Johnson Co. discusses raises for elected officials, COVID vaccine and test policy

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 2/8/22

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for a 2.25% pay increase for all five supervisors, beginning July 1, 2022, in the new fiscal year.

But that was nearly 15% less of a raise …

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Johnson Co. discusses raises for elected officials, COVID vaccine and test policy

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The Johnson County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for a 2.25% pay increase for all five supervisors, beginning July 1, 2022, in the new fiscal year.

But that was nearly 15% less of a raise than was recommended by the Johnson County Compensation Board.

Jon Green, a former Lone Tree mayor and the newest member of the board, tweeted that he could not support an 18% pay raise for county supervisors and other elected officials when most county employees are looking at a 2.25% cost-of-living increase.

The supervisors discussed the proposed pay increases during its work session Feb. 2.

“I just think it seems the wrong message to give more than the other folks are getting,” said longtime supervisor Rod Sullivan, agreeing with Green. “I don’t think that elected officials, with all due respect to all of us, have done anything particularly special, any more so than any other county employee. I just think it all should be the same.”

But not all of it will be the same.

Four of the five supervisors agreed on increases of 2.25% for supervisors and 4.42% for other elected officials, including Sheriff Brad Kunkel, whose annual salary is approaching $200,000. Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass proposed a 4.42% increase for all elected officials in order to avoid creating a gap in the increases.

The pay increases will be worked into the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which is yet to be finalized and approved.

At its Feb. 3 formal session, the board voted to amend the Covid-19 vaccination policy for employees so that the testing mandate is removed. Because of recent action taken in federal court, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is not enforcing vaccinations and testing. A mask mandate in county buildings remains in place.

Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Johnson County Public Health Director, said the priority is to get county employees and residents fully boosted. She suggested the idea of a gift card drawing as a motivation to get employees fully vaccinated and boosted.

“I got all three shots and I still got sick,” said Sullivan, who tested positive in January. “Because I got all three shots, I’m still with us.”

All of Iowa remains in the “high risk” category, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Sunday, Johnson County had dropped to 1,449 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 21.36%. Washington County was under 20% for the first time in weeks.

The board set Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. as the date for a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy for Fiscal Year 2023 and the publishing of the public hearing date, including in The News, per state code.

Dana Aschenbrenner, Finance Administrator, questioned the value of the legal-notice publishing in newspapers.

“Still, the primary requirement is that this appears in the newspapers, the local newspapers,” Aschenbrenner said. “Who reads local newspapers anymore? Who actually buys hard-copy newspapers anymore? I mean, I used to. I used to read three or four newspapers a day. I just don’t do it anymore. I mean, if I need my news, that’s what the internet’s for.”

In an email exchange with The News the next day, Aschenbrenner apologized for his comments and said he regretted it as soon as he spoke.

“Newspapers provide a number of needed services, and it is my hope that this service will continue into the future, regardless of the form it is presented in,” he said.

The board issued a proclamation in honor of Black History Month and did so for the first time with a Black supervisor — Royceann Porter — serving as chair.

“I’m looking at history right now,” said Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague, who attended the meeting. “It is truly historic.”

“I am here to help all people,” Porter said. “There is no one set of people.”

This week’s formal voting session begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, and will include a number of public hearings for zoning and platting applications.