IOWA CITY

A pair of meetings by Johnson County’s Transgender Advisory Committee is leading toward the development of a more permanent committee that would report to the Board of Supervisors.

Board Chair Rod Sullivan, who served on the advisory committee, recommended during a July 17 Board work session that a committee of about 13 be appointed.

The advisory committee’s first meeting in May attracted 50 people and a June meeting had 34 attendees. The group’s discussions resulted in the creation of a list of priorities that included de-prioritizing arrests and prosecution of anti-trans laws and anti-protest laws, requesting a report from the sheriff’s department outlining how transgenders are treated in jail, creating a county policy that would call for a third-party investigation if a disproportionate amount of individuals from one class are arrested at one event, specifying that all new construction projects include gender-inclusive bathrooms and dedicating LGBTQ training in Social Services.

Five members of the LGBTQ community spoke at the work session.

“I wanted to express my deep gratitude for this process, knowing that there is a lot of harm actively happening,” said Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz, who served on the advisory committee and is transgender. “We don’t know what the next (Iowa) legislative session is going to do, but hopefully this gives us a little bit more breathing time to set some of these ideas.”

“Conceptually, it’s just impossible for me to even wrap my head around the idea of it being necessary that I get together with a group of my peers to basically demand the unity acknowledges my existence, my right to exist as I am,” said Supervisor and former Lone Tree Mayor Jon Green. “I want to be clear, I can’t appreciate what you folks are going through, but I can only imagine.”

The appointed committee would report to the Board quarterly, or four times per year.

Talking Down Violence

Sullivan began the work session by addressing the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Pennsylvania.

“This type of political violence is never acceptable,” he said. “This type of gun violence is never acceptable. We simply must do better as Americans.”

UDO Updates

Proposed amendments to the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance were discussed at the July 17 work session, including the size of allowable billboards, prohibiting overnight stays as part of agricultural experiences, limiting camping or RV stays to 180 days with a permit, and restricting storage of junk to 200 cubic feet in an enclosed area.

Nate Mueller, Assistant Director of the Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability, made the presentation.

Changes to the UDO are expected to appear in front of the Planning & Zoning Commission in August, and then back to the Board of Supervisors for a tentative public hearing and formal vote September 12.

Weight Restrictions

At its July 18 formal session, the Board approved weight restrictions be placed on three county bridges due to heavy damage, including two in rural southwest Johnson County. The targeted bridges are one on Bayertown Road over Picayune Creek, in Sharon Township, and one on Naple Avenue SW over Crooked Creek, southwest of Hills.

The posted weight limits will be three tons (6,000 pounds), which will make the bridges prohibited for school buses and heavy farm tractors and machinery. Even an empty school bus is about twice the weight restriction.

A third bridge on Greencastle Avenue, west of Iowa City, is also coming under a restriction.

All of the bridges are on a county plan for replacement, and work on the Naples Avenue bridge is expected to be done this summer or fall.

Board Actions

The Board approved a $15,285 service agreement with Workforce Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College.

The Board approved a $62,430 service agreement with the Iowa City Senior Center.

The Board approved an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) underestimated business finance program subrecipient agreement with Community Foundation of Johnson County, at a cost of $500,000.

The Board approved adding one full-time driver position to the SEATS program.

The Board approved a number of pay ranges for the non-bargaining employees pay plan.

The Board set 5:30 p.m. August 8 as the monthly evening public hearing date for zoning and platting applications.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. July 25.