board approved a preconstruction agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for planned road construction on Oak Crest Hill Road SE near Riverside Drive and Highway 218, and approved a predesign agreement with IDOT for reconstruction of the I-380 interchange with 120th Street NW due to an I-380 widening project north of Iowa City.

The Board approved a $1 one-year lease with AbbeHealth for the GuideLink Center.

The Board approved Baker Tilly Advisory Group’s compensation study recommendations, including a 21-grade pay plan for county employees and position adjustments.

The Board issued a proclamation in honor of Democratic Republic of the Congo Independence Day (June 30).

Next Meeting

The next formal session is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 2.