Johnson County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-09-03
Meeting: Board of Supervisors - Formal September 3, 2026 - 8:54 AM
The September 3 formal meeting agenda includes consideration of major structural repairs to the Johnson County Courthouse Annex, a proposed amendment to the County's Human Rights Ordinance, a new Conservation Deputy Director job description, more than $1.15 million in claims, several temporary alcohol licenses, and three proclamations.
Key Items on the Agenda
Courthouse Annex Structural Repairs
The Board is scheduled to consider three related items addressing structural problems at the Johnson County Courthouse Annex. Engineering observations identified concerns at the northwest corner following a water main break and sinkhole, as well as cracking and settlement around overhead-door openings on the building's east side.
The packet says the repairs would be paid from an annual $300,000 budget for unplanned and unbudgeted repairs. After the identified Courthouse Annex expenses, the packet projects $179,787.48 remaining in that budget line.
The three proposed actions are:
- Raker Rhodes Engineering — $6,000: Staff recommends approving engineering services to review and provide structural direction for the proposed northwest-corner stabilization and overhead-door infill work. The proposal includes construction observation, review of structural questions and shop drawings when applicable, and engineering judgment on the repairs.
- Northwest Corner Stabilization — $55,254.96: Staff recommends approving TNT Tuckpointing & Building Restoration's proposal to stabilize damage associated with the water main break, sinkhole and cracked masonry. The proposal includes excavation, masonry reinforcement, waterproofing, drainage work and rerouting the nearby downspout. The base bid reflects $60,254.96 of work less a $5,000 investigation and diagnostics credit.
- Overhead Door CMU Infill — $58,957.56 recommended package: Staff recommends the TNT proposal consisting of a $54,319.37 base bid plus $4,638.19 Alternate No. 1 for a protective Loxon XP coating. The work would permanently infill two unused overhead-door openings with reinforced concrete masonry and add structural reinforcement to the existing wall.
The contractor's proposals are subject to structural direction from Raker Rhodes Engineering. The northwest-corner proposal states that the special-order anchor system is the longest-lead item and would be ordered upon award.
Policy and Governance
Human Rights Ordinance Amendment
The Board is scheduled for consideration of an amendment to the Johnson County Human Rights Ordinance adding a definition of sex stereotyping.
According to the packet, the amendment follows state legislative changes that prohibit local governments from providing civil-rights protections beyond those contained in the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The proposed language is intended to clarify that discrimination based on sex stereotypes remains a form of sex discrimination.
The proposed definition covers assumptions, norms or expectations about how a person of a particular sex should appear, dress, speak, behave or present themselves. The packet's recommendation is to amend the Human Rights Ordinance to add this definition.
Materials identify the September 3 item as a third and final consideration. However, the packet's explanatory timeline also references readings on August 27, September 3 and September 10, while the attached ordinance says it becomes effective after final passage and publication. The Board's handling of that procedural timeline is therefore an item to watch.
Conservation Deputy Director Position
The Board is scheduled to consider a new job description for Conservation Deputy Director at pay grade 15. The Conservation Department and Human Resources developed the position, and the packet says the Conservation Board recommended the title and grade.
The proposed position would assist the Conservation Director with administration and technical services, budgeting, grants, project management, personnel supervision, planning, public outreach and management of conservation-system property.
Staff recommends approval of the job description and pay grade. The packet says the position would not require an additional budget allocation because funding was previously approved in the 2026 budget.
Financial and Consent Agenda Items
$1.15 Million Claims Register
The consent agenda includes the County Auditor's claims register for $1,150,965.40.
The detailed payment report identifies:
- $1,148,881.69 in supplier invoice payments.
- $700.00 in a previously approved supplier invoice being repaid after a prior failed payment attempt.
- $1,383.71 in expense-report payments.
- $1,150,965.40 in total payments.
The claims cover a broad range of County operations, programs, equipment, benefits and services. Staff recommends approval of the register.
Temporary Alcohol Licenses
The consent agenda includes four Class C Retail, five-day alcohol-license applications that County offices have reviewed and recommended for approval:
- Kendra Kundert at Celebration Farm, 4696 Robin Woods Lane NE, Iowa City — effective September 25, 2026.
- Shelter House Community Shelter and Transition Service at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Road SE, Iowa City — effective September 24, 2026.
- Tipsy Travelers LLC at Celebration Farm — effective September 11, 2026.
- Tipsy Travelers LLC at Celebration Farm — a separate five-day license effective September 17, 2026.
The County Auditor, County Attorney and County Sheriff reviewed the applications and recommend approval.
Prior Meeting Minutes
The Board is also scheduled to consider approval of the August 27, 2026 formal meeting minutes.
Those draft minutes document several previously completed actions, including approval of a 2026–2030 Johnson County Strategic Plan, setting a September 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. public hearing on a Fiscal Year 2027 County Budget Amendment, and second consideration of the Human Rights Ordinance amendment.
Proclamations
Three proclamations are included on the agenda:
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month — September 2026: The proposed proclamation emphasizes awareness of ovarian-cancer symptoms and encourages residents to learn about symptoms and genetic history.
- Recovery Month — September 2026: The proposed proclamation recognizes people in recovery, families and service providers and highlights prevention, treatment and recovery resources. It notes that 431 Johnson County residents received substance-use treatment in Fiscal Year 2025.
- Labor Day — September 7, 2026: The proposed proclamation recognizes the contributions of workers and the role of the labor movement in advancing wages, workplace safety, reasonable hours and worker protections.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The largest cluster of proposed actions concerns the Courthouse Annex, where the Board will consider engineering oversight and two construction packages addressing structural and water-related problems. The recommended engineering and construction amounts total $120,212.52, including the recommended coating alternate for the overhead-door project.
The Board is also scheduled to act on the Human Rights Ordinance amendment concerning sex stereotyping. The packet describes the September 3 item as the third and final consideration, while other packet language references a September 10 reading and publication timeline, making the procedural handling of the ordinance notable.
Other decisions include the proposed Conservation Deputy Director job description and pay grade, the $1,150,965.40 claims register, four temporary alcohol licenses and approval of the August 27 formal meeting minutes.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.
