IOWA CITY

Royceann Porter, a Johnson County Supervisor, opposes a proposed $2 million commercial kitchen that is being planned for the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm.

Proposals for the kitchen came in front of the Board of Supervisors during its August 7 work session.

“We need a jail, we need a jail, we need a jail,” Porter said. “To put two million dollars into this is ridiculous. I’m disappointed. I don’t understand. We’re using the word, chef.”

The kitchen is expected to be completed in summer 2025, if approved by the Board in an upcoming formal session. Peak Construction Group of North Liberty was selected for the $1.6 million construction project.

More than $1 million of the money is coming from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Discussion at the work session circled around chef versus cook and gas versus electric. Chefs have preferred gas stoves for cooking, but supervisors questioned why it shouldn’t be an all-electric kitchen.

“I’m a cook, not a chef,” said Porter, who runs a restaurant in Iowa City. “I asked for a commercial kitchen because of the need in the community. … You don’t need a chef to have a commercial kitchen.”

Ilsa DeWald, Johnson County Local Food and Farm Manager, said chefs indicated a “strong interest in having gas.”

Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said she has cooked on electric stoves for most of her life and wasn’t sure why training was needed.

Three Board votes are needed for approval, but one of them is not likely to come from Porter.

“I can’t go with this,” she said. “Two million dollars for a commercial kitchen? It’s not what the community needs. I’ll never be for this.”

Trip Connect

The Board is partnering with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) for a Trip Connect transportation program that will benefit mostly those in North Liberty and Coralville.

At its August 8 formal meeting, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with ECICOG for the administration of $425,000 in state and national grants for the Trip Connect program, which will run Sunday through Thursday evenings and connect residents to various workplaces, Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa.

The Trip Connect program targeted areas north of Interstate 80, but an ECICOG official said the transportation needs of Hills and Lone Tree residents are also under consideration.

The transportation services will be operated by Horizons Family Services, a Cedar Rapids-based group that already provides van service to riders. Horizons was one of five bidders for the program.

ECICOG is also a partner with CorridorRides, which oversees ride programs for rural residents in six counties, including Johnson and Washington counties.

Board Actions

The Board approved a $225,250 service agreement with Greater Iowa City, Inc.

The Board approved the appointment of Ashley Thomas as a reserve deputy sheriff.

The Board approved a number of non-bargaining job salary increases and job description recommendations.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. August 15.