Local GovernmentLocal Government

Local GovernmentLocal GovernmentHas the most direct impact on

our livesCreation of the state

◦State gives it permission to exist

County GovernmentCounty 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

Functions of CountiesFunctions of CountiesCounty Board

◦Levy Taxes◦Appropriate Funds◦Corrections◦Road Management◦Welfare Programs

County Seat ◦Home of county court house and

county government

Township GovernmentTownship GovernmentSubdivision of county

◦Usually RuralStructure

◦County but smallerFunction

◦roads, parks, zoning, services to people

Places in Johnson Places in Johnson CountyCounty

Cities Towns

• Coralville• Hills• Iowa City• Lone Tree• North Liberty• Oxford• Shueyville• Solon• Swisher• Tiffin• University

Heights

• Amish• Elmira• Cosgrove• Morse• Oasis• River

Junction• Sharon

Center• Sutliff • Windham

Townships Townships

A History of One Little Town in A History of One Little Town in IowaIowa"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.

• In 1882, the first newspaper, called the "Solon Reaper", was published. A village history reported that a bank was started by David Randall and that a grain elevator and creamery had been built.

• A business directory published in the 1883 history of Johnson County lists five dry goods and grocery stores, one hardware store, a drug store, one harness maker, one implement dealer and grain buyer, one furniture store, two lumber dealers, two liveries, two blacksmiths, one wagon maker, one confectionery and book store, two meat markets, one shoe maker, one brewery, five saloons and four physicians.

• The first telephone in Solon was a single line connecting the Samuel Payne farm to the general store in Solon. A telephone system serving town and country residents was established in 1880."

Special DistrictsSpecial DistrictsIndependent units created to perform

one job at the local level◦Can cross county or city lines

Examples: ◦School District◦Downtown District

City GovernmentCity GovernmentCharter is the city’s basic law or constitution•Unicameral•Typically Nonpartisan

Council-Manager Form - Council-Manager Form -

VOTERS ELECT CITY COUNCIL hires:***City Manager: a. hires/fires: Department

heads b. proposes laws c. prepares

budget

The City Council elects the mayor from within their group.

Passes the lawsPasses the

budget items.

Strengths Strengths WeaknessesWeaknessesThe City Manager

is a professional and not a politician.

Doesn’t have to raise money and run for office.

Only answers to the city council, not to special interests.

This form is slow to make changes.

We only vote for half of the council every other year.

A weak mayor form

Too much power in an non-elected official

Mayor –Council formMayor –Council form

Voters elect both:Voters elect both:

Mayor: elected official

Proposes lawsPrepares the

budgetAppoints the

department heads

City Council: elected officials.

Passes the lawsActs on the

mayor’s appointments.

Strengths Strengths WeaknessesWeaknessesVoters have a

great deal of power.

Balanced power between the mayor and council.

Strong mayor type (you know who is in charge/blame)

The mayor position is a political one

Has to fund raise and try to “please” his voters.

If they disagree, then nothing gets done…

Commission FormCommission Form Voters choose all: / Board of Commissioners:

propose laws; pass laws; administer laws.

/ Police- Fire- Parks- Finance-

Public Works (these are all commissioners)

Strengths Strengths WeaknessesWeaknessesA simple

structureYou know exactly

who is in charge.Voters have a lot

of power.

The commissioners do all three things:

They propose, pass and administer the laws…NO CHECK or BALANCE…

Corruption not always cooperation.

Visual of Visual of forms of forms of

local local governmentgovernment

Council-Manager Form Commission Form

Strong Mayor Form

City GovernmentCity GovernmentProvide ServicesPolice/Fire ProtectionStreet MaintenanceSewer and WaterParks and RecreationCan own businesses – i.e. Marriot

in CoralvilleEmploy millions throughout U.S.

Financing State and LocalFinancing State and LocalSales Taxes (Regressive Tax)Income Taxes (Progressive Tax)Property TaxesInheritance or Estate TaxesBusiness TaxesLicense FeesBorrowing – No!!

◦Must “Balance the Books” unlike Congress

What date?What date?December 28th, 1846

The 29The 29thth? Or 35? Or 35thth??The 29th…

Who signed Iowa into Who signed Iowa into statehood?statehood?President James Polk

Was Samuel J Kirkwood a Was Samuel J Kirkwood a Dem or a Republican?Dem or a Republican?A. He was a Republican.He was known as the “Civil War”

governor and he also served in the U.S. Senate and as U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Who was the 1Who was the 1stst territorial territorial Governor of Iowa?Governor of Iowa?

Robert Lucas- almost got Iowa into a war with Missouri over boundaries.

C. Lives in Plum GroveD. Was the Gov.of Ohio

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

What is the state bird?What is the state bird?The Eastern Goldfinch…black and

gold.

What is the state motto?What is the state motto?This is 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.

Who designed the state Who designed the state flag?flag?Dixie Gebhart

What year was JC What year was JC established?established?1837

Who was Johnson County Who was Johnson County named after?named after?Richard M. Johnson—Vice-

President of the U.S. during 1837-1841.

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

Historical facts about the Historical facts about the U of I: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.

Original CampusOriginal Campus10 acres of landClasses 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.

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.

Significant Events U of I Significant Events U of I /IC/ICNovember 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: tornadoJune 8, 2008- the flood. Cost

@$231.75mil

U of I Rankings: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”.

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.

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.

Numbers:Numbers:Faculty of U of I: 2,156Students: 30,409Undergrads: 20,907Postgrads: 9,502

Who was the 1Who was the 1stst president of president of the U of Iowathe U of IowaCharles Schaeffer

For whom was Gilbert St. For whom was Gilbert St. named?named?Longest original street in Iowa

CityJohn Gilbert

◦Fur trader◦1st white settler

14. What did he do?14. What did he do?Started the 1st trading postIndians really liked himFounded the first town

Napoleon

Name the 3 ….Name the 3 ….John Ronalds—Ronalds StRobert Ralston– Ralston CreekChauncey Swan– Parking

ramp/Park former restaurant/bar

Read the story of Iowa City’s beginnings

Who was Emma Harvat?Who was Emma Harvat?Iowa City’s first female mayorFirst female mayor of any town in

the U.S. with a population over 10,000.

Ran a clothing store in ICWent to City High and then a

Business college in Iowa CityThe City Council meets in Harvat

Hall

11stst Name of U of I pres? 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.

Napoleon Park?Napoleon Park?Named for Gilbert’s first

town..now there are softball diamonds there… called,

Napoleon Park

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

When did IC become When did IC become incorporated?incorporated?1/24/1853Why?Animals ran wild…The town needed paved roads.

Population of IC?Population of IC?1850: 12501990: 59,7381996: 62,220Presently: @64,000Usually the U of I students are

not counted.

3 Most important 3 Most important buildings?buildings?Logo: Old Capitol 1840-1857Johnson County Courthouse

1899First Congregational Church 1869Other university buildings.

What is the IC Home Rule What is the IC Home Rule Charter?Charter?This is like a “constitution” for

the city.It establishes the form of local

government that must be followed.

Tells how to elect public officials…

Identifies citizen rights

Identify:Identify:A. City Manager: Thomas Markus

◦In charge of all city departments◦Responsible for hiring/firing◦Prepare annual city budget

B. City Assessor: Dennis Baldridge◦Assesses city property for tax

purposesC. Fire Chief: Andy Rocca

D. Police Chief: Sam HargadineE. City Clerk: Marian Karr

◦Records business of Council meetings◦Keeps city records◦Publishes all official publications

F. City Attorney: Eleanor Dilkes◦Handles all legal business of Iowa City◦Legal advisor concerning legality of

actions by the city◦Represents city in legal matters

City Council Members:City Council Members:District A : Rick DobynsDistrict B: Connie ChampionDistrict C: Jim Throgmorton4 at-large: Susan Mims; Terry

Dickens;Michelle Payne; Matt Hayek4 year termsCity Council members

How are they chosen? $?How are they chosen? $?A, B, C are elected from their

voting districts.The 4 at-large members can live

anywhere.We elect half every odd year.Pay: $6,000.00Mayor @ $7,000.00

Who can vote in the Who can vote in the primaries? primaries? Only the people who live in that

district may vote in the primaries.Who can vote in the final

election?Everyone can!

How is the mayor chosen?How is the mayor chosen?The mayor is chosen by the city

council from the council’s members.

Our current mayor is Matt Hayek.

Who is the Mayor-Protem?Who is the Mayor-Protem?Susan Mims is the Mayor-ProtemShe fills in for the mayor and

sometimes becomes the next mayor when their term is over.

What are the duties of the What are the duties of the Mayor?Mayor?1. Sets agenda for the city council

meetings.2. Meets frequently with the City

Manager and the department heads.3. Runs the meetings and monitors

the speaker’s 5 minute rule.4. Uses the correct parliamentary

procedure and open meeting laws.5. Represents the city in public roles.

When and where do they When and where do they meet?meet?The City Council meets at Harvat

Hall, at 410 E. Washington St.Formal meetings: 1st and 3rd

Tuesdays at 7:00pmWork Sessions- Monday nights

before the Tuesday night formal meeting or sometimes right before the Tuesday mtg.

Citizens may speak at the formal mtgs, but not at the work sessions.

On what cable channel?On what cable channel?Channel 4 is the Government

Channel.Meetings are rebroadcast

numerous times during the week.They are always replayed/live

broadcasts on Tuesday nights.

Procedure for addressing the Procedure for addressing the council?council?During the “public discussion”

section of the agenda, you may address the council;

4 steps:1) Go to the podium2) Sign in- name, address.3) State who you are representing.4) Speak for 5 minutes..bring

handouts.

Appointees?Appointees?The City Council appoints 3

people:1. The City Manager-Tom Markus2. The City Attorney-Eleanor

Dilkes3. The City Clerk-Marian Karr

Who makes up the Who makes up the Conference Board?Conference Board?The following people make up

the board:1. The city council representative2. The JCBS representative3. The ICCSD representativeWhat do they do? They make

joint decisions that affect the schools, city , and county. They do appoint the City Assessor.