LOCAL GOVERNMENT – COUNTY AND CITY

1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT – COUNTY AND CITY

2. QUICK FIRE • Why do you think city and county government might be considered the most important levels of government? • Has the most direct impact on our lives • Has the most opportunities for citizens to participate

3. Number of Governments in the United States 3,143

4. Local Government: What does it do for you? • Working with a partner, brainstorm 10 services provided by your county or city government. • Identify which level of government you believe provides the service.

5. A few tidbits about Iowa, Johnson County, and Iowa City . . .

6. What date did Iowa become a State? • December 28th, 1846

7. The 29th? Or 35th? • The 29th…

8. Who signed Iowa into statehood? • President James Polk

9. Who was the 1st territorial Governor of Iowa? • Robert Lucas- almost got Iowa into a war with Missouri over boundaries. • Lived in Plum Grove • Former Gov. of Ohio

10. What is the state Flower? • Wild rose..a pale pink

11. What is the state bird? • The Eastern Goldfinch…black and gold.

12. What is the state motto? • Found on the state flag: Our liberties we prize and our Rights we will maintain. • What is our state slogan? (governor’s) • “Fields of Opportunities”: refers to agriculture and education.

13. Who designed the state flag? • Dixie Gebhart

14. What year was JC established? • 1837

15. Who was Johnson County named after? • Richard M. Johnson—Vice-President of the U.S. during 1837-1841.

16. When was the U of I established? • February 25th, 1847

17. Historical facts about the U of I: • 1855: Iowa became the 1st public university in the U.S. to admit men and women on an equal basis. • U of I was one of the first institutions in U.S. to grant a law degree to a woman, to grant a law degree to an African American and to put an African American on a varsity athletic squad.

18. Original Campus • 10 acres of land • Classes began in the Old Mechanics Building (the current Seashore Hall building), with 124 students, including, 41 women. • The Old Capitol became the first permanent home of the University.

19. Iowa established the 1st law school west of the Mississippi River and was the first to use TV in education (1932), and pioneered the field of standardized testing. • Iowa was the first Big Ten institution to promote an African American to an administrative Vice President’s position.

20. Significant Events U of I /IC • November 1,1991: 5 employees of the U were killed and one injured by Gang Lu, a physics grad student who was denied an academic award..He went on a shooting rampage before committing suicide. • April 2006: tornado • June 8, 2008- the flood. Cost @$231.75mil

21. U of I Rankings: • 26th best public univ in the nation; 66th best in the nation. • The Best university in the state of Iowa (U.S. News and World Report-2008) • 21 Grad programs ranked among top 10 • One of two public univ in Midwest listed as “best buys”.

22. UIHC ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals for the 18th year in a row… • The U of I Law Library is ranked #1 in the nation, by the National Jurist. • Iowa’s 1700 acre campus sits in one of the nation’s most livable cities and in the 3rd most educated area in the country. • The Tippie College of Business was name one of the top 50 business schools in the nation.

23. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop was founded- 1936. Since 1947: 13 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 25 people affiliated with the Workshop have won a Pulitzer for writing. • Examples: Robert Penn Warren, Kurt Vonnegut etc.

24. Who was the 1st president of the U of Iowa • Charles Schaeffer

25. For whom was Gilbert St. named? • John Gilbert • Fur trader • 1st white settler • Longest original street in Iowa City

26. 14. What did he do? • Started the 1st trading post • Good relations with local • Founded the first town  Napoleon

27. Name the 3 …. • John Ronalds—Ronalds St • Robert Ralston– Ralston Creek • Chauncey Swan– Parking ramp/Park Read the story of Iowa City’s beginnings

28. Who was Emma Harvat? • Iowa City’s first female mayor • First female mayor of any town in the U.S. with a population over 10,000. • Ran a clothing store in IC • Went to City High and a business college in Iowa City • The City Council meets in Harvat Hall

29. 1st Name of U of I pres? • Walter Jessup- Jessup Hall is named for him. It is located on the Pentecrest in the middle of town.

30. Until what date did IC serve as capital? • 1841-1857—a total of 16 years.

31. When did IC become incorporated? • 1/24/1853 • Why? Read story of Iowa City’s beginnings

32. 3 Most important buildings? Logo: • Old Capitol 1840-1857 • Johnson County Courthouse 1899 • First Congregational Church 1869 • Other university buildings.

33. Essential Questions • What are the different levels of local government? • How does each level of government meet the needs of its residents? • How are the different levels funded?

34. County Government • Major unit of government below the state • U.S. counties employ approximately 2 million people for day-to-day work • Johnson County: about 400 • Structure of counties: • Governing Board • Elected Officials (i.e. Sheriff, Auditor) • Various Committees & Bureaucracy • Johnson County website

35. Functions of Counties • County Board • Levy Taxes • Appropriate Funds • Corrections • Road Management • Welfare Programs • County Seat • Home of county government and a county court house • Iowa City is Johnson County’s county seat

36. City Government Municipality - A political unit, such as a city, town, or village, incorporated for local self-government. Charter – document that outline the city’s basic structures and powers Home Rule – power granted to every city in Iowa authorizing self-governance

37. City Government • Establish local laws • Provide Services • Police/Fire Protection • Street Maintenance • Sewer and Water • Parks and Recreation • Can own businesses – i.e. Marriot in Coralville • Employ millions throughout U.S.

38. Township Government • Subdivision of county • Usually Rural • Structure • Like county but smaller • Functions • roads, parks, zoning, services to people

39. Special Districts • Independent units created to perform one job at the local level • Can cross county or city lines • Examples: • School District • Downtown District

40. Financing State and Local • Sales Taxes (Regressive Tax) • Income Taxes (Progressive Tax) – state only • Property Taxes • Inheritance or Estate Taxes – state only • Business Taxes • License Fees/User Fees • Federal funds – block grants, etc.

41. Places in Johnson County Cities Towns Amish Elmira Cosgrove Morse Oasis River Junction Sharon Center Sutliff Windham • Coralville • Hills • Iowa City • Lone Tree • North Liberty • Oxford • Shueyville • Solon • Swisher • Tiffin • University Heights

42. Townships • Big Grove Township • Cedar Township • Clear Creek Township • East Lucas Township • Fremont Township • Graham Township • Hardin Township • Jefferson Township • Liberty Township • Lincoln Township • Madison Township • Monroe Township • Newport Township • Oxford Township • Penn Township • Pleasant Valley Township • Scott Township • Sharon Township • Union Township • Washington Township

43. JOHNSON COUNTY: Government structure Recorder Residents elect County Attorney Treasurer Sheriff Auditor Board of Supervisors (appoint or hire) County department Boards and Commissions employees

44. Strengths and Weaknesses • Voters elect all county officials. • Board of Supervisors have a tremendous amount of power with little if any check on that power.

45. Name the supervisors and the chairperson: • Janelle Rettig – (Chair) -’14 • Pat Harney –’16 • John Etheredge – ‘14 • Rod Sullivan –’16 • Terrence Neuzil (Vice Chair) -’16

46. When and Where do they meet? • When: Thursday’s at 9:00 a.m. • The 2nd Thursday of the month they meet at 5:30 p.m. • Where: the JC administration building- 913 S. Dubuque St. • Channel 4- live broadcasts and replays

47. Responsibilities: • Make appointments to non-elective county offices, boards, commissions. • Fill vacancies in elective offices • Approve compensation for county employees. • Enter into county contracts • Approves budgets. • In charge of all elections/votes in county. • Corrections - jail

48. Key positions in county government • Sheriff: Lonny Pulkrabek • Public safety • County Attorney: Janet Lyness • Represents the county in all criminal and civil cases • County Assessor: Bill Greazel • Assesses all property outside of Iowa City.

49. Recorder: Kim Painter • Duties: public records, land transactions, registration for boats, snowmobiles, ATV’s, marriage licenses, birth/death certificates. • County Treasurer: Tom Kriz • Duties: taxes, motor vehicles licenses • County Auditor: Travis Weipert • In charge of elections; payments for bills, payroll, maintains records of ownership; issues liquor and cigarette licenses; permits for property.

50. A History of One Little Town in Iowa "SOLON - The little city of Solon was incorporated on July 2, 1877 just over 100 years ago. The town of Solon had first been surveyed back in 1840. Nothing much happened to the little town until almost ten years later when Kerr and P.B. Anders platted it and named it Solon in memory of one of Andres' son. The pioneer settlement grew into an established community in the early years before its official incorporation. During this growth period the following businesses, churches and services were available: • 1841 - first log cabin school house built to replace first school held in the home of Mrs. Fannie Pratt. • 1842 - H.H. Kerr, first postmaster, handled mail from his home. • 1843 - John Brakel opens first business, a blacksmith shop. • 1845 - Big Grove township was established by Johnson County. • 1855 - First Methodist Church was established. • 1855 - Palmer House stage coach headquarters building was erected. • 1857 - Big Grove whiskey agency was discontinued [sic] by Johnson County. • 1858 - First Catholic Church was established. • 1873 - A flour and saw mill was built by Akerly and Carney. • 1876 - The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern railway comes through Solon.