IOWA CITY

The Lone Tree Community School Library is receiving up to $3,000 from Johnson County for operational support during Fiscal Year 2024, which began July 1.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved a service agreement with the Lone Tree School Library during its formal session held Sept. 7.

In addition to serving Lone Tree students, the library is open to the public four days a week (3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday), and two Saturdays per month. Staff shortages sometimes affect those hours.

The service agreement helps provide for members of the public to access and check out library materials, use computers and copying machines, and access services of the Iowa City Public Library.

The Lone Tree Library is seeking four members of the public to serve on a community advisory board. The deadline to apply to the Lone Tree City Council is Sept. 27.

For more information, go to: lone-tree.k12.ia.us/library-main-page.

Youth Shelter

Supervisors are ready to award more than a million dollars for the construction of a new youth crisis shelter, but legal issues are causing a delay by at least one week.

Ryan Maas, a county attorney, said more details on a transaction need to be resolved because a direct monetary gift to a nonprofit organization could be a violation of the state’s constitution.

The youth shelter initiative is being organized by Sarah Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of CommUnity Crisis Services, and Talia Meidlinger, Executive Director of United Action for Youth. The shelter would be an updated replacement of the Four Oaks Youth Shelter, which closed July 1.

Nelson and Meidlinger are asking for $1,050,000.

Supervisors are in favor of helping out amid hopes that the Mental Health/Disability Services of the East Central Region will also contribute financially.

“They were clearly not interested in funding it now because it’s the start of the fiscal year,” Supervisor Rod Sullivan said.

Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz wanted Johnson County to help since the state is not stepping in.

“I think this is another opportunity for Johnson County to stand up again and say, ‘We will take care of our youth,’” Fixmer-Oraiz said. “The state clearly is invested in harming our youth.”

The new facility, located on Highway 6 in Iowa City, is big enough to offer shelter for 12 youth, along with programming space, a pond, and open space for walking and other activities.

Board Action

The Board approved a resolution expanding the Community Food and Farm Grant Program using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The Board has set its September monthly meeting on subdivision applications and public hearings for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 14.