IOWA CITY

When the Lone Ox Smokehouse & Company restaurant in Lone Tree has its grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony November 14, it will also host a Johnson County Food Policy Council “Happy Hour” event.

The event is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m., and is open to all.

The Food Policy Council delivered an update on its activities to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors at its October 30 work session.

The Council also announced that its annual forum is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. December 14 in Iowa City.

Fall Budget

The Board will vote Thursday on a fall budget amendment that includes $6.6 million in additional spending and $1.1 million in additional revenue.

The amendment includes nearly $3 million for the county’s new Workday computer software system.

A public hearing was held last Thursday, but no comments were made.

The current Fiscal Year 2025 budget was approved last spring with $169.8 million in expenditures.

Once Thursday’s formal vote is done, the county will move toward starting the FY26 budgeting process. Budget meetings with various departments begin in early December. The final FY26 budget is set to be approved in April 2025.

Trans Recommendations

The Johnson County Transgender Advisory Committee presented the Board with a list of recommendations following three months of meetings.

Members of the committee included Supervisors V Fixmer-Oraiz and Chair Rod Sullivan.

“I really found it fascinating,” Sullivan said of the committee meetings. “I have found the group to do a great job.”

The recommendations:

Meet with the Johnson County attorney to establish de-prioritization of arrests and prosecution related to anti-trans laws.

Provide training for Johnson County Social Services staff on obstacles faced by the LGBTQ+ community in accessing critical healthcare, housing and education.

Require all housing organizations receiving county funds to undertake annual LGBTQ+ education and cultural training.

Create a place on the Johnson County website where community members can find trans-inclusive resources and Social Services systems that assist in finding various services.

Establish a $2,000 grants pilot program that would provide financial assistance to any transgender or non-binary person who self-identifies that their current legal name does not align with their gender identity. And also establish a grant program for those seeking gender-affirming medical care.

Request a report from the County Sheriff or authorize the contractual hiring of a third-party analyst to trace the treatment of trans individuals in the County Jail.

“These asks are really about human dignity and protections,” Fixmer-Oraiz said. “All of it has brought us to a point where nowhere else in this state is there a trans advisory committee.”

Board Actions

The Board appointed Melissa Blessing, DO, as a deputy medical examiner.

The Board approved a $66,400 design services agreement with Iowa-based Vantage Architects for work to be done on the expansion of the county’s fleet shop on Melrose Avenue.

The Board approved a six-month emergency extension of the GuideLink Center’s master professional services agreement and the GuideLink lease agreement.

The Board approved a $13,467 subcontract with VITA/EITC for the Iowa Center for Economic Success.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. November 7.