IOWA CITY

Lone Tree and Hills, along with rural areas in southwestern Johnson County, will get their own Johnson County Supervisor under legislation that was passed by the state legislature last week.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill by a 65-33 vote, sending it to the desk of Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for final approval.

Johnson County, along with Story and Black Hawk counties, were targeted as counties that are home to state universities and will now require county supervisors divided into specific geographic districts.

“My word to the legislators and the governor is, be careful what you wish for,” Johnson County Chair Jon Green, a resident of rural Lone Tree and one of five Democrats on the Board, said.

Johnson County’s five supervisors are currently elected to four-year terms on an at-large basis. The new law will require them to be voted as district supervisors with only those residing in a district to vote for one supervisor seat every four years instead of voting on five seats spread to elections held every two years.

The bill was co-sponsored by Dawn Driscoll (R-District 46) of Williamsburg.

At a legislative forum held Feb. 20 in Washington, Driscoll, who represents Washington, Iowa and portions of Johnson counties, said, “We hear it all the time that the rural voices do matter and that people want to be heard.”

At its March 19 work session, Green told Johnson County Board members the districts may be drawn up by December. It is not yet known what the timing would be for elections. Under the at-large system, two seats would be up for election in November 2026, but now all five supervisor seats may be up in district-only elections. Supervisors Rod Green, Lisa Green-Douglass and Mandi Remington won four-year terms this past November.

“I think the legislation is another blatant violation of Article 39A of the Iowa Constitution and is vulnerable to court challenge,” Green told The News. “Of course, lots of recent legislation has been problematic, but this is such a gross overreach. A court ruling could significantly roll back many recent restrictions upon local control if it were to be successfully challenged.”

“What I don’t understand,” said Adam Zabner, a Democratic Iowa Rep. from Iowa City, “is why this only applies to counties in which there are regents universities. This is a blatant political effort to change who is elected in these counties, to take down supervisors who have been elected by the voters.”

Dr. Johnson Exhibit

A sculpture being created by Kalona-based Steve Maxon will be the central piece of a Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson exhibit that will be placed in front of the Johnson County Administration Building next fall.

County Supervisors opted for the less expensive placement in front of the building instead of a separate placement, with a wall, between parking lots. The difference in  price was nearly $200,000.

“I think this is an acceptable placement,” Green said.

The construction and design portion of the exhibit, which is being done to honor the county eponym, was estimated at $81,289 by Iowa City-based OPN Architects. The sculpture cost is additional.

Construction is expected to begin in July with a dedication ceremony next fall or spring 2026.

Emergency Funds

At its March 20 formal session, the Board approved moving $104,000 from a County Sheriff’s account to a general basic grants account so that Johnson County Emergency Management can meet payroll and other financial obligations while it waits for a delayed FEMA payment.

“This is an extraordinary circumstance, the federal government not timely paying their bills, that they had already agreed to appropriate to Johnson County,” Green said.

Board Action

The Board approved a $145,340 professional services agreement with CommunityScale for a housing assessment study of Hills, Lone Tree, and other small towns and unincorporated areas in Johnson County.

The Board set 5:30 p.m. April 10 as the date and time for its monthly evening meeting, which will include public hearings associated with zoning and platting applications.

The Board awarded a $819,095 project to LL Pelling of North Liberty for the county’s 2025 seal-coat program.

The Board awarded a $339,612 project to Binns & Stevens of Oskaloosa for the dust control program over 10 miles of county roads.

The Board approved the Isave529 Plan as an employees benefit.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. March 27.