Purpose, light, and connection
Solon Sips Shake & Energy Bar provides a positive outlet for Taylor Mattson while giving back to the community
Ella Mcentaffer
Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
Solon Sips Shake & Energy Bar officially opened their doors in March and are serving up a variety of fun drinks and shakes to the local community.
“Solon Sips is a community-driven drink stop with a focus on good vibes and great energy—literally,” said owner Taylor Mattson. “Whether you're grabbing your morning shake, popping in after a workout, or bringing the kids in for a treat, we want
you to feel like part of the Solon Sips fam the second you walk in.”
For those wanting to try Solon Sips, Mattson said there is something for everyone on the menu, no matter what you are looking for.
“Our core crowd includes early risers, gym-goers, students, teachers, and busy parents—but we’ve also got fun drinks just for kids and options for those who are health-conscious or just looking for a better-for-you treat,” Mattson said.
Solon Sips is open Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., and Sundays10:00 a.m.2:00 p.m.
“Morning people, we’ve got you covered,” said Mattson.
If residents are curious about the average cost of a visit to Solon Sips, it is around the price of a trip to Starbucks or a similar chain coffee shop, between $7-10, depending on if the order includes a tea, shake, or protein coffee. Mattson said that the most popular menu item is a tossup between the protein shakes, some of which are named after iconic local landmarks, such as the Spartan Scotchie, Carver Crunchy Cone, or the Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake. Tea bombs are also a common Solon Sips order, with fan favorites including the Solon Sip, Barbie Girl, and Mermaid Magic. The staff at Solon Sips create a youthful and energetic feel to the business, as the group is
Umscheid Solon Economist
chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
IOWA CITY — The Johnson County Board of Adjustment approved a conditional use permit allowing Jordan Creek Church to move forward with their plans to build a church just west of the current Solon city limits. The Board gave their approval following a public hearing on the church’s request during their regular meeting Wednesday, July 23. The church currently meets in the Solon Community Center (former middle/high school), owned by the Solon Community School District (SCSD) and leased to the City of Solon. The SCSD has stated the
made up by mostly local high school and college students. Mattson says the staff is a powerhouse team who brings amazing ideas to the shop.
Besides an extensive drink menu, Mattson also offers coaching for others interested in starting their own business.
“I offer coaching for anyone interested in building a wellness-focused business,” Mattson said. “I love helping people bring their vision to life, find their confidence, and create something rooted in community, wellness, and purpose.”
Mattson said there is always something happening behind the scenes.
“We’ve got plans for seasonal drink drops, community collabs, pop-ups, and possibly even expanding what we offer beyond drinks," Mattson said. “I’m always dreaming—and if you know me, you know I’ve probably got a few Canva mockups and voice memos going already.”
Solon Sips is also more than just a business for Mattson. She grew up in Solon and says that the drink shop has been a way for her to give back to the community that raised her and became an outlet for her in her time of need.
“After my son was born premature and later diagnosed with a rare disease, life shifted in a big way for me,” Mattson said. “It was overwhelming at times, and I found myself needing an outlet—something filled with purpose, light, and connection.”
Solon Sips has done that for Mattson, and she hopes that the shop can impact the community in a positive light, just as it continues to do for her and her family.
Solon Sips is located at 101 Windflower Lane, Suite 700 Phone – 319-359-2838
Email – solonsips@gmail.com
Website – https://solonsips.com
Follow Solon Sips on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
building will be demolished (as one of several projects included in the 2023 bond issue) in the spring of 2027. On April 9 of this year the church filed an application for a conditional use permit with the County Planning, Development, and Sustainability (PDS) Department for a parcel of land located south of Hwy. 382 and across from 4164 Hwy. 382 NE, owned by Robert Upmeyer. On May 1 the church closed a real estate transaction purchasing the triangular 11.23-acre plot with Hwy. 382 on the north and the Hoover Trail running
Hot funk on a summer night
Funk Daddies rock the Main Street stage
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
It was hot in downtown Solon last Wednesday evening as the cool sounds of classic R&B from the Funk Daddies filled Mushroom Park for another installment in the Music on Main Street concert series. Anthony Hendricks (lead vocals), Ken Fullard (bass and vocals), Ken Duncan (drums, percussion, and lead vocals), and Dave Shawyer (saxophones) were joined by Dave Rosazza (of the Shade of Blue band) on lead guitar while Solon High School's vocal music director, Emma Gostonczik, was brought on stage to join Hendricks for Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours.'
The 2025 season comes to a close Wednesday, August 6 as Kickin’ Country brings their country and rock mix to the band stand at 7:00 p.m.
Chris
Solon Sips contributed photo Taylor Mattson strikes a pose with one of the classic tea drinks offered at Solon Sips.
Kacey Craig Solon’s 2025 Boys State representative
The American Legion Iowa Boys State 2025 session was held June 22-27. Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 sponsored Kacey Craig as its local representative. Kasey attended a six-day immersive civics camp at Camp Dodge in Des Moines, that provided fun hands-on experience in the operation and fundamentals of government. Each day was filled with leadership
diagonally along the west. A site plan shows a phased development of the site with an estimate of five full-time staff during the normal work week, 175-250 parishioners on site during Sunday worship, and 130 parking spaces with land available for additional parking later. The permit request also noted the church would rely on a private well and would handle their own wastewater.
In a memo to the Board of Adjustment dated July 23 Joseph Wilensky, a planer with PDS, stated though the site is zoned A-Agricultural churches are listed as a conditionally permitted use under the County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), subject to approval from the Board of Adjustment.
“Staff believe that a Church serving the community is in accordance with the character of the area and is similar to many Churches in the county located near residential and agricultural property,” Wilensky wrote. He acknowledged concerns raised by the City of Solon, and the City’s recommendation to the Board of Adjustment to deny the conditional use permit or approve with a number of conditions the City deems necessary in the name of ordered development with an eye toward future annexation.
However, Wilensky stated PDS staff recommend approval with two conditions – 1, that the church seek the Board of Supervisors’ approval of a site plan prior to beginning work on the site, and 2, that the church complete a traffic impact letter or study in coordination with the Johnson County Secondary Roads Department (for any potential turn lanes or other considerations regarding the church’s access to Hwy. 382) prior to any work on site.
As the public hearing began board member Adam Hahn recused himself from the discussion and ensuing vote citing a conflict of interest based on his relationships with the City and church.
Paul Desmond with Form Function Studio, the project’s architecture and design firm, told the Board the church had two routes they could follow – work with the City of Solon and have the property annexed, or staying with Johnson County and pursuing the conditional use permit. Annexing, he said, was the first choice.
“We want to be great partners unto the city they (the church) are serving, (and) where a majority of their congregants live,” Desmond said noting the City’s expectations for water and sewer posed a financial hardship for the church. “For complete transparency, we’re looking at a $3.5-4-million budget. Through our studies with our selected GC (general contractor) the compliance of bringing utilities to the site to meet City compliance requirements for annexation is roughly between $1.2 and $1.8 million. So, almost 50% of our budget would be totally anchored to utilities.”
Desmond said through meetings with PDS Director Josh Bussard and his staff, it was determined pursuing a conditional use permit was not only feasible but would allow Jordan Creek Church to have a new home within the timeline imposed by the impending demolition.
“The CUP (conditional use permit) was the clear path of least resistance,” said Desmond. “And while we are looking forward to being able to have an annexation opportunity when the land between us gets developed, we feel this is the best for the client and it minimizes any financial burden for the City and the church.”
Desmond acknowledged the City’s desire for the church to be ready for connection to city utilities.
“We are completely open to that,” said
development and activities found only at Boys State.
Kasey is the son of Ray and Beth Craig of Solon. He will be a senior at Solon High School this fall and his interests include being a member of the varsity trapshooting team, working at Celebration Farm, being an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church, and he enjoys hunting and being with his friends.
Desmond.
Aaron Kampman, an Elder with the church, told the Board, “This is something we have to do.
The Board heard three public comments in support of approving the conditional use permit.
Solon City Engineer Dave Schechinger, with Veenstra & Kimm, spoke in opposition to the approval but emphasized the City is not opposed to the church.
“The City has continued to work with the applicant with ongoing discussions as recent as this week, and agrees that the church will be an asset to the community,” Schechinger said.
“The City wishes to convey to the Board that the need to continue to manage growth and development adjacent to city boundaries is critical. Typically you will see that orderly development will distribute development costs over affected properties with utilities, streets, and amenities installed,” he said.
The proposed church, said Schechinger, is an out-of-order site without infrastructure that will result in the overall development cost being shifted to the remaining 11 acres (between the church site and the current city limits).
“The concern that the City has with this is that if the church is built out there and not included in the overall development of this parcel, that this out-of-order development puts the responsibility for all utilities and infrastructure on the remaining lots, likely making it not cost effective to develop,” Schechinger said.
Factoring one acre for a street, the remain ten acres, with 40 quarter-acre lots, would generate approximately $8,000/year per lot in taxation, said Schechinger.
“That’s a pretty significant financial impact,” he said. “Again, the City is not opposed to the church, the City is just requesting that the ability to maintain the management of orderly growth be kept with the City, (and) that if approved that the items recommended by staff be provided and that the City have review rights, and also application of our Municipal Improvements Agreement that would’ve been required if it was developed orderly.”
City Attorney Kevin Olson reminded the Board that if the church was being built in Solon they would have to abide by all City requirements including water, sewer, curb, gutter, and stormwater management. He clarified the City’s Municipal Improvements Agreement, as applied to recent housing developments including Oak Meadow and Spartan Hollow, does not require the church to put in infrastructure to city
standards upfront.
“What we’re saying is if you put it in this way (well and septic system) and it ever annexes into the city limits, that the city council at the time would have the option to make them bring their subdivision up to city standards when it annexes,” said Olson. “And they would pay the cost of bringing it up to city standards. It would not be the existing taxpayers of the City of Solon. We have a responsibility to the city to be good stewards of the residents’ tax money. We are asking (as a condition of approval) that they enter into this Municipal Improvements Agreement.”
Olson clarified for a board member that this agreement would only apply if the church site were to be annexed.
“If they never annex, this agreement never happened,” Olson said.
Mayor Dan O’Neil reiterated the City is supportive of the project but also noted the City’s concerns.
“I think the concept is a great concept. I am standing here tonight as I have an obligation as an elected official of Solon to look out for our taxpayers and not create unnecessary financial burdens for our residents and taxpayers. We understand their pain (in losing the Community Center), we’re in a similar boat. If the church is not annexed there wouldn’t be any additional cost. We have stated that we are onboard with them putting in a well or septic system now knowing the expenses construction has. Our ask is that if this moves forward that we have the requirement of the Municipal Improvement Agreement as well as a formal site plan and a formal traffic study to ensure that this comes up to city standards but not at the expense of the City.”
O’Neil added the City worked with Johnson County for over a year to update the 2-Mile Fringe Area Agreement, “to help prevent situations just like this.”
“We want to ensure that we have orderly growth and that we want to ensure that we continue to have mindful growth and planning as our community continues to grow,” said O’Neil. Resolution 25-26 passed 5-0 by the City Council to deny the application because of the financial burden that would be passed onto the taxpayers, O’Neil said. “We need to be sure development is paying for itself.”
The Board voted 4-0, to approve the Conditional Use Permit with Board of Supervisors approval of a formal site plan compliant with the requirements of the UDO and a traffic study.
Volume 145 I Issue 31 Of a Little
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An architect’s site plan shows the location of the future Jordan Creek Church on a plot of land approximately ¼ mile west of Solon along Highway 382 where it meets the Hoover Trail.
It may have gotten here faster than we anticipated but Thursday, July 31, marks the official close of summer reading. Thank you for logging your reading and joining us for a multitude of great programs.
To close out our summer of incredible programs and guests, we’re excited to share Dinosaurs at Dusk Friday, August 1, at 6:00 p.m. on the Library Lawn & Patio. We’ll enjoy a large variety of wooden dinosaurs from the Jack Neuzil collection. Friends can read a book with their favorite dinosaur, get creative with crafts, and enjoy sensory play. The Library will close at 5:00 p.m. as usual, we’ll host this spectacular event outside on the patio and lawn. Restrooms will be available during the program.
Library Programs
We’ve been having such a great time with Storytime this summer we’ll continue with two sessions each Tuesday morning through Tuesday, August 19. Whether you join us at 9:30 or 10:30, it’s the same great Storytime with songs, books, and games designed for preschoolers, siblings, and caregivers. While the sun is shining we’ll also enjoy one more Saturday Splash Pad Storytime Saturday, August 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Solon Splash Pad, located in Solon Recreation and Nature Area (SRNA).
Please note: Storytime will take a short break on August 26 and September 2. We’ll return Tuesday, September 9, at 10:30 a.m. with Storytime fun!
Whether you were able to try these DIY projects before or this is your first chance, register to join us for DIY Night Tuesday, August 12, at 6:30 p.m. as we enjoy “second chance crafts” like painting a birdhouse, macrame, bath bombs, and candles. Register online or at the Library, DIY Night is for adults and young adults.
The benefits of chair yoga continue to amaze us all! Patrons have remarked about increased range of motion,
Beef Days raffle winners announced
Wilke contributed photo
Beef Days Committee Treasurer Don Ellis presents Janice Brugman with the keys to her brand new golf cart. Brugman is the 2025 winner of the Beef Days golf cart raffle.
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
For 20 years, the Solon Beef Days raffle has featured a wide variety of prizes ranging from gift cards to local businesses, gift certificates for beef, and of course a grand prize. For many years the grand prize was a brand new car with raffle tickets costing $100 each. Beef Days Committee Treasurer Don Ellis said the price of a new car has gone up “substantially” in recent years. “So, it made fiscal sense to switch to a golf cart for a $50 ticket.” Ellis noted many people were accustomed to spending $100 on the raffle, and now they’re purchasing two tickets. He added it is great to see the carts being driven around Solon by the winners.
Ellis did not yet have a final tally from the 2025 Solon Beef Days but felt confident in declaring it a very successful year.
“The only downfall compared to past years was the weather preventing us from having the parade. This took away some of the early afternoon crowd that would typically stay after the parade and eat lunch or attend the carnival,” he said. Since the beginning of Beef Days, approximately $650,000-$700,000 has been disbursed back into the community by the Beef Days Committee with the
improvements to quality of life, and enjoyed the social interaction. We are so grateful for our partnership with Solon Senior Support and Solon Beef Days Committee that helps to fund this twice weekly Library program. You can join us to see what the fuss is all about! Mondays at 12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Please note the class size is capped at 25 to allow adequate space and optimal instruction.
Library Access
Regular Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays. Please always refer to our website calendar or call to check hours as weather may impact our ability to be safely open.
Everyone is welcome at the Library and our programs. Please contact us with access needs.
What We’re Reading
Join the Solon Book Club on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. for lively discussions and diverse reads. Members take turns choosing the book and leading the conversation, ensuring a mix of genres and voices throughout the year. New readers are always welcome!
This month, the Solon Book Club is reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Set in a small island bookstore, this heartwarming novel follows the life of A.J. Fikry, a prickly bookseller whose world is turned upside down when an unexpected package arrives. Through loss, love, and the transformative power of books, Fikry’s story reminds us how stories—and people—can surprise us. Copies are available at the Library, we’d love for you to join us!
charitable gifts supporting causes and organizations throughout Solon. Recipients have included but are not limited to college scholarships for Solon High School seniors, donations to the City of Solon, the Solon Public Library, Solon Community School District programs, Solon’s senior support groups, churches, and the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460.
“The committee works hard throughout the year to not only plan the event but reinvest in the community,” said Ellis.
The 2026 Solon Beef Days will be held Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18.
2025 Solon Beef Days raffle winners
EZ Golf Cart – Janice Brugman
Terry Redlin print – Jim Lance
$100 Beef Certificate – Leslie Kehl
$100 Beef Certificate – Keela Linden
$100 Buff’s Gameday – Delores Kasper
$100 Bluebird Café – Rich Curphey
$100 Uncle Sang’s – Tracy Hufford
$100 Big Grove Brewery – Lou Ulch
$100 Beef Certificate – Ryan Gardner
$100 Beef Certificate – Emily Schlote
Solon Public Library contributed photos Library fun at Kids Corner during Solon Beef Days. We enjoyed giant bubble magic and building LEGO derby cars to race.
Hannah
OPINIONS
My two weeks every year at “summer camp”
Food for Thought
Milli Gilbaugh
I knew that some of my friends spent part of the summer vacation at camp – whatever that was. They stayed for, sometimes, two weeks or more and had 'classes' in crafts, sports, outdoor cooking and other things which didn't sound very interesting to me. I had no interest in learning to paddle a canoe or identify twenty different kinds of birds. Horseback riding sounded like fun, but turning lights out at nine o'clock and suffering through calisthenics before breakfast sounded like a good way to ruin a summer. My parents sent me off for two delicious weeks at my grandparents' farm.
Aside from my mother's parents, there were also her brothers Don, Edwin and Virgil, her sister Opal who had been briefly married and had a son Gus who was my age, and the youngest daughter Virginia who was more like an older sister to me than an aunt. Two hired men were there during the day and ate some of their meals with the family, including the big noon meal and snacks at mid mornings and afternoons. During and for a few years after World War Two, when machinery was either unavailable or very expensive, the farm work was done mostly by man and horsepower. Everyone worked when there was planting, cultivating and harvesting to be done. Before selective herbicides and disease-resistant hybrids, weed and insect control required a lot of labor in the hot summer sun and even women and children worked in the fields when necessary. That included my cousin and me, even though I was, supposedly, a guest.
To keep us all hydrated while working in the hot sun, copious amounts of iced tea, lemonade, beer and other liquids were always available in the field. Nobody objected if Gus and I shared a can of beer on occasion – try that, you kids at your fancy camps! And there was usually a chilled watermelon or muskmelon and salty snacks available. Everybody sweated, and we didn't worry about the smell. Both my grandma and aunt Opal firmly believed that antiperspirants were dangerous in hot weather because they prevented the body from cooling itself 'as nature intended' and could make you sick. And nobody objected if you took a break to sit by the creek with your feet buried in the cool mud, or jumped, clothes and all, into the horse tank to cool off quickly.
There was usually plenty of time for fun, too. Even though there was no swimming pool handy, there was always the big concrete tank where the horses and cattle drank. It was a bit slimy with some fine, floating green stuff growing in the water and several over-grown gold fish who had been a failed effort to control the green stuff. The fish were no threat and neither was the slime if we were really eager for a cool dip in the water. The alternatives were a cold shower in the wash house or a water-fight usually initiated by Grandma or Opal and involving anybody who dared get near, regardless of their willingness to participate.
I even managed to get a horseback ride or two, though nothing like those campers told me about. There were two horses, named Dick and Bob,. They were huge work horses, accustomed to pulling wagons, hay-racks and plows. They had no saddles, and Gus and I rode them bareback with one of the uncles or hired men leading them around the grassless yard between the barn and the house. With so many people to feed every day, Grandma, Opal and Virginia spent a lot of time in the kitchen. In winter, the cooking was done on a huge iron stove which burned continuously to heat most of the rooms in the house. In summer, the “new” electric stove was used and, as Grandma wasn't used to electric appliances, Opal was in charge of most of the cooking and baking. By the time I was 12, I had learned many of the rudiments of baking and was allowed to pitch in and bake several things each day. There was always a cake, often two or three pies. Enough cinnamon rolls and cookies to open a bakery. Grampa praised my caramel flavored burnt-sugar cakes and showed his appreciation by taking me fishing and buying me ice cream bars on the way home. So, who needed to go to camp!
Q&A: National Whistleblower Day
With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: What’s your most recent work to strengthen whistleblower protections?
A: Estimates show federal contractors outnumber roughly two million civilian employees in the federal workforce. In July I introduced bipartisan legislation to address gaps in existing federal law that leave millions of people who work as federal contractors vulnerable to reprisal if they report waste, fraud and abuse in federal agencies. As a longtime champion for whistleblowers, I’m pushing to close this loophole with Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan. Our Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act is another step we can take to empower the millions of contractors who work for federal agencies to be the eyes and ears on behalf of the taxpayer. Whistleblowers provide a crucial layer of protection for the American public to ferret out fraud and mismanagement, from tax evasion, to securities law violations and patient safety. As a co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to support and encourage people to come forward with credible information to root out wrongdoing and help ensure the government works on behalf of the American people, not the other way around. Whistleblowers put their jobs and reputations on the line to tell the truth.
Earlier this year, I introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure whistleblower protections keep pace with the fast-growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry. The rapid growth in AI would benefit from disclosures of wrongdoing brought forward by whistleblowers to hold the industry accountable and protect national security, public health, privacy and public safety. Employees working within the AI sector deserve whistleblower protections that would empower those helping to develop this new frontier of technology to report wrongdoing. AI has the potential to reshape daily life, our economy and the geopolitical landscape. My Artificial Intelligence Whistleblower Protection Act would provide explicit whistleblower protections for those developing and deploying AI across the economy. To date AI companies have fostered a chilling effect on current and former employees looking to make whistleblower disclosures to the federal government, including Congress. My bipartisan legislation strengthens federal laws to shield the communications of current and former employees who make disclosures. It also would provide relief for AI whistleblowers who suffer retaliation, including reinstatement, back pay and compensation for damages.
Q: How did your advocacy for whistleblowers get started?
Kirkwood opens skills survey 2027 to area employers
Survey seeks input about regional workforce needs from businesses across industries
CEDAR RAPIDS — Kirkwood Community College has announced the launch of the Skills Survey 2027, a questionnaire seeking input from businesses in the college’s seven-county service area about the future needs of the area’s workforce. The survey is open to all area employers and is live now through August 29, 2025, at www.kirkwood.edu/skills2027.
For more than a decade, the Skills Report has been a tool used by Kirkwood to ensure the college and area workforce partners have the necessary information to respond to the unique skill and workforce challenges facing the region. The data from the Skills Survey 2027 will play a critical role in the following areas:
• To understand the education/credential requirements for workforce talent from January 2025 through December 2027
• To understand workforce talent needs by
A: For nearly five decades, I’ve led efforts on Capitol Hill to protect those who come forward to tell the truth. My oversight work digging under the hood of the Pentagon’s financial mess was prompted by civilian employees who blew the whistle on defense contractor fraud. That includes a staff analyst at the Department of Defense named Chuck Spinney who graced the cover of Time magazine in 1983 for blowing the whistle on billions of dollars of wasteful spending at the Pentagon and the practice of keeping two sets of books. He exposed the $750 billion dollar mismatch between the Pentagon’s Five Year Defense Program (FYDP) and budget. The bureaucrats were trying to squeeze ten pounds of manure into a five pound bag and got caught. I’ve been doggedly working to tighten the Pentagon’s fiscal leash ever since. Whistleblowers from across the federal bureaucracy who step forward to “commit the truth” – like Chuck Spinney and Ernie Fitzgerald – help hold government accountable to the American people. Since my first term in the Senate, my door is open to whistleblowers as part of my congressional oversight work. It also prompted me to write bipartisan landmark amendments in 1986 to beef up the False Claims Act, a tool deployed by President Abraham Lincoln to root out fraudsters during the Civil War. The qui tam amendments are the federal government’s #1 antifraud tool in its arsenal. To date, it’s helped recover more than $78 billion in fraud and deterred the loss of untold billions more over the last four decades. Last year, I wrote all 74 federal inspectors general to strengthen their whistleblower protections and stop using unlawful non-disclosure policies that stymie employees from reporting wrongdoing. I also recently wrote to President Trump urging that he protect whistleblowers while cutting federal waste, fraud, and abuse. Simply put, the work of whistleblowers is invaluable to American society. They are heroes among us who identify violations of law, gross mismanagement, negligence and threats to public health and safety. Whistleblowers who have the guts to stick their necks out to tell the truth – while putting their livelihoods and careers on the line – merit support and incentives under federal law for their bravery. Every year since the Reagan administration, I’ve called upon the president to hold a Rose Garden ceremony on Whistleblower Appreciation Day. Our nation owes these patriots a debt of gratitude. It also would send a clear message that retaliation for telling the truth will not be tolerated.
National Whistleblower Day was Wednesday, July 30.
industry sector
• To assist economic and workforce partners and employers in responding to the most pressing talent development issues
• To guide regional career pathway development, workforce policy, and workforce attraction strategies
To Kirkwood Vice President of Continuing Education and Training Services Cheri Kampman, the survey is a crucial tool that helps ensure the college is addressing the right needs for both employers and their employees.
“The Skills Survey 2027 is a powerful way for us to hear directly from employers and help ensure our programming remains relevant, responsive, and aligned with the real-world demands of our region’s economy,” said Kampman.
Kirkwood’s Director of Corporate Training Services Quinn Pettifer looks forward to what findings from the survey will mean for future planning.
“By receiving the data from this survey, we can build stronger talent pipelines that benefit both our students and the communities we serve,” said Pettifer.
The estimated time to fill out the survey is fifteen minutes and includes multiple choice and text-entry questions. Survey results will be analyzed with plans to present findings and recommendations in aggregate later this year.
The deadline for respondents to fill out the survey is Friday, August 29.
Kirkwood Continuing Education notes nearly 30,000 annual enrollments in classes ranging from industry certification to career development to personal enrichment. Over the last 20 years, the number of new jobs created through Kirkwood’s Continuing Education & Training Services has exceeded 14,000.
Justin Hoehn Kirkwood Community College
City Council reviews Macbride Pointe water proposal amid resident concerns
Natalia Scales Solon Economist news@solon.economist.com
The City Council meeting Wednesday, July 16, focused much of its discussion on a request from the Macbride Pointe subdivision to connect to the Gallery Acres West water main and gain access to city water—a proposal that sparked strong reactions from both residents and council members. While no action was taken, the discussion provided insight into the city’s long-running negotiations, engineering considerations, and potential consequences of expanding the city’s water service to Macbride Pointe.
Background: A long road to connection
City Administrator Cami Rasmussen provided background on the request to connect Macbride Pointe to Solon’s water system. Macbride Pointe developer Kyle Skogman first approached the city in 2022, but discussions stalled due to uncertainty over the impact of the then-recent Gallery Acres West connection.
“We weren’t ready to even begin a conversation to add more houses until we knew the impact of the Gallery Acres homes that were added,” Rasmussen said.
Progress was further delayed in 2023 when a drought and the major collapse of Well 4 put added strain on the city’s water supply. Meanwhile, city staff and the Utilities Committee worked to clarify responsibilities for non-city customers.
“We wanted some ideas from Gallery Acres on how they’re handling their water billing,” Rasmussen said. “What are they doing to somebody who doesn’t pay? If there’s a leak, who’s looking for the leak?”
An operations agreement was approved in 2024 by the council to address those concerns. In April, after reviewing updated engineering plans showing how the connection would be made to the Gallery Acres main, the Utilities Committee agreed the issue was significant enough for the full council to consider.
Rasmussen stated that the goal of the meeting was to bring the full council up to speed on how the discussions are going right now.
The plan: How the water connection would work
Scott Pottorff, a civil engineer with MMS Consultants, explained that while filtration and treatment were initially considered for Macbride Pointe, connecting to Solon’s municipal water system through Gallery Acres West became the preferred option, with strong support from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“The DNR encouraged us to pursue a municipal connection instead of filtration,” Pottorff said.
Macbride Pointe received partially forgivable State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing from the DNR to help fund the connection. The project would use an existing tee in the Gallery Acres main, extending a six-inch water line Macbride Pointe’s well house. The existing well would be fully disconnected, as required by the DNR, though it may remain
Iowa’s annual Sales Tax Holiday is this weekend
Iowa Department of Revenue
Don’t forget Iowa’s annual Sales Tax Holiday Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2.
The annual break from sales tax is the perfect time to save on clothes or shoes before the kids head back to school, or even something special for the upcoming holiday season.
Not interested in leaving your house? Online sales are included if they are ordered and paid for during the exemption period.
In general, select clothing and footwear are tax exempt,
in use for irrigation on a separate system.
The 26-home development would be billed through a single master meter and Macbride Pointe would pay twice the city’s standard water rate—potentially four times the rate if usage exceeds agreed limits. Connection fees, similar to those paid by Gallery Acres West, would help offset city costs.
City Engineer Dave Schechinger noted that from an operational standpoint, the connection is relatively simple and would help reduce water waste currently caused by routine flushing of long-distance lines to maintain chlorine residuals. Schechinger and Pottorff both reassured the council that safety measures—such as backflow prevention and system separation—would protect the city’s water supply. They also discussed how revenue from the expanded customer base could help fund the construction of a future well, enhancing system redundancy and reliability.
Resident pushback: transparency, equity, and infrastructure
Resident Toni Russo voiced strong opposition during public comment, criticizing what she described as a lack of transparency and insufficient opportunity for public input.
“We need a public hearing on how this is going to impact our water. People don’t know this is happening, and they deserve to,” Russo said, adding that she had requested answers from city officials but felt ignored.
She also questioned the financial fairness of the proposal, adding, “We’re not getting tax revenue from these developments. Why are we supplying water to non-residents at our own risk and cost?”
Others echoed similar concerns, raising issues about longterm water capacity, equity in connection fees compared to infill development within city limits, and the lifespan of Solon’s current water infrastructure.
City response and next steps
Council members stressed that no vote was being taken and welcomed the idea of compiling a full summary of the proposal’s history, cost breakdown, and benefits and drawbacks before proceeding.
“We want to make sure the community is fully informed before any decision is made. Transparency is important,” Council Member Lauren Whitehead said.
The council expects to revisit the topic in August or early September, after compiling additional documentation and continuing public discussion. Council members encourage residents to reach out with their questions or concerns as the Macbride Pointe discussion continues.
Other business
The council also heard brief updates on:
• Water Tower Maintenance: The city is exploring a longterm contract for repainting and regular upkeep of the water tower. The base coat is gone, making timely action essential. • Clerk Services Agreement: The council approved a renewed agreement with Clerk Services for administrative support to the Solon Fire Department.
meaning no state sales tax will be collected, but there are restrictions. Visit http://revenue.iowa.gov/taxes/ tax-guidance/sales-use-excise-tax/iowas-annual-salestax-holiday for full details.
2025 Johnson County Fair results
Swine
Swine judging was held Tuesday July 22 in the Expo Center. Rose McAtee won Reserve Champion Single Source Gilt, Kaden Recker took home Champion Single Source Gilt and Reserve Champion Carcass Gilt, and William McAtee won Champion Single Source Pair. All three are members of the Graham Champions 4-H Club.
Swine/Single Source Gilt – Rose McAtee, Graham Champions (GC), Reserve Champion Single Source Gilt, Purple ribbon, 1st place. Rose McAtee, GC, Purple ribbon, 2nd place. William McAtee, GC, Purple ribbon, 3rd place. Kaden Recker, GC, Champion Single Source Gilt, Reserve Champion Carcass Gilt, Purple ribbon, 1st place. Peyton Recker, GC, Blue ribbon, 4th place.
Swine/Single Source Barrow – Anthony Havlicek, GC, Blue ribbon, 7th place. Ella Havlicek, GC, Blue ribbon, 3rd place. Rose McAtee, GC, Blue ribbon, 4th place. William McAtee, GC, Blue ribbon, 5th place. William McAtee, GC, Purple ribbon, 2nd place.
Kaden Recker, Purple ribbon, 3rd place.
Swine/Single Source Pair – Rose McAtee, GC, Blue ribbon, 2nd place. William McAtee, GC, Champion Single Source Pair, Purple ribbon, 1st place. Kaden Recker, GC, Purple ribbon, 2nd place.
Sheep
Sheep judging was held Sunday, July 20 in the Expo Center. Autumn Miller with Graham Champions (GC) won Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe, Sheep/Breeding Sheep/Yearling Ewes Class – Autumn Miller, Graham Champions (GC), black face, Purple ribbon, 3rd place. Autumn Miller, GC, white face, Blue ribbon, 4th place. Sheep/Breeding Sheep/Registered Purebred Breeding Ewe AOB Class – Autumn Miller, Graham Champions, Speckle, Purple ribbon, 2nd place, Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe. Sheep/Breeding Sheep/Breeding Ewe Lamb, Black Face – Autumn Miller, Graham Champions (GC), Black Face, Purple ribbon, 5th place. Madelyn Moses, GC, Blue ribbon, 5th place. Reece Meyer (GC), Purple ribbon, 3rd place. Rose McAtee, GC, black face breeding ewe, Blue ribbon, 7th place. Rose McAtee, GC, breeding black face, Blue ribbon, 5th place. Sheep/Market Sheep/Individual Market Lamb – Rose McAtee, Graham Champions, Black face whether tag, Blue ribbon, 5th place.
Science, Engineering, and Technology
Science, Engineering, & Technology/Woodworking –Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions, “Derby Car,” Blue ribbon.
Abraham Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “Bow and Arrow Holder,” Lavender ribbon.
Science, Engineering, & Technology – Auggie Rogers, Graham Champions, “I am building a trebuchet out of wood. A trebuchet is a machine used in medieval times as a stronger version of the catapult. It is roughly 50” tall 56” long and 3 ft wide” Purple ribbon.
Rabbits
Rabbit judging was held Tuesday, July 22 in the Rabbit Barn. Abraham Singbeil with Macbride’s Pride (MP) won Best of Breed (Flemish Giant Senior Buck) and Reserve Champion Commercial Breed while Madison Singbeil (MP) won Best of Breed, Champion Fancy Breed Rabbit, and Reserve Grand Champion with her Netherland Dwarf Senior Buck.
Mackenzie Craig (MP) took Best of Breed (New Zealand Senior Doe), Reserve Champion Light Weight Pen of 3, and Reserve Champion Single Fryer.
Auggie Rogers with Graham Champions won Champion Junior Rabbit Showmanship (English Angora Senior Buck).
Rabbit/Commercial Breeds/Flemish Giant Senior Buck – Abraham Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Best of Breed, Reserve Champion Commercial Breed Rabbit, Blue ribbon, 1st place.
Rabbit/Commercial Breeds/Flemish Giant Senior Doe –Mackenna Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 1st place.
Rabbit/Commercial Breeds/New Zealand Senior Buck –Mackenzie Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 4th place. Mackenna Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 3rd place.
Rabbit/Commercial Breeds/New Zealand Senior Doe –Mackenna Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 2nd place. Mackenna Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 4th place. Mackenzie Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 5th place. Mackenzie Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 6th place. Mackenzie Craig, MP, Best of Breed, Blue ribbon, 1st place.
Rabbit/Fancy Breeds/Individual-English Angora Senior Buck – Auggie Rogers, Graham Champions (GC), Champion Junior Rabbit Showmanship, Red ribbon.
Rabbit/Fancy Breeds/Individual-Mini Satin Senior Buck – Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride, Blue ribbon, 2nd place.
Rabbit/Fancy Breeds/Individual-Netherland Dwarf Senior Buck – Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, Best of Breed, Champion Fancy Breed Rabbit, Reserve Grand Champion, Blue ribbon, 1st place.
Rabbit/Fur Classes/Normal Colored Breed Fur –Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Blue ribbon, 9th place. Mackenna Craig , MP, Blue ribbon, 4th place.
Rabbit/Fur Classes/Satin Fur – Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride, Blue ribbon, 3rd place.
Rabbit/Fur Classes/Angora Wool – Auggie Rogers, Graham Champions, Red ribbon, 2nd place.
Rabbit/Production Classes/Light Market Pen of 3 under 3 months (less than 4-1/2 lbs.) – Mackenna Craig, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Blue ribbon, 3rd place. Mackenzie Craig, MP, Reserve Champion Light Weight Pen of 3, Blue ribbon.
Rabbit/Production Classes/Single Fryer under 3 months (not more than 5-1/2 lbs.) – Mackenna Craig, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Blue ribbon, 3rd place. Mackenzie Craig, MP, Reserve Champion Single Fryer, Blue ribbon. Kacey Craig, MP, Blue ribbon, 4th place.
Bucket Bottle Calves
Bucket/Bottle Calf judging was held Tuesday, July 22 with the Graham Champions 4-H club represented by Ronan and Maeven Egly, Kapri Kuennen, and Autumn Miller. Miller won 1st place, Intermediate Members – 1st Year Calf.
Bucket Bottle Calves/Senior Members – 1st Year Calf –Ronan Egly, Graham Champions, Blue ribbon, 4th place.
Bucket Bottle Calves/Intermediate Members – 1st Year Calf – Autumn Miller, Graham Champions, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Bucket Bottle Calves/Junior Members – 1st Year Calf –Kapri Kuennen, Graham Champions, blue ribbon. Peyton Recker, Blue ribbon, 7th place. Maeven Egly, Blue ribbon, 4th place.
Static Displays, Ag & Natural Resources
Non-animal (static) exhibits were judged Friday, July 18 and were displayed during Fair Week in Building B on the Fairgrounds.
Static/Ag & Nat. Resources/Fish and Wildlife – Abraham Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “All about deer,” Blue ribbon.
Static/Ag & Nat. Resources/Horticulture and Plant Science – Emily Pence, Macbride’s Pride, “Fairy Garden,” Purple ribbon.
Static/Ag & Nat. Resources/Safety and Education in Shooting Sports – Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “All about archery in schools,” Blue ribbon.
Static/Animals/Animal Science – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions, “Pygmy Goats,” Blue ribbon. Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “All about Netherland Dwarfs,” blue ribbon.
Static/Animals/Veterinary Science – Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “Different careers in Veterinary Science,” Lavender ribbon.
Pets
Pet judging was held Sunday, July 20 in the South Arena led off by the Clover Kid Pet Show.
Kacey Craig of the Macbride’s Pride 4-H club won Champion Pet Cat, Champion Senior Pet Showmanship (cats), Thea Bonnema, with Graham Champions, won Champion Intermediate Pet Showmanship (pocket pets), and Maeven Egly (Graham Champions) won Most Unique Pet, Reserve Champion Other Pet, and Reserve Champion Junior Pet Showmanship.
Pets/Dogs – Gidyon Kleinsmith, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Purple ribbon, 3rd place.
Pets/Cats – Kacey Craig, Macbride’s Pride, MP, Champion Pet Cat, Champion Senior Pet Showmanship, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Photo contributed by Kera Recker
Above: Kaden Recker, a member of the Graham Champions 4-H Club, washes a pig before appearing in the ring for the Swine Show Tuesday, July 22. Recker won Champion Single Source Gilt and Reserve Champion Carcas Gilt.
Photo contributed by Michelle McAtee Top center: Will McAtee, Reece Meyer, and Rose McAtee show Black Face Breeding Ewe lambs Sunday, July 20 in the Expo Center at the Johnson County Fairgrounds for the 2025 Johnson County Fair’s Sheep show. All three are members of the Graham Champions 4-H Club.
Photos contributed by Katie Rogers
Right: Auggie Rogers explains his trebuchet during judging in the Science, Engineering, and Technology category during the 2025 Johnson County Fair. Rogers, a member of the Graham Champions 4-H Club, won a purple ribbon for his impressive efforts. Far right: Auggie Rogers, a member of the Graham Champions 4-H club, poses with his English Angora Senior Buck rabbit. Rogers won a red ribbon and the Champion Junior Rabbit Showmanship award.
Pets/Pocket Pets – Thea Bonnema, Graham Champions, Champion Intermediate Pet Showmanship, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Pets/Other – Maeven Egly, Graham Champions, Most Unique Pet, Reserve Champion Other Pet, Reserve Champion Junior Pet Showmanship, Purple ribbon, 2nd place.
Personal Development
Personal Development/Citizenship & Civic Engagement
– Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride, “My State’s 4-H Exchange Trip to Norway,” Lavender ribbon.
Personal Development/Self-Determined – Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride, “My Scholarship Binder,” Selected for State Fair-Personal Development, Purple ribbon.
Meat Goats
Meat goat judging was held Saturday, July 19.
Aven Fisher with Cedar Rapids Prairie’s FFA Club won Champion Senior Meat Goat Showmanship and Premier Meat Goat Showmanship. Solon HS students attend Prairie for FFA classes.
Meat Goat/Meat Wether or Doe, born on or after Nov. 1, 2024 – Aven Fisher, CR Prairie FFA (CRP), Purple ribbon, 2nd place. Adelyn Tomas, Purple ribbon, 3rd place.
Meat Goat/Showmanship/Senior Meat Goat – Aven Fisher, CRP.
Meat Goat/Showmanship/Premier Meat Goat –Aven Fisher, CRP, Reserve Champion Premier Meat Goat Showmanship.
Horse & Pony
Horse and Pony events were held Sunday, July 20 and Monday, July 21.
Horse & Pony/Trail & Game Events Day Classes/ Advanced Egg & Spoon – Addison Schultes, Graham Champions, Blue ribbon.
Garden specimen classes
Garden/Beans, snap – Ella Havlicek, Graham Champions, Blue ribbon.
Garden/Cucumbers for slicing – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions, Blue ribbon.
Garden/Cucumbers, dill, 3-5 inches – Ella Havlicek, Graham Champions (GC), “cucumber,” Blue ribbon. Mia Egly, GC, “3 garden grown mini-cucumbers,” Blue ribbon. Garden/Peppers, hot, any other color or variety – Ella Havlicek, Graham Champions, “peppers,” Blue ribbon. Garden/Tomato, cherry type, red, large – Ella Havlicek, Graham Champions, “cherry,” Purple ribbon. Garden/Tomato, cherry type, red, small – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions, “cherry tomato,” Blue ribbon. Garden/Parsley – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions (GC), Purple ribbon. Ella Havlicek, GC, Blue ribbon. Garden/Rosemary – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions
JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR
(GC, Purple ribbon. Ella Havlicek, GC, Purple ribbon.
Garden/Any other individual herbs – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions (GC), Purple ribbon. Ella Havlicek, GC, Purple ribbon.
Garden/Flower Arrangement – Mackenna Craig, Macbride’s Pride, “Fresh flower arrangement,” Purple ribbon. Garden/Succulent Dish – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC), “Single plant,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “3 plant dish,” Blue ribbon.
Garden/Single Flower Specimen – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC), “Zinnia,” Blue ribbon. Autumn Miller, GC, “Tiger Lilly,” Purple ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Single stem,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Single stem,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Single stem,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Single stem,” Blue ribbon.
Garden/Other Garden Exhibit – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions, “Raspberries,” Blue ribbon.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Family & Consumer Sciences/Child Development – Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, “Sensory Bin Fun,” Lavender ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Clothing & Fashion: Purchased Garments & Accessories – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC), “Blue/yellow flower dress,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Flower dress,” Blue ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Food & Nutrition: Prepared Product – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC), “Scratch Cake,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, Macbride’s Pride (MP), “Decorated Floral Cake,” Selected for State Fair-Food and Nutrition, Purple ribbon. Madison Singbeil, MP, “Strawberry Scones, Purple ribbon. Abraham Singbeil, MP, “Loaf of bread,” Blue ribbon. Emma Fencl, GC, “Round Chocolate Zucchini Cake,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Seasoned Pretzels,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Scratch Cake,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Banana Bread,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Scotch Crunchies/Haystacks,” Blue ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Food & Nutrition: Preserved Product – Craig Mackenzie, Macbride’s Pride, “Strawberry Jam,” Blue ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Food & Nutrition: Educational display – Emily Pence, Macbride’s Pride, Lavender ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Home Improvement –Gidyon Kleinsmith, Macbride’s Pride (MP), “Garden boxes,” Blue ribbon. Reece Meyer, Graham Champions (GC), “Rustic Framed Chicken Wire 4-H Ribbon Display Holder,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Repurposed and Refinished Jeans Rack,” Lavender ribbon. Makenzie Craig, MP, “Floating Bookshelf,” Selected for State Fair-Home Improvement, Purple ribbon. Kacey Craig, MP, “Birdhouse,” Blue ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Sewing & Needle Arts: Constructed Item – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC) “Pillow,” Blue ribbon. Elsie Tomash, GC, “Making a Loop
Yarn Blanket,” Lavender ribbon. Moses Madelyn, GC, “Horse Pillow,” Purple ribbon. Maeven Egly, GC, “Crocheted Amigurumi Triceratops,” Selected for State Fair-Textiles & Clothing/Sewing, Purple ribbon.
Family & Consumer Sciences/Special Exhibition: Thrifty Meal Challenge – Abraham Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, Lavender ribbon.
Extemporaneous Speaking
Extemporaneous Speaking encourages the development of communication skills by providing an opportunity to think, organize thoughts, prepare a speech, and respond to questions when given a limited amount of preparation time. Participants draw three topics related to 4-H and select one to speak on 30 minutes prior to their speech. Participants then prepare their speech by reviewing reference materials during their 30 minutes of prep time before delivering a four-to-six minute presentation followed by a five minute question and answer period.
Communications/Extemporaneous Speaking – Madison Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride, Yellow ribbon, Excellence Award.
Educational Presentations
Educational Presentations provide an opportunity for 4-H members to demonstrate communication skills by presenting knowledge, information, or a process to an audience in order to gain a desired response. Judging was held Thursday, July 10 in the Iowa State University Extension Office. Fair presentations were held Sunday through Tuesday, July 20-22, in Building A on the Johnson County Fairgrounds.
Communication/Educational Presentations/Senior –Mackenzie Craig, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Selected for State Fair, Yellow ribbon, Excellence Award.
Communication/Educational Presentations/ Intermediate – Bohdan Tomash, Graham Champions (GC), Yellow ribbon, State Fair Alternate, Excellence Award.
Communication/Educational Presentations/Junior –Madelyn Moses, GC, White ribbon, Merit Award.
Dog Show
Dog show judging was held Saturday, July 19.
Dog/Agility & Rally/Novice Agility – Small Dogs less than 15” on leash – Gidyon Kleinsmith, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Blue ribbon.
Dog/Agility & Rally/Rally Junior – Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, Blue ribbon.
Dog/Obedience/Beginner Novice “B” – Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, Blue ribbon
Dairy Goats
Dairy goat judging was held Monday, July 21. Olivia Divoky, with Graham Champions (GC) won Reserve Champion Jr. Doe Dairy Goat, Reserve Champion Senior Doe Dairy Goat, Champion Dairy Goat Dam & Daughter, Champion Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship, and Reserve Champion
Photo contributed by Nicole Kuennen Top left: Kapri Kuennen (at left), a member of the Graham Champions 4-H Club, shows Edward, a bucket bottle calf during competition Tuesday, July 22 at the Johnson County Fair. Kapri and Edward took home a blue ribbon.
Photo contributed by Janeen Moses Far left: Emma Fencl (at right) helped Madelyn Moses show her Pygmy goats at the 2025 Johnson County Fair.
Natalia Scales | Solon Economist Top center: Audrey Bulechek works to control her energetic dairy goat during the Supreme Showmanship event at the Johnson County Fair Wednesday, July 23.
Photos contributed by Kera Recker
Left and above: Peyton Recker, a member of the Graham Champions 4-H Club, showed the Champion Holstein in the Dairy Show held Monday, July 21.
Premier Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Brooke Cavanh, GC, won Champion Jr. Doe Dairy Goat and Grand Champion Dairy Doe, and Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Taylor Cavanh, GC, won Champion Premier Dairy Goat Showmanship and Champion Dairy Wether
Madelyn Moses, GC, won Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship, and Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship (Pygmy Goats).
Maddie Green, a member of CR Prairie’s (CRP) FFA (Solon HS students attend Prairie HS for FFA classes) won Reserve Champion Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Dairy Goat/Dairy Junior Doe-Senior Kid born April 1, 2025May 14, 2025 – Olivia Divoky, Graham Champions (GC), Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Dairy Goat/Dairy Junior Doe-Senior kid born Jan. 1, 2025March 31, 2025 – Olivia Divoky, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Reserve Champion Jr. Doe Dairy Goat. Maddie Green, CR Prairie FFA, Purple ribbon, 2nd place.
Dairy Goat/Dairy Junior Doe-Dry Yearling under two years-born July 1, 2023-Dec. 31, 2024 – Brooke Cavanh, GC, Purple ribbon, 2nd place, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Champion Jr. Doe Dairy Goat, Grand Champion Dairy Doe, Purple ribbon, 3rd place. Olivia Divoky, GC, purple ribbon, 4th place.
Dairy Goat/Dairy Senior Doe-Milker three years and under four years – Olivia Divoky, GC, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Reserve Champion Senior Doe Dair Goat.
Dairy Goat/Retired Dry Milker, six years and older – Olivia Divoky, GC, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Dairy Goat/Dam and Daughter – Olivia Divoky, GC, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Champion Dairy Goat-Dam & Daughter.
Dairy Goat/Showmanship/Senior Dairy Goat – Maddie Green, CR Prairie FFA, Reserve Champion Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship. Olivia Divoky, GC, Champion Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Dairy Goat/Showmanship/Intermediate Dairy Goat – Brooke Cavanh, GC, Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Dairy Goat/Showmanship/Junior Dairy Goat – Madelyn Moses, GC, Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Dairy Goat/Showmanship/Premier Dairy Goat – Taylor Cavanh, GC, Champion Premier Dairy Goat Showmanship. Olivia Divoky, GC, Reserve Champion Premier Dairy Goat Showmanship.
Dairy Goat/Dairy Wether/Born on or after Nov. 1, 2024 – Maddie Green, CRP, Blue ribbon, 4th place. Brooke Cavanh, GC, Blue ribbon, 3rd place. Taylor Cavanh, GC, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Champion Dairy Wether.
Dairy Goat/Novelty/Other Goats/Pigmy – Madelyn Moses, GC, Purple ribbon, 1st place, Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship, Purple ribbon, 2nd place.
Creative Arts
Static/Creative Arts/Photography – Emily Pence, Macbride’s Pride (MP), “Cow,” Blue ribbon. Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions (GC), “Photo 2,” Blue ribbon. Anthony Havlicek, GC, “Photo 3,” Blue ribbon. Anthony Havlicek, GC, “Photo 4,” Blue ribbon. Anthony Havlicek, GC, “Photo 5,” Lavender ribbon. Madison Singbeil, MP, “Picture of a windy staircase,” Blue ribbon. Abraham Singbeil, MP, Blue ribbon. Abraham Singbeil, MP, Blue ribbon. Abraham Singbeil, MP, Blue ribbon. Abraham Singbeil, MP, Blue ribbon. Boden Tomash, GC, “Family Vacation Photos,” Blue ribbon. Autumn Miller, GC, “Leonard, the Baby Calf,” Blue ribbon. Autumn Miller, GC, “Grace,” Blue ribbon. Autumn Miller, GC, “Two Hot Dogs,” Blue ribbon. Autumn Miller, GC, “Little Sunset,” Blue ribbon. Emma Fencl, GC, “Bison with Badlands in the background,” Blue ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, “Huey, Dewey, Louie,” Blue ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, “Epcot,” Selected for State Fair Photo, Purple ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, “Flower,” Blue ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, “Bird,” Blue ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, “Deer,” Red ribbon. Emma Fencl, GC, “Closeup of red and yellow tulip,” Purple ribbon. Emma Fencl, GC, “Waterfall,” Blue ribbon. Emma Fencl, GC, “Goose and it’s reflection swimming,” Blue ribbon. Emily Pence, MP, “Gauge,” Blue ribbon. Emily Pence, MP, “Truck,” Lavender ribbon. Mackenzie Craig, MP, “Sunset with truck,” Red ribbon. Mackenzie Craig, MP, “Waterfall,” Blue ribbon. Mackenzie Craig, MP, “Waterfall,” Lavender ribbon. Mackenzie Craig, MP, “Lake in Norway,” Blue ribbon. Mackenzie Craig, MP, “Iowa Capitol Library,” Lavender ribbon. Bohdan Tomash, GC, “Cabin in the Mountains,” Blue ribbon. Bohdan Tomash, GC, “Pond in the Mountains,” Red ribbon. Elsie Tomash, GC, “Walking Bird,” Blue ribbon. Elsie Tomash, GC, “Brother Catching,” Lavender ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Truck Sunset,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Bean Sunset,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Yellow Flower 1,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Yellow 2,” Blue ribbon. Mackenna Craig, MP, “Tractor Light,” Blue ribbon.
Static/Creative Arts/Original Art – Anthony Havlicek, Graham Champions (GC), “Drawing,” Blue ribbon. Madelyn Moses, GC, “Clay fish sculpture,” Blue ribbon. Peyton Recker, GC, “Wreath made with clothes pins,” Blue ribbon. Peyton Recker, GC, “Picture made with bottle caps,” Blue ribbon. Taylor Cavanh, GC, “A picture composed of four individual images, all images are made of dots,” Purple ribbon, Selected for State Fair – Visual Arts.
Static/Creative Arts/Visual Arts: Design, Process, or Technique Exploration – Taylor Cavanh, Graham Champions, “A tree composed of dots that reflect my life,” Lavender ribbon.
Clothing Selection
Judging was held Tuesday, July 15 in the Iowa State University Extension Office. Competitors provided a garment description,
Clover Kids have their moments in the ring too
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
In addition to regular 4-H members representing Macbride’s Pride and Graham Champions at the Johnson County Fair, so too were the Solon Clover Kids, a group of junior 4-H members. Among the Clover Kids was Ashton Volkert, age 6, who joined this year.
“He was able to borrow a sheep and calf to show at the JC Fair,” said Neysa Volkert.
Ashton borrowed Sheldon the sheep from Solon’s Autumn Miller and Bambi the calf from Jessica Egly of Fairfax.
“It was a great experience and he learned a lot. He got some ribbons for participation, but there are no awards given to the clover kids,” said Neysa.
narration form with color photos of the member wearing the garment and completed a ten-minute conference with the judge while modeling their outfit.
Kaylee Cavanh of Graham Champions (GC) and Kate Richards of Macbride’s Pride (MP) had their entries in the senior class selected for the Iowa State Fair.
Clothing Event/Clothing Selection/Junior – Madelyn Moses, Graham Champions (GC), Red ribbon.
$20 Challenge
The $20 Challenge is designed to expand a 4-H member’s shopping experience to venues emphasizing recycling, reducing, and reusing. To that end, outfits must be purchased at a garage sale, consignment store, thrift store, secondhand store, or similar. Online venues are allowed but must be secondhand in nature and traditional shopping venues are prohibited. A $20 purchase price limit is established, including sales tax and receipts for every item must be included. An outfit includes shirt, pants (or a dress). Shoes, undergarments, and accessories are not included in the $20 limit.
Madison Singbeil of Macbride’s Pride (MP) had her entry in the senior class selected for the Iowa State Fair.
Clothing Event/$20 Challenge/Junior – Abraham Singbeil, Macbride’s Pride (MP), Blue ribbon. Gidyon Kleinsmith, MP, Blue ribbon.
Clothing Event/$20 Challenge/Senior – Madison Singbeil, MP, Purple ribbon, State Fair qualifier.
Dairy Cattle
Dairy cows were judged Monday, July 21, with Kaden Recker (Graham Champions 4-H club) taking home Reserve Champion Guernsey, Champion Guernsey, Champion Master Dairy Showmanship, Premier Dairy Showmanship, and Supreme Dairy Champion as well as Champion Holstein and Reserve Supreme Dairy. Peyton Recker (Graham Champions) won Reserve Champion Holstein and Reserve Champions Master Dairy Showmanship
Dairy Cattle/ Guernsey Jr. Yearling – Kaden Recker, Graham Champion (GC), Reserve Champion Guernsey, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Dairy Cattle/Guernsey Cows – Kaden Recker, GC, Champion Guernsey, Champion Master Dairy Showmanship, Champion Premier Dairy Showmanship, Supreme Dairy Champion, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Dairy Cattle/Holstein Jr. Calf – Kaden Recker, GC, Purple ribbon, 2nd place. Peyton Recker, GC, Reserve Champion Holstein, Reserve Champions Master Dairy Showmanship, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
Dairy Cattle/Holstein Senior Yearling – Kaden Recker, GC, Champion Holstein, Reserve Supreme Dairy, Purple ribbon, 1st place.
contributed by
Madelyn Moses (9), Grant Moses (7) and Amelia Moses (4) all placed in the tractor pull at the fair. Madelyn was 2nd in the 8-10 year old girl bracket, Amelia was 3rd in the girls under 4 bracket and Grant 3rd in the boys 5-7 bracket. Natalia Scales | Solon Economist Center: Taylor Cavanh, recently crowned the 2025 Johnson County Fair Princess, smiles with one of her goats before participating in the Supreme Showmanship event Wednesday, July 23. Cavanh is a member of the Graham Champions 4-H Club. Left: Brylee Miller (left) and Mackenzie Rourke (right) pose with their horses, smiling proudly. Miller and Rourke are members of the Johnson County Horse & Pony Club.
Photos contributed by Nevsa Volkert
Left to right: Ashton Volkert shows Sheldon the sheep during the Johnson County Fair as one Solon’s Clover Kids. Volkert borrowed Sheldon from Jessica Egly, of Fairfax. Ashton Volkert shows Bambi the calf during the Johnson County Fair as one Solon’s Clover Kids. Volkert borrowed Bambi from Autumn Miller, of Solon.
Photo
Janeen Moses Far left:
CALENDAR & PUZZLES
SOLON SENIORS
A Big Thank You to Phyllis Fiala for your many years of volunteering and supporting the Community of Solon:
• Solon Senior Dining kitchen volunteer
• Homemade desserts for diners at Senior Dining
• Senior Dining boardmember
• Solon Senior Advocates boardmember
• Solon American Legion Auxiliary member
August Happenings:
August 6 – Birthday Day
August 27 – City representative
Bingo Wednesdays AM/PM Cards Wednesdays PM
Sponsored Meals in July: Sam’s Mainstreet Market, August 13
DINING ••••••••••••
In-House Dining - Wednesdays only at 11:30 at the Solon Methodist Church and are provided by the Solon Retirement Village Kitchen. Reservations for Wednesday dine-in are required by calling 319-624-2251 Mondays 10-11:00 a.m.
Home Deliveries - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Meals cost $5.00. Call 319-624-2251 for reservations Mondays 10-11:00 a.m.
AUGUST MENU •••••••
Friday, August 1
Cheddar Wurst on a bun w/peppers & onions Hashbrown patty Tossed salad Brownie sundae
Monday, August 4
BBQ pork on cornbread
Southern green beans
Fresh fruit
Wednesday, August 6
Celebrate August birthdays
Stuffed chicken breast
Baked sweet potatoes
Buttered peas
Raspberry sundae
Friday, August 8
Buttered Pollack
Fried potatoes & onions Broccoli
Seasonal fresh fruit
Monday, August 11
Turkey medallions in gravy
Baked yam
Seasonal vegetable
Strawberry shortcake poke cake
Wednesday, August 13
Sponsored meal – Sam’s Mainstreet Market Chicken pesto alfredo California blend vegetables
Berry pineapple pretzel dessert
Friday, August 15
Fish sandwich w/pickle Ranch creamy coleslaw Hashbrown patty
Pineapple dream bar
Monday, August 18
Brown sugar glazed ham steak
Macaroni & cheese
Buttered peas
Seasonal fresh fruit
Thank you Solon Senior Dining volunteers!
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”
SENIOR ADVOCATES AUGUST NEWSLETTER
2025 Solon Senior Advocate trips
Thursday, August 14 – Villages of Van Buren County Cost - $60
1) Light breakfast in Birmingham, 2) Bentonsport Historic District shops with Greef General Store, antiques, woodcarving, and She Shed handmade gifts, 3) Bloom and Bark glass blowing demonstration, 4) Amish lunch, and 5) Dutchman’s Store.
In honor of the many contributions Larry Meister gave the Senior Advocates, the “Friends of Larry Meister” are funding the Villages of Van Buren tour bus cost on August 14. In addition to his many years as a Solon School Administrator, Solon Community Foundation President and member, founded and worked with Our Lord’s Church, plus various volunteer positions, his work with the Senior Advocates was significant, a Board Member for over 20 years, many as Vice-President. The Senior Advocates were formed in 2000 to support the Senior Dining Program and our mission to benefit seniors. In 2012 the Heritage Agency on Aging made significant changes to the program, Larry used his professional contacts to organize funding for a Senior Dining Site Manager and for locally sourced meals. The Program is now totally community funded. Larry helped shepherd the monthly trip program utilizing the Advocate van, later employing larger coaches for trips farther afield. He helped instigate the Meal and a Movie program at the Library the last Friday of each month, setting up and serving the meals. He was primary in establishing the Senior of the Year nominations and recognitions in 2006 in honor
of the National May Older American Month. He gave so much to our programs. Larry provided the Board with wise counsel, sharp wit and was a true Senior Advocate!
Restaurant Runs
Friday, August 22 – Bluff Lake Leave SRNA (‘Rec Park’) at 2:00 p.m., personal cars. Sign-up sheet Wednesdays at Senior Dining or call 319-430-8655.
Solon Senior Transport – Provides volunteer transportation for seniors to medical appointments. For information and to enroll please call Cindy Jensen at 319-360-3279.
Solon Senior Support
We conducted a survey in 2022 on which activities/services for older adults you would like to see started in Solon. The information you provided led to new programs.
We are now working with the Solon Community Center to find out what is important to you! Look for the short survey in the mail (with a stamped return envelope) this month. Please return the survey by August 31st. Your opinion matters! If you don’t receive a survey in the mail, please contact Jill Weetman at 319-624-2773 and she will send one to you. For those receiving the Solon Senior Newsletter by e-mail, the survey will be sent to you online.
Across
1 “You stink, ump!”
4 Hoppy brew, for short
7 Bygone jeans brand whose name means “happiness” in Hebrew
13 757 or 767
15 Recess
16 Bell for the telephone, for one
17 Secured by a slip
18 John Lennon’s middle name after 1969
19 Hurricane / Nor’easter
21 “The ability to be ill-at-ease inconspicuously,” per Earl Wilson
23 Downed
24 Eponymous Belgian town
26 ___ chic
29 Bell location, often
32 Must give
35 Erupting with noise
36 Pundit / Tsar
39 Author who predicted electric submarines 15 years before they were invented
40 Down state
41 Forces offshore
44 Word with six or sea
45 Casual refusal
46 Some roadside accommoda-tions, in brief
48 It’s a fact!
52 Cleaver / Dagger
57 Onetime Japanese P.M. Shinzo ___
58 Cocktail of tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda
59 They try to admit the worst first, informally
61 Got things going
62 Travelers in covered wagons
63 Marquis name?
64 Brillo competitor
65 Choice words … which are necessary to interpret the answers to 19-, 36- and 52-Across and 10- and 33-Down
Down
1 Original name for “bingo,” after the bits used to cover the playing cards
2 First Holy Roman emperor to be called “the Great”
3 “Hurray!”
4 Loving
5 Part of a jury pool
6 Boxing site
7 Baby fish with pink, coho and sockeye varieties
8 Potato, in Indian cuisine
9 Boat with broad, square ends
10 Sees / Espies
11 Takes a role too far
12 Governor Lamont of Connecticut
13 Music export from Tokyo, informally
14 Like looks from mom and dad, say
20 Music export from Seoul
22 Breast plates?
25 Atmospheric prefix
27 Info found, appropriately, in “ticket agent”
28 Apt nickname for a gumbo chef
30 Kind of average
31 City up the coast from Cleveland, OH
32 Accessory for Broadway’s Phantom 33 Wells / Mouths
34 Certain rehab docs 37 Experienced
38 Love lines?
39 Dutch cousin of Mac or Ben
42 Centipede setting
43 Long-running police procedural filmed in N.Y.C.
47 Puts one’s foot down 49 Police weapon
50 App-driven rides
51 Interfere (with)
53 Covid-19, colloquially
54 Used social media for private notes, informally
55 The “Amigos” of film, e.g.
56 Grandson of Adam and Eve
58 Lead-in to cast
60 Car that went defunct in 1936
— Elizabeth Andrew SUDOKU
Senior Advocates Board
Art Tellin 319-626-2816, Barry Byrne 319354-8757, Larry Brecht 319-624-2925, Mark Hollinrake 319-551-2811, Cindy Jensen 319360-3279, Phyllis Fiala 319-331-7447, Joyce Cook, 319-541-6527, Sandy Hanson 319-4308655, and Penny Tompkins 319-471-3662
To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved, just use logic to solve.
Meister
Kroul Farms – a long history of fresh summer produce
Natalia Scales Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
MOUNT VERNON — “We pinpointed the early '90s as when my parents started to kind of dabble in just sweet corn and tomatoes and pumpkins,” Matt Kroul of Kroul Farms said. “So we’ve just grown slowly over time.”
The launch of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program over 11 years ago also served as a major boost to the farm and has been an overall success.
The program currently serves 214 local families and the 16-week program delivers fresh produce to members' doorsteps each week. Products differ with each delivery and are based on what has been freshly picked.
The large amount of produce picked requires a large number of staff members, with Matt estimating that there are around 30 employees each season. The farm also receives a lot of help from local organizations.
“Just great connections with Mount Vernon, and Solon as well, with local sports teams or clubs that help us with the labor,” Matt said.
The farm initially started with just a single greenhouse and has now expanded into five grower units for flowers and vegetables, a three-acre produce garden, three acres of potatoes, 15 acres of sweet corn, and a whopping 45 acres
of pumpkins.
“I always laughed because we used to think that we picked a lot of green beans,” Lori Kroul said. “We'd fill maybe one basket. And then now we pick multiple bushels a day.”
The new age of technology and digital media has brought another aspect of change to the farm.
“I think new age consumerism, as far as Amazon, click to order, and all those things that we now have to get used to as a small family farm, has been a bit of a hurdle at times, just to get the logistics figured out,” Matt said.
One of the challenges of running a small family business is the transition period between the family members as each generation gets older.
“My parents are on the cusp of transitioning out, both of them are right around 65 years of age,” Matt said. “But it's something that has a lot of conversation and thoughtfulness into what businesses we want to keep and what we want to do and things like that.”
The produce that the farm grows each year is always slightly different as well. Besides the staple items like tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers, there are almost 50 different varieties of vegetables out in the fields, altering the size, texture and flavor of the classic produce. “There's always gonna be something new,” Lori said. “We phase out some of the older tomatoes and try some new ones, and then they're always coming out with some new hybrid of
peppers normally.”
Lori has a handful of older high school and college students that specifically assist her out in the garden department during the summer months, and help weed, plant, and fulfill CSA and shop orders. Lori uses a whiteboard to calculate and assess what needs to be done for each produce product.
“I have everything written all out and have it planned out for the day or the next day and what we need to pick, so many pounds of this or so many pounds of that,” Lori said. “Then it's usually my job to evaluate and see how much of everything we have and how much I can ship out here or there somewhere else.”
The weather also plays a large role in determining the agenda for the day at Kroul Farms. “It's always dictated by Mother Nature too,” Lori said. “We plan by the weather, so today we picked extra potatoes knowing that tomorrow it's going to rain and we can't pick potatoes for two, three days because it's too wet. We are always staring at the seven-day forecast.” Besides the large number of produce, the farm is also home to a variety of different animals. Chickens, rabbits, a miniature pony, and more than 100 head of cattle are scattered across the property, which is why beef has recently been added as a new product available for purchase.
An interesting fact about the farm is that it was recently featured in an Amazon docuseries. Kroul Farms was the subject of the first-ever episode of Farms of America, which highlights different farms throughout the nation.
“I think they liked us because [we have] four or five different realms of agriculture and also happen to be in the largest corn and soybean state,” Matt said on being selected for the show. “They're just trying to educate people on different processes and how things are done, and [the show] doesn’t really hide anything either, so it's pretty real, I would say.” Overall, Matt and Lori emphasize the importance of shopping from local farms in the community, not only to support the farmers, but because the produce is often fresher and higher quality than what can be found in the local grocery store.
“We feel like you taste the difference,” Matt said. “I would encourage people just to go see local farmers, shop and preserve what they can for the next couple months.”
Kroul Farms is located at 245 Highway 1 South, Mount Vernon Phone – 319-895-8944
Email – info@kroulfarms.com Website – www.kroulfarms.com
Follow Kroul Farms on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest
Photos by Natalia Scales | Solon Economist
Top: Kroul Farms displays a roadside sign advertising fresh items for sale including sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes, eggs, and more. Above: Kroul Farms is located at 245 Highway 1 South, Mount Vernon and currently serves 214 local families weekly through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program while offering fresh produce for sale daily.
Cost of this publication: $240.42
Fiscal year to date cost: $1398.77
THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FORMAL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 17, 2025
Proclamations, ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervisors are only summarized in the published minutes; the full text may be inspected at the Office of the County Auditor, 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, Mon. through Fri., between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.
Chairperson Green called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building Boardroom at 9:00 a.m. Members present: V Fixmer-Oraiz, Jon Green, and Lisa Green-Douglass. Members absent: Mandi Remington and Rod Sullivan. Motion by Green-Douglas, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the agenda as presented. Approved unanimously. Public Comment - No one from the public spoke. The Board acknowledge a letter dated July 8, 2025, from Lauren Whitehead
2.
3. Payroll authorizations submitted by department heads and elected officials.
4. Receive and place on file in the County Auditor’s Quarterly Report of Fees Collected for April through June 2025, in the amount of $76,825.14.
5. Alcohol license Application for Fox Ridge Farm, Inc. Approved unanimously. ORDINANCE NO. 07-17-25-01 Zoning Application PZC-25-28692 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM R-RESIDENTIAL TO RUA-URBAN RESIDENTIAL Summary: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance by changing the classification of the real estate described below from R-Residential to RUA-Urban Residential located in Jefferson Township and comprised of approximately 1.71 acres to wit: Lot 2, Millard’s Sixth Subdivision, a Re-subdivision of Lot 1, Millard Second Division, Johnson County, Iowa, according to the Plat there of recorded in Plat Book, page, 170, Plat records of Johnson, Iowa, excepting Auditor’s Parcel 2005098 according to the Plat of Survey recorded in Book 49, page 312 of the Records of Johnson County, Iowa. Effective Date: After its passage, approval and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors. Motion by Green-Douglas, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application Zoning Application PZC-25-28692 on third and final consideration and approve Ordinance 07-17-25-01 amending the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green-Douglass, Green, absent: Remington, Sullivan. ORDINANCE NO. 07-17-25-02 Zoning Application PZC-25-28706 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM A-AGRICULTURAL AND R-RESIDENTIAL TO R-RESIDENTIAL Summary: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance by changing the classification of the real estate described below from A-Agricultural and R-Residential to R-Residential located in Newport Township and comprised of approximately 1.00 acres to wit: A portion of the W1/2 NW1/4, Section 11, T.80N., R.06W., of the Fifth P.M., Johnson County, Iowa, being a portion of the realty recorded in Bk. 6537 – Pg.76, Johnson County Recorder’s Office, described as follows: Commencing at a WPA concrete monument found marking the SW corner of said W1/2 NW1/4, Section 11, as recorded in PBk. 31 – Pg.
ROW line, to
of Said Zoning Parcel contains 1.00 acres. Effective Date: After its passage, approval, and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, only upon recording of a subdivision of the subject property which contains only one zoning district per lot.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green-Douglass, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application PZC-25-28706 on third and final consideration and approve Ordinance 0717-25-02 amending the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green-Douglass, Green, absent: Remington, Sullivan.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green-Douglass, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application PZC-25-28708 of Andrew Ahrens on second consideration. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green-Douglass, Green, absent: Remington, Sullivan. ORDINANCE NO. 07-17-25-03 Zoning Application PZC-25-28710 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM A-AGRICULTURAL TO R-RESIDENTIAL
Summary: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance by changing the classification of the real estate described below from A-Agricultural to R-Residential located in Madison Township and comprised of approximately 0.70 acres to wit: Being a part of the Southwest 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, Township 80 North, Range 7 West of the 5th P.M., Johnson County, Iowa and is described as Commencing at the Center of said Section 9; thence N 89°45'25" E along the South line of the Northeast 1/4 of said Section 9, a distance of 934.99 feet to the Southwest corner of Lot 1 of Cabin Creek Addition as is recorded in Plat Book 58 on page 264 in the office of the Johnson County Recorder; thence N 01°09'11" W along the West line of said Lot 1, a distance of 70.01 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence continuing N 01°09'11" W along said West line, a distance of 160.23 feet; thence N 89°45'25" E, a distance of 189.22 feet; thence S 01°09'11" E, a distance of 160.23 feet; thence S 89°45'25" W, a distance of 189.22 feet to the Point of Beginning containing 0.70 acre. Effective date: After its passage, approval, and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, only upon recording of a subdivision of the subject property which contains only one zoning district per lot.
Motion by Green-Douglas, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application PZC-25-28710 on third and final consideration and approve Ordinance 0717-25-03 amending the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green-Douglass, Green, absent: Remington, Sullivan.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green-Douglass, to appoint Elin Vermazen as a County Reserve Deputy Sheriff, as recommended by County Sheriff Brad Kunkel. Approved unanimously.
Motion by Green-Douglas, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the subdivision participation form to be a part of the settlement agreement with Sandoz, Inc. defendant in the opioid litigation. Approved unanimously.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green-Douglass, to approve the purchase of a new lift from Stertil-Koni in the amount of $165,100 for the Fleet Shop Expansion Project. Approved unanimously.
Motion by Green-Douglas, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the job description for the position of Part-Time Elections Intern in the County Auditor’s Office, effective July 17, 2025. Approved unanimously. Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green-Douglass, to approve the pay ranges for the non-bargaining pay plan effective July 1, 2025. Approved unanimously.
Adjourned at 9:17 a.m. /s/ Jon Green, Chair, Board of Supervisors
Attest: /s/ Julie Persons, Auditor
On the 24th day of July, 2025
Recorded by Auditor’s Office: Eric Van Lancker, Deputy Auditor (Minutes)
These minutes were sent for formal approval and publication on July 24, 2025. Published in the Solon Economist July 31, 2025.
SOLON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
SOLON CITY HALL, SOLON, IOWA JULY 16, 2025
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Dan O’Neil called to order the regular City Council meeting at 5:30 pm.
Roll Call: Steve Duncan, John Farlinger, Cole Gabriel, Andrew Kramer and Lauren Whitehead. Also Present: City Administrator Cami Rasmussen, City Attorney Kevin Olson, City Engineer Dave Schechinger, City Clerk Susie Siddell and Librarian Liz King. Civility Pledge. Motion by Gabriel to approve the agenda. Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Citizen Speak: Salina Hemann was present to discuss the possibility of using space at the Literary Hotel that is not allowed to be used at this time for any special events.
Tony Russo was present stating she had previously requested a public hearing to discuss MacBride Pointe hooking up to Gallery Acres West water line. She felt there should be more public information as the city could be supplying more people. Mayor O’Neil stated a water study on the next agenda.
Consent Agenda: Motion by Farlinger to approve the regular meeting minutes from July 2,
2025, list of bills, treasurer’s report, transfers and building permits. Seconded by Gabriel. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Public Works Director Report: Dave Richards stated at Well 4 he was waiting on a part.
Rasmussen thanked public works for all their help with setting up for Beef Days and Kris Richardson for reaching out to the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management.
City Engineer Report: Schechinger stated Trail Ridge 3 was finishing up work, things are moving along.
City Attorney Report: None
Johnson County Supervisor – Rod Sullivan: None New Business: MacBride Pointe/Gallery Acres West Water Connection: Rasmussen discussed some background information was in 2022 Kyle Skogman discussed with city staff the possibility of hooking up to GAW water main then in 2023 it was a drought year and the collapse of Well 4. There had been discussions with GAW on hooking up 26 homes to the water main due to high arsenic levels in their well. Schechinger has reviewed the plans with the utility committee, the utility committee felt council needed to have their input.
Scott Pottorff was present from MMS Consultants stating there are water issues and they have looked at options. Pottorff stated they first had to get approval from the DNR to connect to a municipal source. There will be twenty six units from MacBride Pointe, which they will need to pay a connection fee to GAW and to the city. Schechinger also stated they will not be allowed to use for fire protection. There will be connection fees, water distribution system maintenance will be the responsibility of the applicant and a maintenance plan will be between the city and GAW.
Mayor O’Neil questioned when the next new well would possibly be needed. Schechinger stated when the population reaches 5000 they would need to look at a new well. Rasmussen stated MacBride Pointe would need to provide GAW with an application then it would come to the city. Pottorff stated there was a process of agreements which would need to be provided and then DNR permits. Gabriel and Whitehead stated they understood the frustration, they would like some information put together so people would feel like they knew what was going on. Janet Salathiel questioned if they would be hooking up to city sewer which Schechinger stated they would not.
Fire Agency Clerk Contract: Rasmussen stated this was a contract done each year between the city and the fire department agency. Siddell pays the bills and does the bookwork. Motion by Farlinger to approve the Fire Agency Clerk Contract.
Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0.
Other Business:
Council Committees:
Streets: None
Utilities: None
Finance: Rasmussen stated she will be getting together a meeting to discuss a TIF application by RJZ’s.
Personnel: None
Building Needs/Growth: None
Police Committee: None
City/School: The SRNA 28E agreement is still ongoing, they are going over concession fees.
Community Center: None
Clerk Report: None
City Administrator Comments: Rasmussen stated the Country Biscuits were playing for music on main tonight.
Council Comments: None
Mayor Comments: None
Closed Session:
Motion by Duncan to go into closed session to consider entering into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 (j) allowing for closed session regarding a real estate transaction. Seconded by Farlinger. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0.
Motion by Farlinger to go out of closed session. Seconded by Duncan. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0.
Motion by Whitehead to go into closed session to consider executive session to evaluate the professional competency of the City Administrator pursuant to the regulations of Chapter 21.5 (i) of the Code of Iowa. Seconded by Gabriel. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Motion by Farlinger to go out of closed session. Seconded by Gabriel. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. New Business Continued: Resolution No. 25-33 Setting Salaries/ Wages for FY26: Motion by Gabriel to approve Resolution No. 25-33. Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Duncan, Farlinger, Gabriel, Kramer and Whitehead. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0 Motion by Farlinger to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 pm. Seconded by Duncan. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0
ATTEST
Susie Siddell, City Clerk Dan O’Neil, Mayor Published in the Solon Economist July 31, 2025.
CITY OF SOLON LIST OF BILLS
JULY 16, 2025
VENDOR DESC AMOUNT
ALL AMERICAN CONCRETE INC PRAIRIE
ROSE LN RECONSTRUCTION
$83,887.03
BURT, KEVIN
CLASSIFIEDS
For Rent:
3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath home for rent just outside of Solon and in the Solon School District. Unfinished basement for storage and on a black top road. Attache 1 stall garage. Nice deck with an amazing country view. No pets. Call Lou at 319.624.2912.
Wanted
WANTED: JUNK APPLIANCES. Will pick up for free. Farm clean-up, batteries. Will buy junk cars. 319-331-8122.
Miscellaneous
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-9545087 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Does your basement or crawl space need some attention? Call Thrasher Foundation Repair! A permanent solution for waterproofing, failing foundations, sinking concrete and nasty crawl spaces. FREE Inspection & Same Day Estimate. $250 off ANY project with code GET250. Call 1-866-554-1730.
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Class Action Lawsuit
IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY and suffered an infection between 2020 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727.
| Solon Economist
Front page top: Ken Fullard (bass and vocals) keeps the rhythm going while Dave Shawver wails on the saxophone. Front page bottom: Benji Sassman, age 3 from Solon, was moved to dance to the groove laid down by the Funk Daddies last Wednesday evening. The R&B and soul band performed as part of the Music on Main Street concert series. Right: Chase, The Hawkeye Dog, chills out while listening to the Funk Daddies Wednesday, July 23 during the Music on Main Street concert series. Below right: Solon High School's vocal music director, Emma Gostonczik, joined the Funk Daddies on the Main Street Stage for last week's Music on Main concert. Gostonczik and lead singer Anthony Hendricks teamed up for Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours.' Below: Hot and humid conditions may have been the culprit as a smaller than usual crowd gathered last Wednesday evening to hear the Funk Daddies perform on the Main Street stage as part of the Music on Main Street concert series. The series wraps up for the season Wednesday, August 6 when Kickin’ Country takes the stage. Bottom left to right: Dave Rosazza (of the Shade of Blue band) jams on lead guitar as the Funk Daddies rock downtown Solon with their mix of R&B and soul music. Ken Duncan (drums, percussion, and lead vocals) bashes the skins and cymbals while keeping the beat as the Funk Daddies rock downtown Solon. Ken Fullard (bass and vocals) keeps the rhythm going. Lead singer Anthony Hendricks of the Funk Daddies croons out a song during the Music on Main Street concert series Wednesday, July 23.
Carson Reid nails his first perfect game
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
GREEN BAY, WIS — Carson Reid, of Solon, hit a milestone recently as he bowled his first 300, or ‘perfect,’ game. Reid, a May graduate of Solon High School (who bowled for Iowa City High School), competed in the 2025 United States Bowling Conference (USBC) Junior Gold Championships tournament in Green Bay, Wisconsin, an annual national tournament for the top male and female youth bowlers in the United States.
Reid competed against over 1,300 fellow U (under) 18 male bowlers across the multiple day tournament. His 300 game came in the fifth round of competition –Advancer Round 1. The first four rounds whittled the field down to 192 competitors advancing to the two Advancer Rounds, which narrowed the field even more to a final 16 advancing to Match Play. The top four bowlers after 26 games of qualifying, and the champions and co-champions in each division, earn spots on Junior Team USA.
Reid scored 805 (206-210-215-174) in the first round (199th place), 870 (234-196-211-229) in the second round (88th place), 682 (145-175-191-171) in the third round (234th place), and 918 (279-196-206-237) in the fourth round (103rd place).
Reid scored 1,143 (216-300-225-228-174) in Advancer Round 1 (45th place) and scored 1,004 (184-203-199-192226) in Advancer Round 2 (46th place), his final round of the tournament as he did not advance to Match Play.
Carson Reid, a 2025 Solon High School graduate, gives a thumbs up while competing in the USBC Junior Gold Bowling Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Reid picked up his first perfect game (300 score) in his fifth round of competition in the tournament.
Photos contributed by Michelle Reid
Carson Reid, a 2025 Solon High School graduate, bowls a frame while competing in the USBC Junior Gold Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Reid picked up his first perfect game (300 score) in his fifth round of competition in the tournament.
Photos by Chris Umscheid