IOWA CITY

Public health officials in Johnson County are cautioning against drinking raw milk, especially with cases of bird flu on the rise.

“We can still get it from animals and we can still get it from raw milk,” Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Johnson County Public Health Director, said during the Johnson County Board of Supervisors December 18 work session. “Raw milk is not great for health for a number of different reasons.”

Pettit-Majewski also stressed the importance of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine, which lowers the risks of bird flu.

Traces of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or H5N1, were detected in Coralville’s wastewater and bird flu has been spreading across dairy herds in Iowa, said Dr. Melanie Wellington, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist. Bird flu is spread from sick birds, but also can be spread person to person.

In Iowa alone, 4.2 million hens tested positive this month, according to data. The result has been a retail increase in the price of eggs because of a down supply.

Snow Madness

The Board of Supervisors, during its December 19 formal session, approved revisions to Johnson County’s Emergency Management Agency operational guidelines.

A number of reviews were conducted following a blizzard in mid-January 2024 that resulted in multiple emergency situations. The storm produced 10 inches of snow in places throughout the county, and wind chills approached 30 below zero.

In addition, the University of Iowa went ahead with a women’s basketball game that had been sold out. Some of those attempting to get to the game were stranded on snowy roadways in dangerous conditions; others called the county expecting to get plowed out.

“We’re going to have to have better cooperation, frankly, from the university,” Board Chair Rod Sullivan said. “That put 16,000 people in harm’s way.”

Dave Wilson, Emergency Management Agency Director, said the priority is to help people.

“We can’t have them stranded. That’s not a good option,” he said. “It is incumbent on us when they call to be able to effect a rescue.”

Wilson related one story about a Cascade family that bought tickets to the game online and wound up getting stranded between Iowa City and West Branch. County officials rescued them, got them into a hotel and plowed out the vehicle the next day.

In the post-storm review, one of the issues raised was the lack of an emergency shelter in Lone Tree. The Emergency Agency was working with the City of Lone Tree and Lone Tree Schools to find a solution.

Road Projects

The bid letting for a pair of major road projects in southwest Johnson County is scheduled for the spring.

Highway improvement projects will take place along 540th Street SW from Highway 1 in Stringtown to the Iowa County line, and along Angle Road SW to Highway 1.

An update on all highway projects was presented to the Board at its work session.

Board Action

The Board set January 9 at 5:30 p.m. as the monthly evening session for zoning and platting applications, and public hearings.

The Board approved a $7,413 contract with Docusign software to integrate electronic signatures with the county’s Workday computer software.

The Board approved a contract with Rave Wireless for mobile app emergency notifications. The initial cost is $5,500.

The Board approved an annual $11,972 service agreement with Covenant Workplace Solutions of Cedar Rapids for the employee assistance program.

The Board approved a $480,000 apprenticeship program for the Ambulance Department and a $240,000 apprenticeship program for Secondary Roads. Both are American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects.

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Johnson County Historic Poor Farm Heritage Area site designation with the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area.

The Board re-appointed Tristan Gingerich of Riverside to the Building Code Board of Appeals.