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By 2008, Johnson County will fully operate the recently written
Strategic Plan that establishes measurable goals and benchmarks for
departments and programs.
 The
first ever Johnson County Strategic Plan is in place and the Supervisors
now meet on a monthly basis to review its strategic planning and key
issues to make sure goals are being accomplished. Under Terrence’s
leadership, Johnson County has acquired property to the south, north,
northeast and northwest of the current Administration Building for a new
County Campus. In addition, strategic planning has been instrumental in
the development of jail alternatives, new technology, quicker ambulance
response times, SEATS efficiency, paved shoulder road upgrades, better
environmental standards, diversified budget funding streams,
intergovernmental cooperation and quality of life issues are now a top
priority.
Our County Campus Plan will be completed with a new Public Health and
MHDD - Human Services building located across the street from the County
Administration Building.
The
Johnson County Campus Plan incorporates land located on South Dubuque
Street in Iowa City. Construction planning of the new Public Health –
MHDD – Human Service Complex is well underway. With nearly ten county
departments to be housed in the facility, the 3-story structure to be
designed by Novak Design Group of Cedar Rapids and constructed by Tricon
General Construction of Dubuque will include a skywalk over Benton
Street into the current Administration Building. Opening date for this
new LEED certified “green” environmentally-friendly building is
scheduled for fall, 2008
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee will have identified a
number of alternatives for reducing the amount of people in our County
Jail, providing several options before having to build a new facility.
 Johnson
County has identified a number of Jail Alternatives including the
nationally recognized and state award-winning Mental Health Diversion
Program. Other alternatives have included working with the MECCA
substance abuse treatment program for the indigent, drug court, work
release programs, the Kirkwood OWI Program, the use of ankle bracelets,
GPS tracking and jail transport. Despite our efforts, the current jail
built for 46 inmates continues to remains overcrowded. Currently, the
Board is studying justice center space needs and potential sites for
both the jail and the overcrowded courthouse.
The Courthouse Security Plan will be implemented, meaning a safer
building for those involved in the court system.
Phase 1 of the Johnson County Courthouse Security Plan is currently
being implemented including the addition of assigned Johnson County
Sheriff’s Deputies, new lock and alarm systems and other safety and
precautionary measures.
The County Farm Plan will be our direct guide to preserving and
repairing the County farm buildings, including the historic asylum. In
addition, Chatham Oaks will be expanded and a plan will be in place to
develop a new County Park with prairie restoration and trails.
 The
Johnson
County Farm Plan has provided a direct guide in assisting the County on
land issues located off of Melrose Avenue and Highway 27. The County has
expanded the farm fields, and is in the process of improving the farm
buildings, and protecting an identified cemetery. Chatham Oaks has
completed the addition of two transitional housing apartment buildings
to assist those with mental illness. The Johnson County Historical
Society is also interpreting the historic Johnson County Farm and asylum
and the Farm Plan now includes the concept for a large public park
The Economic Development Plan will have identified areas to invest in
infrastructure to allow for commercial growth and development.
Johnson
County Economic Development Plan is assisting the Planning and Zoning
Department in identifying areas for rural economic expansion. Johnson
County continues to support Conditional Use Permits and recently,
improvements off of Highway 1 and 540th Street in southwest Johnson
County will help expansion of the Cheese Factory. New growth is also
being seen at the I-80 interchange near Oxford, off of Herbert Hoover
Highway and on Highway 965 between North Liberty and Swisher.
The North Corridor will have a real comprehensive plan that protects the
environment and our family farms and preserves the integrity of the area
with slower traffic speeds and a separate trail system for pedestrians
and bicyclists.
The
Johnson County Land Use Plan of 1998 is currently being reviewed to
include a closer look at the phasing of growth and development in the
North Corridor. Since first being proposed by others, Terrence has been
against the aggressive Phase One Growth Plan because of the negative
impact new development would have on the farm community. Terrence
believes we ought to infill development already zoned residential before
rezoning more land. He also wants to encourage more growth in cities and
unincorporated towns where better infrastructure can be provided. In
addition, Terrence was successful in stopping the ill-advised Newport
Road and Prairie Du Chien Road projects. Terrence fought for five years
and was successful, arguing the roads should not be built if it meant
higher traffic speeds, no pedestrian or bike paths, destruction of trees
and the native landscape, and the negative impact new development would
have on the farm community. In other parts of the North Corridor,
progress is being made on a separated trail that will connect Iowa City
and Cedar Rapids! In 2007, Johnson County created its first Trails Plan
and developed a Trails Advisory
Committee.
Johnson County will hold direct meetings with every School District in
the County to encourage better communication, cooperation and planning.
Terrence has met with school board members of the Solon School District,
and the County has assigned a member of the Board to work with the Iowa
City Community School District. More meetings are being planned,
particularly once the updated Johnson County Land Use Plan approaches
completion. Terrence believes School Board members and administrators
need to be at the table together when future residential development
areas are being identified so as to plan appropriately for the future
Continued new technology will mean better efficiency and accessibility
to County government.
Johnson County is a statewide leader in new technology. New technology
has been advanced in GIS (Geographic Information System) to help the
Planning and Zoning Department, the Assessors Offices and the Auditors
Office. The GEMS – (Government e-management system), MHDD, SEATS, the
Treasurer, Recorder, County Attorney, and Sheriff have also seen major
technology improvements. Those heading to the polls will also notice the
Auditor’s new federally mandated election equipment. Technology upgrades
are making county government more efficient and accessible. In addition,
Terrence has been appointed by Governor Culver to serve on the IowAccess
Advisory Council that oversees and encourages a more accessible
government through technology.
The County will have developed an Intergovernmental Team to brainstorm
ways to integrate services, increase efficiency and reduce costs,
including the creation of the joint emergency communications and
dispatch center.
Through
meeting with department heads and county elected officials monthly, as
well as with the Johnson County Council of Governments and leaders in
Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and the Iowa City Community School
District on a quarterly basis, our intergovernmental and
intra-governmental teams are finding more and more ways to work
together. The County has now implemented joint purchasing for products
and services, such as paper, fuel and vehicles. On larger projects, an
agreement has been reached to develop a Joint Emergency Communications
and Dispatch Center. Currently locations and funding mechanisms are
being developed for the project. Thanks to Terrence, Johnson and Linn
County governments and all the mayors of towns in between are now
meeting quarterly at a Public Leadership Summit to further develop
regionalization and intergovernmental cooperation.
We will have reached out to our Hispanic population by teaching our
elected officials, department heads and employees basic Spanish.
This
new initiative proposed by Terrence is well underway. The Human
Resources Department has first identified those in Emergency Management
to receive training in basic Spanish. Johnson County is also doing a
better job of hiring bi-lingual employees.
Two-hundred more Listening Posts will be
conducted to allow more input from Johnson County residents.
Every week, Terrence remains committed to meet with constituents all
across Johnson County. By the end of his second term, he will have held
over 400 Government and You Listening Posts in every community in
Johnson County. |
