PAGE 6 Music on Main: The AM and FM Players rock the night in a “Two Stoplight Town”
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Solon CSAs grow community through cooperation
Council maintains stance on Saddleback Estates conversion, commends LRS’s recent improvements, and looks forward to international cycling event
Through their work dedicated to growing quality products for their subscribers, these farmers have built connections at multiple tiers
John Charlson Solon Economist
Grace Escritt Solon Economist
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Councilors heard from the developers, as well as concerned residents of Saddleback Estates during the August 5 Solon City Council meeting. Confusion on the part of potential buyers of the development’s condominium style planned area development lots has prevented the four-year old development from making the growth it had hoped for. “What I guess I underestimated is that Iowans, specifically smaller town Iowans, they want to own their own land,” said Tracy Overton, who bought a house with his wife in the Saddleback Estate on April 4, 2025. After deciding to move, Overton put the home back up for sale for the same price he had bought it, but potential buyers are turning down the property for the subdivision’s classification as a condo regime, and not a deeded family lot. “It feels like a single family home, even though they don’t own it like a single family home,” said one of the developer’s representatives. Brian Bell was another resident of the Saddleback Estate present at the meeting, as well as a representative of Axiom Consultants. “Since then in 2022, eight houses have been built and are being lived in right now, certainly a lot less than what was hoped for,” said Bell, who adds that the development began as an R1 zoning, but in order to solve the problem of ownership, pitched the idea of changing to an R3 zoning, which allows for multi-family units like low rise apartments or townhouses. “So with that plat would be a necessity to have a variance for most of the lots, if not all of them, within this subdivision.” Potentially, a rezone from R1 to R3 could help minimize the number of variances on setbacks, lot frontage, and a minimum lot size. CITY COUNCIL | 2
INSIDE
Every summer growing up, Kate Edwards found herself in the same place: sitting on the old tire swing at her grandparents’ farm, gently being pushed by the subtle breeze. Each time, she would gaze out at the rolling fields hoping that one day, she would have a farm to call her own. Now, Edwards is welcomed home every day by the big red barn representing the career and life she built for herself. “I dreamed this as a little girl, and here I am,” she said. “I’m living that dream and that reality.” Edwards, known by the community as “Farmer Kate,” is the owner and operator of Wild Woods Farm and CSA. This abbreviation stands for
“community supported agriculture,” which is a type of farming business model in which subscribers purchase a membership with a farm — therefore financially supporting it— and in turn receive a share of its seasonal harvest. Wild Woods is one of four
CSAs with a Solon address. Aside from managing her farm crew and helping to harvest the vegetables she grows, Edwards’ main job is to connect the community to land that feeds it. “One of the things that I want to do is to help people make a connection to agriculture,”
she said. “I’m connecting my consumers to the land, I’m connecting my farm workers to the land, and I’m also connected with other people in the community.” For 12 weeks during the sumCSA | 12
Honoring Susie for 20 years John Charlson Solon Economist
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The Solon city council took time during last Wednesday’s meeting to recognize City Clerk, Susie Siddell, whose work has served the city of Solon for 20 years now. “Words are hard to come by other than a very sincere thank you for everything you do,” said Mayor Dan O’Neil. “I really like my job, I like working with people in council,” said Siddell.
Photos by John Charlson | Solon Economist
Left: Mayor Dan O’Neil presents City Clerk Susie Siddell with a clock in recognition of her 20 years of service to the City of Solon during the City Council’s regular meeting Wednesday, August 5. Above: City Clerk Susie Siddell poses with a cake baked in her honor recognizing her 20 years of service to the City of Solon.
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Sheriff’s time report for Solon The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) provides law enforcement to the city of Solon on a contracted basis and releases a monthly Town Time Report documenting the agency’s activities and time spent within the corporate limits of Solon. July summary Deputies reported 240 hours, 35 minutes spent in Solon in June with 176 calls for service. As a reminder the Sheriff’s substation is located at 223 S. Iowa St. in Solon. The facility is not staffed 24/7 but if a deputy is needed (non-emergency) call 319-3566800 to make a request to have one meet you. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1. John Charlson | Solon Economist
The Solon City Council met in regular session Wednesday, August 5.
CITY COUNCIL
improvement now that we’re fully staffed up and have all the equipment to do what we need to.” Council member Greg Morris also applauded “The fact that the first comment is no change in LRS’s involvement in Beef Days. layout tells me you weren’t even listening last time “That’s additional money that the committee you were here,” said Mayor Dan O’Neil. can now put back into the community … that was The controversy stems from the developer’s really kind of your company,” said Morris. lack of commitment to making changes requested “It was a rough couple months with that, but by the city on street width, setbacks, and sidewalk seeing the dedication that you guys have had, I’m layout. Simply changing the zoning, also sets a very appreciative of that,” said Mayor Dan O’Neil. precedent that future developments can point to. “I’m looking at .14 acre lots, which are unheard In other news of, and when you want to push the sidewalk right to the edge of the street, it’s not even conPublic Works Superintendent Dave Richards forming to a city street,” said council member announced that the water tower project is comTim Gordon. plete. There is still some re-seeding and cleanup O’Neil adds that the city had talked about to do, but the tower passed its bacterial test and is requesting changes to the street width and lot back online. The project was completed by Viking sizes before homes were built, however the devel- Industrial Painting, which marks the first time opers did not work out any actual changes with that the city of Solon has worked with them. the city before going ahead with constructing the “Once we got going, it was really simple,” said first homes. Dave Richards on working with Viking. Their “The disrespect is ridiculous,” O’Neil said. “I company is obligated to come back once a year to can speak on what I read from the council that do checks on the tower as part of their contract is no longer on here as well as myself that was with the city. a voting member. We would not have approved Additionally, cyclists from core4 will be ridR3 zoning for an entire development. The city’s ing through parts of Solon on Saturday, August preference was R1 single family lots.” 15. “It’s the largest competitive cycling event “There were a lot of these same questions at that in Iowa,” said Nate Kullbom, who manages the time on street width and setbacks and sidewalk long-distance, gravel cycling race. and short driveways,” said Denny Hansen, who This is the fifth year of the Iowa City based was on the city’s planning and zoning commis- competition, and it’s expected to have about sion during the early phases of the development. 1,000 riders, with 200 of those riders coming “We were all assured that everything was going through the southern portions of Solon. Saturto be hunky-dory, and now when it fell through, day morning, riders will enter through the Solon they’re coming back for the city to bail them out.” Nature & Recreation Area and travel to Macbride State Park. Kullbom also manages the Fat Tire Classic, Progress noted with LRS which occurs annually in Solon during the winRepresentatives from Lakeshore Recycling ter. “We’re very familiar with a lot of the residents Systems (LRS) came to report on recent changes here, and it’s been great working with the Lion’s to the company’s local division. Club, and just Solon in general,” said Kullbom. “We’ve hired 12 new drivers in the past 30 The event is international, with riders coming days,” a representative said. to compete from Italy, Denmark. Riders will be Those new drivers are all local to Solon. Addi- on Racine Avenue Northeast, and momentarily tionally, LRS has hired new office staff in the past on West 5th Street by the high school. There will two weeks, and assured the council that bin pick- be DOT message boards up along the roads that ups have been occurring on Fridays as they’re riders will be traveling in Solon. supposed to. “I’m in full support of the event, it’s similar to “We’re just going to continue to work on the fat tire,” said council member Tim Gordon.
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Inside next week's Solon Economist:
FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES Plus
BACK TO SCHOOL
July calls for service in Solon 911 Hangup Alarm Animal complaint Assault Assist other agency Burglary Business check Child abuse/Neglect Civil Tow Community policing Criminal mischief/vandalism Disturbance/Civil Disturbance/Domestic Disturbance/Other Escort/Relay Extra patrol request Fire response Fraud/Forgery Harassment/Obscene phone Info/All other info Intoxicated pedestrian Juvenile Littering/Illegal dumping Medical emergency Mental impairment Missing/Juvenile/Adult Motor Vehicle Accident Open door/window Out for follow up Out with subject Paper service Phone request Property/Lost/Found Public assist School visit/Patrol Sex abuse Special assignment Suicide Supervisor response Suspicious act/person/vehicle Theft Threats Traffic stop Traffic/other Trespass Unknown problem Vagrant/Transient Vehicle unlock Violation No Contact Order Welfare Check
27 2 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 7 0 3 1 8 0 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 0 19 1 0 2 0 4 7 4 6 1 2 0 0 3 1 0 4 1 0 31 10 0 1 0 4 0 9
Total Calls for Service Total for the year
176 176
July hours in Solon Accident Investigation Animal Civil Criminal Investigation Medical Assist On Foot Other Patrol Radar Reports Special Assignment Traffic Control
1:42 2:38 1:23 7:12 1:40 1:34 3:52 205:16 1:33 1:49 4:20 4:01
Total Hours Logged Hours Required Hours Over Hours Logged for the year Hours Over for the year Hours Required for the year
240:35 207:34 33:01 240:35 33:01 2,444:00
Volume 146 I Issue 33 Of a Little Weekly Miracle
PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333 Phone: 319-624-2233 news@soloneconomist.com The Solon Economist strives for accuracy and fairness in reporting news. If we’ve made an error or a report is misleading, let us know about it: news@soloneconomist.com.
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Publisher Jason Brummond jason.brummond@dailyiowan.com Editor Chris Umscheid chris.umscheid@ soloneconomist.com Advertising Sales Catherine Bilskie catherine.bilskie@ soloneconomist.com Production Manager Heidi Owen heidi.owen@dailyiowan.com Advertising Director Juli Krause juli.krause@dailyiowan.com Interns Ella McEntaffer, reporter Cadence Dighton, reporter Grace Escritt, reporter John Charlson, photographer/ reporter Abby Princehouse, digital/ social media, sports reporter Breck Goodman, digital/social media, sports reporter Official Newspaper: Solon, Johnson County, Solon Community School District, Solon Tri-Township Emergency Response The Solon Economist (USPS 500860), a division of The Daily Iowan, is published weekly on Thursdays by Student Publications, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room El31 Iowa City, IA 52242. Periodicals Postage Paid at the Solon Post Office and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Solon Economist at PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333. Subscriptions: Contact Catherine Bilskie at 319-624-2233 or catherine. bilskie@soloneconomist.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Johnson and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere In Iowa – $75 annually; out of state – $85 annually. Copyright 2026 Solon Economist, a division of The Daily Iowan and Student Publications, Inc. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in print and online editions, are the property of Student Publications, Inc., and may not be reproduced or republished without written permission.
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SOLON PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS Sandy Willey
Sandy Willey passed away August 4th, 2026, due to a sudden illness. A Visitation was held at St. Mary's in Solon Sunday Aug ust 9t h followed by her Funeral at St. Mary's in Solon Monday August 10th. Sandy Willey was born to Vernon and Maxine Smith (nee Kinney) on September 10th, 1956, in Iowa City, Iowa. Sandy spent her childhood living in Solon, Iowa. She graduated from Solon High School in 1975 and went on to graduate from St. Luke's School of Nursing/Coe College in 1978. Sandy married Gary Lee Willey September 8th, 1979, and she lovingly cherished their time together until he passed away in October 2018. Sandy spent her adult life as a nurse for Mercy Hospital in Iowa City from 1978 until she retired in 2016. She briefly returned to work in the last few years as a PRN nurse in the surgery department at Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa. Sandy was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeye fan and never missed a Football or Women's basketball game, she had tickets to both for the last decade plus. Carver Hawkeye Arena and Kinnick Stadium were like homes away from home for her. In her later years she became an Indiana Fever fan and enjoyed watching every one of their games with family. Sandy was very devoted to her faith her entire life and even taught religious education for 4th graders at St. Mary's for 20+ years. She volunteered for St. Mary's helping with funeral dinners, free lunch programs in Iowa City, and other activities. As well as her volunteer work for the church, she was also happy to volunteer as a Cub Scout leader when her boys were very young. She is survived by her sons, Dustin, Adam, and Chase of Solon. As well as her siblings; Theresa Mayhew of Solon, Jeff Smith (Carmen) of Solon, Pat Smith (Michelle) of Solon, Sherry Whetstone (Mike) of Ely, Debbie Behr (Neil) of Gilberts in Illinois, Sister-in-law Barb Smith of Solon, and many nieces and nephews/great nieces and nephews. Sandy is preceded in death by her parents (Vernon and Maxine Smith (nee Kinney), her husband (Gary Willey), her brother Dan Smith, brother-in-law Rick Mayhew, her nephews Brett Smith and Logan Dicus, as well as her nieces Merrick Ham and Kaitlyn Behr.
The Library would like to thank everyone in the Solon community who participated in our Summer Reading Program! Thanks to your love of reading, we had 871 participants this summer! Our largest group of readers this summer were kids in 1st through 5th grade. Adults were our second largest group with 254 participants. But that’s not all - We handed out thousands of prizes and t-shirts, and met so many new faces. Our library community grew and added over 100 new Library accounts during the summer months. Still not impressed? Have you ever noticed your Library card account tracks how much you’re saving by checking out books instead of buying them? In total, our Library community saved over $324,000 this summer by utilizing our catalog for their reading needs instead of buying books! That amounts to over 15,000 check outs! Here’s a snapshot of how our community enjoyed their summer reading: Our kids and teens read for over 566,800 minutes, a total of over 394 days, during the Summer Reading Program! Littles and their adult caregivers read over 19,810 picture books! Adults read 1196 books! Thank you to everyone who visited the Library and enjoyed their summer with books. Didn’t get a chance to participate in the Summer Reading Program? Don’t worry! We’ll be running a smaller Winter Library Challenge during the winter season, the perfect chance for more prizes, and more fun! Don’t have a Library card? Visit the Library or sign up for a Library card on our website at https://www.solon.lib.ia.us/ services/library-card. Children and teens under the age of 14 require a parent’s or guardian’s signature to complete an application. When setting up a parent Library card, be sure to indicate if you’d like to allow your child or children to use your card to check out materials. There is no limit to the number of materials a patron can check out! We have movies, audiobooks, and of course fiction and nonfiction for all ages. We also have a Library of Things, a special collection of tools, cake pans, and hobby materials available for our patrons. Need to renew or replace your Library card, or want to learn more about what a Library card offers at the Solon Public Library? Call or visit the Library to learn more!
Solon Beef Days. Visit the Library to pick up a waiver before participating in Chair Yoga, or download them by clicking on the Chair Yoga event on our online calendar at https:// www.solon.lib.ia.us/calendar. Join one of our book clubs! Cookbook Club returns Saturday, August 15, at 11 a.m., as we discuss Mi Concina by Rick Martinez and share our favorite Mexican cuisine recipes. You can also join the Solon Book Club, Tuesday, August 18, at 6:30 p.m., as we discuss No Time Like the Future by Michael J. Fox. All materials for book clubs offered in the Library are available now, and can be picked up any time at the front desk.
Library Access Regular Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 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. The Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, August 28. Everyone is welcome at the Library and our programs. Please contact us with access needs.
New in DVDs
Here’s what’s new in our DVD collection at the Library! The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026). As Miranda Priestly nears retirement, she reunites with Andy Sachs to face off against her former assistant turned rival, Emily Charlton. [PG-13] Killers of the flower moon (2026). An epic elegy of greed, betrayal, and murder, Martin Scorsese's masterly adaptation of David Grann's true-crime best seller unfolds in 1920s Oklahoma, where the discovery of oil brings extraordinary wealth to the Osage people. Into their world comes ne'er-do-well army veteran Ernest Burkhart, who joins his duplicitous uncle in a horrifying scheme to rob the Osage of their money and land. Lily Gladstone charges the film with her transcendent performance as Burkhart's Osage wife, Mollie Kyle, gradually awakening to the evil that surrounds her. [R] Mortal Kombat 2 (2026). New Line Cinema presents the highly anticipated new installment in the classic video game franchise, Mortal Kombat II. This time, the fan-favorite Library Programs champions, now backed by Johnny Cage himself, face off in With the start of August, expect to see less activities and a final, lawless tournament to overthrow the reign of Shao events at the Library while we prepare for back-to-school Kahn, a tyrant who threatens the very existence of Earthprograms beginning in September! realm, and his followers. [R] Looking to be more active and need a place to start? Join us for Chair Yoga, Mondays at 12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays History of the Solon Public Library, Part 20 at 10 a.m. What is chair yoga? Chair yoga is a beneficial form of yoga for any fitness level, from active seniors to those While the building committee purchased new book recovering from an injury. Chair yoga has the following shelves for the adult collections, a generous donation of book benefits for older adults: low impact on joints, improves flex- shelves from the Iowa Book and Supply Store, on S. Clinton ibility, and stress reduction. Every Monday and Wednesday, St in Iowa City, provided the shelves for the children’s colcertified instructor Julie Ellen will lead a FREE hour-long lection (still in use). The building committee was also able to class for adults. Chair Yoga is provided in partnership with obtain some donated book shelves for the office and storage Solon Senior Support and thanks to generous funding by downstairs, from the Federal Building in Cedar Rapids.
Two open houses announced for Solon Robotics Solon Robotics will host two open house meetings for new and returning student members. Saturday, August 22, 8:30-10:30 a.m. and Monday, August 24, 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the robotics meeting rooms. The rooms are in the lower level of the Central Office building, 301 S. Iowa St. Entry is on the North West end of the building, next to the Johnson County Sheriff substation. If you are in the Solon Community School District and are in 7th through 12th grade, you are able to join the Solon First Tech Challenge teams. Information about First Tech Challenge is available at https://www.firstinspires. org/robotics/ftc/game-andseason. Contact the group through email at solonrobotics367@ gmail.com or bmattaliano@ solon.k12.ia.us. Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist file photos
Above: Coach Bill Mattaliano explains the workings of a sample robot to team Bison Robotics of Cedar Rapids Prep. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students were able to try out a robot on a practice course before Solon Robotics’ scrimmage match Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Solon Community Center. Above right: Members of the Solon Robotics Team build robots and program them to complete specific tasks in timed competition. The program is open to students in 7th-12th grades.
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4 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
Fried chicken, noodles and fussy eaters Food for Thought Milli Gilbaugh
I learned early in parenthood that it's easy to teach boys to cook. Having grown up in a family of girls, I had little knowledge of the food habits and dislikes of little boys. But when I found myself with three sons, it became clear that they rated food a bit higher on the scale of important subjects than girls did. It was also clear that certain foods had to be prepared a certain way in order to be made 'correctly.' Fortunately for me, they learned those standards at home. That is to say that the way I made fried chicken, for instance, was the way it should be made because that was what they had become accustomed to. Most of the meals I cooked closely resembled the ones my mother cooked, but I soon found that I had to learn to make quite a few things the way my husband's mother made them. Quite often, the differences between our two mothers' dishes was so marked that they were considered to be two entirely different meals. As an example; my mother had always made thin golden noodles using only the yolks of the eggs, rolling the dough out so thin that you could read a newspaper through it, then rolled and sliced into long coils a quarter inch wide. These were always made in large batches and dried (usually draped over a broom handle hanging between two kitchen chairs - because that was the way her mother had always made them). When dried, the noodles could be stored in airtight containers in the cupboard. Such noodles were usually served cooked in clear chicken broth with tiny bits of chicken and assorted vegetables. Because the noodles were long and thin, we often 'slurped' then into our mouths, splattering chicken soup across our plates and down our chins and causing disapproving looks from Dad and other adults at the table (never mind that it had been Dad who taught us how to do that). My husband's mother made fresh, whole-egg noodles, rolled out thick with lots of flour then cut into slabs about two by three inches, stacked and sliced into thick noodles. Shaken free of excess flour and cooked in rich chicken broth enriched with onion, chunks of chicken and butter if the chicken hadn't yielded sufficient golden fat to make a rich gravy. These freshly made noodles were served like gravy, then served over heaps of fluffy mashed potatoes. She could feed fifteen people with one fat chicken and still have leftovers. What man is going to give up a meal like that? I had to learn to make them her way. I noticed, when my sons were young, that they made straight for the mother-made fried chicken and potato salad at family reunions and picnics. Similar dishes brought by unfamiliar cooks were popular with their own families. Good. Everybody knew which version tasted 'right' and cooks had a pretty good idea of how much to bring. Over the years, as my children's tastes became more sophisticated, I added new ingredients and seasonings, and my sons became partial to different versions. Their wives and in-laws influenced the way they changed some of the dishes they had learned from me, but the originals seemed to be still satisfactory too. I've always preferred the dark meat of poultry over the white meat because of its added moistness and flavor. One son-in-law prefers only white meat, so his habits have been altered. Another prefers to cook most things over charcoal, adding a different dimension to the basic recipe. The third cuts down on salt for health reasons and has added new flavors as substitutes. I am pleased to note that they all are open-minded and adventuresome when it comes to trying new foods and methods of preparation. Travel, television and experimentation have added a number of new foods to their food choices, in both restaurants and their own kitchens. I would hate it if someone tried to make me eat something that didn't taste, smell or feel good in my mouth. When they were very young, if I got a “Yuck!” or tightly closed lips when presenting new foods, I accepted that they didn't like it. “That's okay. You don't have to eat things you don't like. Our tasters change, so try again sometime. You don't want to miss out on something that may end up being your very favorite thing.” In the end, my kitchen produced no fussy eaters, just three good cooks.
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Court still preaches open gov’t, but the choir is splintering Stray Thoughts
The Iowa Supreme Court typically opens cases reviewed — the lowest of McDonald’s its rulings on the state’s public-records and pairings with other court members. open-meetings laws by reciting that the cases The directional turn for the court in part start with a “presumption of openness.” traces to the 2012 decision in ACLU FoundaBut a new study of the court’s open-govtion of Iowa v. Atlantic Community School ernment decisions finds the presumption District, a case centered on whether the pubnow wins only about half the time. That is a lic was entitled to disciplinary information marked change from a decade ago, when the about two school employees who conducted court’s decisions leaned decidedly toward a controversial strip-search of five female public access and disclosure. students. The Iowa Freedom of Information CounThe Supreme Court decided conficil study examined 21 decisions involving dentiality for the employees’ personnel Iowa Code chapters 21, 22 and 23 — the files outweighed the public’s interest in open-meetings, public-records and Iowa accountability. Public Information Board laws — that were The decision was authored by David Wigdecided between February 2011 and June gins, a Democratic appointee and former Randy Evans 2026. The study examined how each of the 12 plaintiff’s lawyer. Waterman and Mansfield Iowa Freedom of Information Council justices who sat on those cases voted. dissented in the Atlantic case, coming out for The study was based on a review and analan access-friendly standard of review that ysis made with the assistance of generative did not prevail. artificial intelligence. Michael Giudicessi, legal counsel That change abandoned the practice of construing an for the group, and I completed the review and editing that exception to access and openness narrowly, at least when produced the new report. the language of a confidentiality exemption in the statutes The study’s central finding is a quiet flattening. is unambiguous. The decision led Cady to lament that the In the 2011-2018 era of the late Chief Justice Mark Cady, majority “takes a step backward from the new age of open the mean direction of the court’s open-government hold- government in this state.” ings was +0.43 on a scale where +1 means every ruling He was right. But it is unlikely he could have predicted the favored access. modification in approach started by Wiggins would gain For the current court under Chief Justice Susan Chris- disciples in McDonald, Oxley and May once they joined the tensen since 2021, that figure has fallen to 0.00 — with five court half a decade later. rulings favoring access interests, five for confidentiality Across the full 2011-2026 review period, the scoroutcomes, and one neutral outcome across 11 decisions. ing range favoring access shows Wiggins, despite his “The doctrine hasn’t changed; the arithmetic has,” the 2012 Atlantic school ruling, and Brent Appel, each at net +6 study concludes. on the access side, with McDonald and May at the opposite The court still recites the openness presumption, but the end of the range, at net −3. statutory exemptions, in the report’s words, “have grown Appel, writing for the court in 2012, put the traditional teeth” — shielding driver-license data in one case, job-ap- rule plainly: “Freedom of information acts establish a plicant privacy in another, and a closed-session hiring liberal policy in favor of access to public records.” Wiginterview in a third. gins, dissenting in a 2020 driver-privacy case, would have The shift the Iowa FOI Council found is generational ordered the records disclosed. rather than institutional. For those seeking to vindicate access rights, the study Three of the newest justices — Christopher McDonald, suggests that openness outcomes remain attainable even Dana Oxley and David May — are the only members of the though the current court seems more forgiving of governcourt with net records favoring confidentiality. They vote ment defendants and confidentiality proponents. together most often. McDonald and May agreed in 100 The justices who most often side with access tend to percent of the open-government cases they both heard. enforce the openness presumption and narrow application What has kept the court’s overall results near the center, standard through the statute’s text — and enforce a clearly the study found, is a wing of holdover justices, Edward written exemption just as faithfully. Mansfield and Thomas Waterman, joined by Christensen Nevertheless, recent access victories have turned on preand newcomer Matthew McDermott. Together, they supply cise statutory readings: that confidentiality for a closed the votes that decide the closest cases. police investigation is not permanent, that unexplained One popular assumption did not survive the data, the delay in producing records is itself a denial, and that records study found. from job applicants inside government are not shielded Some court-watchers have speculated McDonald and from public access. McDermott, both alumni of the Des Moines law firm Belin The Iowa FOI Council, a nonpartisan group that advoMcCormick, would vote as a pair and perhaps be guided by cates for open government in Iowa, said the votes in the Mansfield, the third former Belin lawyer now on the court. study were confirmed against the text of each Supreme Some even went so far to speculate that those three might Court opinion. Quotations in the study carry a citation to carry the torch favoring access that was lit by Mark McCor- the official court reporter. mick, a named partner in their old firm, who was a former The study cautioned that 21 decisions over 15 years is Iowa Supreme Court justice. In 1979, McCormick wrote too small for making definitive correlations. The study one of the most progressive pro-access, pro-media rulings further noted that its coding measures only the direction in the Howard v. Des Moines Register & Tribune Co. case. of a holding — whether it favored or resulted in access or The decision involved a woman’s invasion-of-privacy confidentiality — and does not judge why the justices voted action over the publication of her identity as part of an as they did. investigative report on involuntary sterilizations at the An appendix with the study sets out the full vote breakJasper County Home. The newspaper asserted, and the out for all 21 decisions — the direction of each holding and court agreed, that the issue was one of substantial pub- how every participating justice voted, case by case. So, any lic interest and the private facts about her were in public figure in the study can be traced back to the official court records provided by the governor’s office. opinions. Contrary to the speculation, or hope, McDonald and The full study is available at https://tinyurl. McDermott agreed just 78 percent of the time in the access com/2hzx47av.
Q&A: Where things stand on the Farm Bill With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: What legislative priorities were you able to secure in the current Senate Farm Bill, so far? A: The Senate Agriculture Committee recently met to consider the long-delayed Farm Bill. Building upon substantive reforms enacted last year to strengthen the farm safety net in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, farmers and rural communities are counting on Congress to enact a full, five-year Farm Bill to bring much-needed certainty to the struggling ag economy. As a lifelong family farmer, I understand the financial hardship farm families are fac-
ing today to keep their operations afloat. It’s costing more money to put crops in the ground than what farmers are getting when they market their crops. High input costs, low commodity prices and trade uncertainty put farmers in an unsustainable financial situation. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the 1980s Farm Crisis. That’s why I keep in touch with producers, commodity groups and community bankers to stay on top of the challenges in farm country. That feedback informs my work on behalf of farm families at the policymaking table to address market uncertainty
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and deliver stability. During the committee’s work on the Farm Bill, a number of my legislative priorities were included to support family farmers and boost the ag economy, including: • Year-Round E15, which would deliver a $14 billion boost in corn demand and lower prices at the pump by up to 40 cents per gallon. • Improvements to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission whistleblower program to help uphold integrity in U.S. commodity markets that farmers use to manage risk and lock in prices for their crops. • Transparency tools to help bring down fertilizer, seed, and fuel costs. Q: Where does the Farm Bill stand in the Senate? A: I’m disappointed the bipartisan, regional alliance that has helped shape the nation’s Farm Bills for decades is on shaky ground. After hours of debate and a series of votes on amendments, the Senate Agriculture Committee
did not advance the Farm Bill after every Democrat on the committee voted no. They chose to block the Farm Bill in protest over commonsense reforms to curb waste in the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Their partisan blockade puts passage of the Farm Bill in jeopardy and leaves farm families hanging in the balance. Both Sen. Joni Ernst and I voted to advance the Farm Bill. The committee recessed so debate on the Farm Bill can continue in September and hopefully prove to be more fruitful. The House of Representatives has already passed a version of the Farm Bill, backed by Iowa Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Randy Feenstra. In the Senate, I’m going to continue fighting to get the Farm Bill to the president’s desk this year. That includes my efforts to deliver year-round E15, drive down input costs, fix Proposition 12, enact sensible farm payment reforms to reinforce the integrity of the farm safety net and sharpen tools at the USDA to stop anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry. Rural Americans are counting on us to get the job done.
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School Choice: A Fundamental Freedom Zach Lahn Republican Nominee for Governor of Iowa As an educator who’s spent years building a fou nd at ion for c h i ld r e n , Lahn I believe that school choice is a foundational freedom that Iowans should have. Parents should be able to have more say over where their kids go to school and more say over where their tax dollars are spent. The Democrats like to frame this issue as though parental tax dollars belong to the Government–that any attempt by parents to take their kids to a better school is somehow robbing public schools. That’s false. Our goal as Iowans should always be to promote excellence in education, whether that’s at a public school or a private school–It just so happens that we can do both. The discussion around ESAs in Iowa needs to end the politics and
prioritize the children. This is a distraction from the real issue, which is the decline of Iowa's public education system that began before ESAs even existed. Attributing the failings of public education to ESAs is an attempt to divert attention from decades of decline. As governor, I will be the number one advocate for Iowa’s public school kids. In the 90s, Iowa schools were number one in the nation, and now they are 27th overall. Every child in this state deserves access to a world-class education, and my goal is simple: make Iowa’s public schools so strong that they can compete with any school, anywhere in the country. For too long, schools have been forced to teach to a test instead of teaching students to succeed. I will work to reduce excessive standardized testing, restore local control, and refocus education on mastery of reading, writing, math, science, and the skills students need to thrive. A classroom should not be a battleground for ideology. It should be a place for truth, discipline, won-
der, and learning. I believe teachers should teach our children how to think, not what to think, and that political doctrine has no place in Iowa classrooms. Our public schools need more innovation. In the schools I've helped start, we start apprenticeships at age 11 or 12, where you're out in the real world getting experience. There is more to education than just taking tests, and there’s no study guide for an apprenticeship. As public officials, we should be doing ever y thing possible to improve education in public schools, while still providing the freedom for parents to decide where their tax dollars are going. Democrats arguing against school choice are completely ignoring the fact that our public education will still thrive, if leaders are actively advocating for it. As governor, I’ll do everything in my power to improve public education, and to make sure that kids in Iowa are receiving the best care that we can offer. Once again, we must cut out the politics and prioritize the children.
Protecting Iowa Public Schools and Tax Dollars Rob Sand Iowa State Auditor As State Auditor, I’ve been sou nd i ng t he alarm on the unaccountable private school voucher program Sand for years. Politicians who like to lie say it’s because I’m against private schools. That’s not true at all. What I am against is waste, fraud, and abuse of Iowa tax dollars, and the private school voucher program has been the second biggest invitation to all three since it was enacted. As it stands, the private school voucher system requires no accountability over how tax money is being spent. There are no audits to check. There are no limits on raising tuition, meaning that private schools can hike costs and make tuition as unaffordable as it was without the voucher, boosting their own bottom lines and once again blocking Iowa families from being able to afford it. There are no income limits, meaning the wealthiest Iowans are getting the same $7,500 per kid to send them to the schools they would most likely
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already send them to than low income or middle-class families. This year alone, the voucher program was estimated to cost $350 million in tax dollars. That’s money meant for our public schools being diverted to this unaccountable program. A report found that 80 percent of that money went to children that the Reynolds administration estimated would have been in private school anyway; meaning 80 percent of “school choice” funding isn’t giving a choice to anyone who didn’t already have it. As we face down a nearly $1.4 billion budget deficit, and as funding for our public schools is already not keeping up with inflation, we’re not in a position to turn a blind eye to the misuse of tax dollars. Insiders dub this program as “school choice,” but my question is: choice for who? There’s no “choice” for the families in rural areas, many of which don’t have a single private school in their district or within a reasonable distance to shuttle kids back and forth. There’s no “choice” for the families with students with special needs or disabilities, many of whom are turned away from private schools who cannot – or will not – serve their needs. Private schools are not mandated to
take the public like public schools are. My thought there is pretty simple: if private schools want public money, then they should have to take the public. They should be audited and have rules for how the money is spent, like public schools. And we should put the income limits back on the program. I support Iowa families making the decision that’s best for their kids. For some, that might mean a private school. But we shouldn’t boost those private schools at the expense of our public schools and the hundreds of thousands of students they serve. This is personal to me. I grew up attending Iowa public schools when they were regularly ranked some of the top in the nation. Now, I’m sending my own two boys to Iowa public schools, and as a state we’ve landed somewhere in the middle of the pack. As governor, I’d work with members of both parties to enact common-sense accountability measures to protect tax dollars. Things like annual audits, limiting tuition increases, and implementing income limits are a few steps we can take to ensure Iowa tax dollars are being spent appropriately, and that we’re protecting funding meant for our public schools to get back to those top rankings in the nation.
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6 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
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St. Luke’s awards AEDs to community organizations, shares survivor’s story Ely Fire and Swisher Legion among 50 area community organizations Tina Lampe Unity Point Health – Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS — Nearly 50 area organizations, including the Ely Volunteer Fire Department and Swisher American Legion Post 671, were selected to receive automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from St. Luke's Health Care Foundation. The announcement took place during a celebration marking the completion of UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Hospital's $25 million Nassif Heart & Vascular Center expansion. The event also featured North Liberty resident Don Triggs, who survived cardiac arrest after his daughter performed CPR along Interstate 380, a police officer used an AED to restore his heartbeat, and he received treatment at St. Luke’s. “I get goosebumps every time I tell my story,” Triggs shared. “Multiple people have told me I should not be here today. In a terrible situation, everything went exactly right.” St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation’s Heart Saver Grant program began in 2022 as part of the hospital’s Heart and
Vascular expansion project, extending the project’s impact beyond the hospital walls by placing lifesaving AEDs into the community even before construction began. Since its launch, the Heart Saver Grant has awarded 100 AEDs to community organizations, including this year’s recipients. The grant was created to improve survival from cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly 90 percent of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die. Immediate CPR and access to an AED can dramatically improve survival rates, making public access to defibrillators critical. “Today’s celebration honors the generosity that strengthens our Heart & Vascular Center,” said Foundation President Melissa Winter. “For close to 50 years, friends and neighbors have helped St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation advance heart care services. Their support continues to inspire healthier, more hopeful futures – creating positive change that touches lives every day.” St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Center expansion concluded in July with the opening of a new hybrid operating room. The project also increased capacity for heart rhythm and vascular procedures, enhanced imaging technology and mod-
St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation contributed photo
During St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Center ribbon-cutting, St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation President Melissa Winter (second from right) unveiled nearly 50 recipients of the Foundation’s Heart Saver AED Grant. Representatives of four receiving organizations were in attendance for the announcement – College Community School District, Ely Volunteer Fire Department, First Congregational Church of Christ-Anamosa and Stanwood Public Library. ernized patient care areas to help improve access to advanced cardiovascular care close to home. Together, the expansion and the Heart
Saver program reflect St. Luke’s continued commitment to strengthening heart care both inside the hospital and throughout the communities it serves.
The AM and FM Players rock the night in a “Two Stoplight Town” Last Wednesday’s Music on Main performance featured original music by Jeff Allen, along with classics across genres John Charlson
Solon Economist
news@soloneconomist.com
As the rain clouds dispersed last Wednesday, families and friends came to the mainstage for the second to last Music on Main, a concert series dedicated to longtime Solon servant, Scott Kleppe. The entertainment for the night was the AM and FM Players, a band specializing in a blend of blues, rock, and folk, fronted by Jeff Allen. “I really like it. It’s a
lot of good friends, and it’s tucked right between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City,” says Allen, a resident of Solon since 1995. Allen was the founder and owner of Stone City Brewing, which closed in 2003 where Briar Ridge Bikes currently sits. A musician since the age of 12, Allen says many of his musical influences are those from his formative years. “I like pretty much the standard stuff: Beatles, Hendrix, Clapton, and String Cheese Incident,” says Allen. That last band might stand out from the rest, but that just goes to show Allen’s interest in a range of music which came on display Wednesday night. A M and FM Players played the blues, from Taj Mahal to Eric Clapton, making room for some jam band hits, “Don’t Ease Me In” by the Grateful Dead
and “Barstool” by String Cheese Incident. Among the setlist, were even some original songs by Allen himself. “The light just came on when they said, ‘oh we’ve made the big time, we got two stoplights,’” said Allen, whose friend’s casual observation about their small city inspired his song “Two Stoplight Town,” which drew great applause from the Solon crowd. Allen says the AM and FM Players are a loose group, composed of just some of the local musicians that Allen knows or has met through the years. “I haven’t had the opportunity to do stuff like this very often. I usually just play by myself,” says Nick Bloom, who met Allen and drummer Rick Wagle at a jam session in Marion just a few months ago. Wednesday’s show
consisted of both Allen and Bloom on guitar and vocals, Wagle on drums, and Doug on bass and vocals. Also enjoying the music was Willow the French bulldog, who got loose from her owners and ran up onstage to join the band. “While you guys were sing ing ‘Cra z y Lit t le Thing Called Love,’ I was singing ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Willow,’” laughed Dan Wilson who ran up onstage to wrestle Willow back to her owners during the concert. This is Allen’s second time playing Music on Main, the first was two years ago. When asked why he enjoys playing with his band on a summer’s night in Solon, Allen keeps his answer simple. “It’s really nice, you just get going, and it’s been a pleasant night,” says Allen.
Photos by John Charlson | Solon Economist
Top right: Jeff Allen (right) looks to Nick Bloom during the AM and FM Players performance on the mainstage for Music on Main in Solon on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Right: Dan Wilson grabs Willow the dog’s leash while the AM and FM Players perform on the mainstage for Music on Main in Solon on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Above: Audience members watch the AM and FM Players perform on the mainstage for Music on Main in Solon on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
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Johnson County to host public informational session on proposed Sheriff’s Office and jail Tuesday, August 18 in Solon Three sessions in total to be held
proposal, explain the need for a new facility, and answer questions from the public. The sessions will feature presentations Johnson County will host three public from Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel informational sessions about the pro- and representatives from Shive-Hattery, posed new Sheriff’s Office and jail. The the architectural and engineering firm sessions will provide an overview of the working with the County on the project.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, Solon City Hall council chambers, 100 S. Cedar St., Solon • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, Health & Human Services Building, conference room 203, 855 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City • 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 6, North Lib-
erty City Hall, 4191 Community Room, 360 N. Main St., North Liberty
That is until the online group announced earlier this year their plans for a multi-day, multi-city Ryan meetup event. On July 24, the Ryans met at the Mall of America in Minneapolis to set the record for most people with the same name to when a group of about 70 individuals from consecutively ride a roller coaster, then across North America arranged to meet at attended a Minnesota Twins baseball game the small Iowa town for purely one reason: the next day. Finally, that Sunday, they announced that the Ryans would travel to their name is Ryan. “I got there and saw a group of people, Ryan, IA. “I saw one that was in Iowa, and I ‘hey are you Ryan?’ and they’re like, ‘oh yeah, I’m Ryan. Are you Ryan?’ and it’s just thought, ‘well, I should probably just go to a funny thing,” says Ryan Bilskie, a truck that,” said Bilskie. The day in Ryan began with a meeting driver for Jay Proffitt Construction. Bilskie first found out about the group through at the city hall, where Bilskie says the city Instagram, and was interested in attending hosted a ribbon cutting with the Ryans, to a meetup, but distance played an obstacle. declare July 26, official Ryan Day in Ryan. “At first they were meeting in California, Then, the Ryans paraded through town, New York, or Miami; no place around here walking to the World’s Largest Umpire statue where they officially changed the that I could go.”
Umpire’s name to Ryan by sticking a giant “Hello, My Name Is Ryan” sticker on his leg. Finally the Ryans ended their day by spending time at Cooper’s Place Pub & Grill, singing “We Are the Champions” by Queen, but of course, replacing “Champions” with “Ryans.” “It could just be because those are the Ryans that come to it, the Ryans you get to meet, but yeah, I would say they’re all pretty outgoing and have a lot of energy.” Bilskie said he met Ryans not just from Iowa but also from across the country. “There was an award for who traveled the furthest, and there was one guy from Texas, and I think second place was from Toronto, Canada,” said Bilskie. Although Bilskie said he had never visited Ryan before, the meetup provided an opportunity to appreciate some of the hidden treasures of the small town, with the company of strangers turned friends. “I feel like it’s one of those once in a lifetime experiences.”
Ryans rule the day Solon’s Ryan Bilskie met fellow Ryans from across the country during a gathering in Ryan John Charlson
Solon Economist
news@soloneconomist.com
RYAN — Ryan, Iowa, is a small town that sits just ten miles south of Manchester along Highway 13 in Delaware County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town’s population totaled 350 residents in 2020. That number grew Sunday, July 26,
More information about the public informational sessions and the proposed project is available at www.johnsoncountyjailbond.com/.
Photo by Ryan Bilskie/Beeb’s FPV
Solon’s Ryan Bilskie took his drone to a gathering of roughly 70 people, all named Ryan, in the Delaware County town of Ryan Sunday, July 26, and captured this group photo in front of the World’s Largest Umpire Statue.
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Ability Physical Therapy celebrates 30 years of community care Locally owned practice marks milestone with patient appreciation events throughout August Ella McEntaffer Solon Economist
news@soloneconomist.com
What started as a single physical therapy clinic has grown into a network of five clinics, but Ability Physical Therapy's commitment to personalized, community-based care has remained unchanged over the past 30 years. Throughout August, the locally owned company is celebrating its 30th anniversary with various patient appreciation events, giveaways, and refreshments while ref lecting on three decades of helping patients recover from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries. "Our focus has been serving the community and trying to serve the community in their health care needs," owner and physical therapist Michael Reiling said. "Whether it's a sports injury or someone has suffered a stroke and needs rehab, or maybe has weakness from cancer, we want to be there." Ability Physical Therapy traces its roots to 1996, when physical therapist Jean Hammill founded Marion Physical Therapy to address a need for more outpatient physical therapy services in the area. Reiling, a Lisbon native, joined the practice in 2000 after earning a bachelor's degree in exercise science with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science in physical therapy from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. The two co-owned the practice until 2012, when Hammill passed owner-
ship to Reiling. Since opening its first clinic in Marion, the practice has steadily expanded across Eastern Iowa. The Mount Vernon clinic opened in 2007, followed by Center Point in 2010. In 2012, the Marion clinic relocated to a larger facility that included a fitness center. The company later acquired a fitness center in Lisbon, opened a physical therapy office and personal training studio in Solon, and expanded into Cedar Rapids. Today, Ability Physical Therapy operates physical therapy clinics in Marion, Mount Vernon, Center Point, Solon and Cedar Rapids, along with four 24-hour Elite Fitness centers and a personal training studio. Reiling said the company's mission has remained centered on providing high quality rehabilitation close to home. "We want to be there for those folks, to stay close to home and to have a trusted medical provider who can help them achieve their goals," he said. He said that philosophy extends beyond treatment itself. "We try to treat people how we'd like to be treated," Reiling said. As an independently owned practice, Ability Physical Therapy has experienced many of the same challenges faced by other small businesses. Reiling said balancing employee wages, investing in new equipment, and maintaining high quality patient care while keeping the business financially healthy requires constant attention. "We want to pay our employees as much as possible," he said. "You're trying to upgrade your equipment, you're trying to provide that service, you're trying to invest in your employees, you're trying to reward your employees while also trying to provide the best level of care you can." Looking ahead, Reiling said the compa-
ny's priorities remain focused on serving patients rather than expanding. "Our goals would be to continue to serve our clients, serve the communities that we practice in well and continue to treat our patients how we'd like to be treated if we were seeking medical care," he said. He hopes Ability Physical Therapy's legacy will be one of trust and service. "I'd like our legacy to be a community partner," Reiling said. "A company that people can entrust when they come here for their medical care." Throughout August, patients can enter appreciation drawings at each Ability Physical Therapy clinic for prizes including one hour massage certificates, one month Elite Fitness memberships and 30th anniversary T-shirts. Each clinic will also host a patient appreciation celebration Thursday, Aug. 20, with refreshments and snacks available throughout regular
business hours. As the company celebrates its milestone anniversary, Reiling said he is thankful for the patients who have supported Ability Physical Therapy over the past three decades. "We're a locally owned company," he said. "We strive to be a good community partner. Many of our employees live in the communities we serve, and we appreciate all the clients who have entrusted us with their rehabilitation needs." Ability Physical Therapy 411 Haganman LN, Solon 319-624-1250 http://chooseabilitypt.com Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday – 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday – By appointment (as-needed)
JoCo residents voice opposition to new jail Community members urged supervisors to reject a proposed $94.5 million bond referendum for a new Sheriff’s Office and jail, raising concerns over the project’s cost, incarceration policies, and potential use for ICE detentions before the measure advanced to the Nov. 3 ballot Anna Olson The Daily Iowan While the majority of the Johnson Board of Supervisors and Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel have voiced support for a new Sheriff’s Office and jail, the proposal continues to face criticism from the public over its size, cost, and scope. During public comment at the Johnson County Board of Supervisors’ formal meeting on Thursday, community members raised a range of concerns about the proposed jail, including its cost, size, potential use for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, detentions, and whether the project aligns with the county’s long-term public safety priorities. After more than a decade of discussions over the county’s aging jail, the board voted 4-1 to place a $94.5 million bond referendum before voters on Nov. 3. However, debate over the proposal
from the public and local officials has continued in the months leading up to the election. Elizabeth Rook Panicucci, co-director of Prairielands Freedom Fund, an Iowa City nonprofit, spoke during public comment and said she believes a new, larger facility would make it easier for ICE to detain people in Johnson County, arguing that increased jail capacity could expand opportunities for cooperation with federal immigration authorities. “It is already illegal in our state to not cooperate with ICE,” she said. “That needs to be taken seriously. It needs to be accounted for when you build this big, when you build beyond the number of cells that the outside researchers said were needed that we’re using currently.” Iowa City City Councilor Oliver Weilein spoke at public comment in opposition to the bond referendum. Weilein has publicly been critical of policing and incarceration, advocating for investments in housing, mental health care, and community-based services over expanding law enforcement and jail infrastructure. During the board’s meeting, Weilein argued the county should prioritize efforts to reduce incarceration rather than expand jail infrastructure. “With the new laws that make it harder to divert people and make it harder to release people who don’t need to be incarcerated,” he said. “Why are we then pre-complying and providing that infrastructure for the Republican legislatures ahead of time instead of working to try to fix the problem with the current facility, while scaling while doing everything that we can on the local level to divert
Patrick Murphy | The Daily Iowan
The Board of Supervisors listen during the Johnson County formal meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The Johnson County board of supervisors hold a weekly formal meeting every Thursday at 9pm. more people.” Weilein hinted at his own experience with different jails and said poor conditions at the current Sheriff’s Office should be addressed, but argued they do not justify constructing a new facility. According to previous reporting from The Daily Iowan, Weilein was arrested in 2017 in Washington D.C., and in 2023 during a pro-Palestine protest outside of Kinnick Stadium. “It is not good that the jail is in the condition that it’s in, and I’m always asked if
I’ve toured the jail,” he said. “I’ve toured it in a way. I will say I’ve been in worse.” While the majority of public comment was in opposition to the bond, a few community members backed the board’s decision. Former supervisor Royceann Porter said the county has provided ample opportunities for public input throughout the planning process, noting that the proposed jail or Sheriff’s Office had appeared on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda many times.
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She also argued the current jail’s deteriorating conditions are inhumane for both incarcerated people and employees, saying replacing the facility is a matter of dignity, safety, and public responsibility. “This vote is not just about a building; it is about our values,” Porter said. “It is about whether we are willing to address a problem that has been discussed publicly for years.” Iowa City resident Anthony Haughton supported the jail and said as a former criminal defense attorney, prison guard, and intensive probation parole officer, he has spent much of his career helping people avoid incarceration. He pushed back on claims that the community broadly opposes the project, arguing that replacing
the aging facility is compatible with efforts to reform the criminal justice system. “I doubt if there is anyone in this room that has kept as many people out of jail and prison as I have,” Haughton said. “I’ve kept hundreds of people out of jail and prison, and I’m constantly working to reform our criminal justice system, our social systems, and I am frankly tired of people coming up here talking about the community doesn’t want this and the community doesn’t want that.” Before the board voted on the referendum, supervisors also debated the language that would appear on the ballot. Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz proposed an amendment that would have revised the ballot language to state
SOLON ECONOMIST | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | 9
the county would issue $94.5 million in bonds “and an additional $30 million in interest,” saying the change would provide greater transparency about the project’s total cost to taxpayers. Supervisors Rod Sullivan, Jon Green, and Lisa Green-Douglass all voted against Fixmer-Oraiz’s proposed amendment, saying the proposed ballot language had been drafted in consultation with bond counsel, who advised against adding additional details such as estimated interest costs. The board ultimately voted 3-2 to approve a resolution placing the $94.5 million bond referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot, where it will require support from at least 60 percent of voters to authorize the county to issue bonds for the proposed Sheriff’s Office and jail.
YES JoCo will lead the effort in support of new jail bond measure Yes JoCo Political Committee The Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted to place on the November ballot language to construct a new jail and sheriff's administration offices. Downsized from previous proposals, the measure will fulfill the county’s responsibility to ensure humane conditions for inmates and a safe working environment for county employees. The referendum addresses a deteriorating building and the constant flow of County inmates to be housed outside the county at increasingly high rates. County leaders emphasize three core principles driving the measure: • Protecting the Community from Crime: At its core, the primary purpose of a county jail is to safeguard local residents and maintain public safety by providing secure, appropriate detention for individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences. • Fulfilling Government Responsibility for Humane Conditions: County governments carry an ethical and legal obligation to ensure that detention facilities meet modern standards for safety, medical care, and constitutional housing conditions. • Ensuring Safe and Sanitary Work Environments for Staff: Correctional personnel require an operational workspace free from overcrowding, structural hazards,
and unsanitary facility conditions to carry out their duties safely. Leslie Carpenter, co-chair of the YES JoCo campaign and a Serious Mental Illness advocate and co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, highlights the systemic shortcomings of the current building. “We have a social responsibility to house these people, all of them, humanely,” she said. “We’re not doing that currently, I’m afraid to say, despite the really good people working in the jail.” When asked why this bond issue will pass when previous attempts have failed, Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green highlighted the extensive efforts behind the updated proposal: "This is a right-sized plan, downsized from previous proposals, and the direct result of two years of diligent research, collaboration, public input, and compromise," Green said. "The proposal to be put before voters is a responsible solution to a long-overdue infrastructure problem that impacts the quality of life for both county employees and the folks we incarcerate there. A vote against this bond only kicks the can further down the road." "We all share the core belief that public employees, incarcerated individuals, and their families deserve a safe, dignified, and functional facility," Green continued. "A modern facility goes hand-in-hand with our ongoing commitment to jail diversion, ensuring the
Sheriff’s Office has the space and training resources needed to serve our community safely.” Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel pointed to both the physical realities of the aging building and the broader community approach taken with this plan: "We're in a position where we can no longer ignore the severe structural and maintenance issues facing our current jail. Utilizing diversion strategies is critical, and Johnson County is leading the state in those efforts, but we must also ensure law enforcement has the physical facilities needed to protect victims and keep the public safe. The plan we have developed is a conservative, right-sized approach to meet the needs of today and the future." Supervisor Green previously noted the fiscal reality driving the measure: "If we're having to spend millions of dollars on it just to keep it limping along, it isn't good for the folks that we incarcerate there, it isn't good for the people that we employ there. I hope that we can get to a solution so we can focus on other important stuff in Johnson County." Further details regarding the ballot language, public information sessions, and site plans will be made available to county residents ahead of Election Day. YES JoCo plans to engage in a robust public information campaign to ensure successful passage of the bond on November 3rd.
Small business optimism picks up in June, NFIB survey says Inflation pressure high but may ease soon Leah Courtney NFIB
DES MOINES — The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.1 points in June to 97.4, nearing its 52-year average of 98.0. Expectations for better business conditions and real sales expectations improved substantially and primarily drove the rise in the Index. The Uncertainty Index fell 2 points from May to 89, remaining well above its historical average of 68. As reported in NFIB’s monthly Jobs Report, the NFIB Small Business Employment Index remained essentially f lat, registering 100.2 in June. A seasonally adjusted 32% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in June, up three points from May’s lowest level since May 2020. "Current economic conditions present small business owners with both encouraging developments and ongoing challenges,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Lower fuel costs provide welcome relief for businesses as well as consumers, with firms anticipating improved operating conditions over the next six months. While there have been improvements in the overall environment, high interest rates and modest economic growth are causing owners to approach hiring and capital spending with caution.” “Iowa’s Main Streets are feeling hopeful despite high costs and workforce shortages,” said NFIB Iowa State Director Cody Carlson. “While relief from lower fuel costs helps supply chains, inflation remains the top
sales volumes over the next quarter rose eight points from May to a net 9% (seasonally adjusted). • Twenty percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners plan to make capital outlays in the next six months, up four points from May and the highest reading of the year. • A net 0% (seasonally adjusted) of owners viewed current inventory stocks as “too low” in June up four points from May and marking the highest level since May 2025. issue for 21% of our business owners. Iowa small busi• The average interest rate paid on short-maturity nesses are resilient, but they need stability to move past loans was 7.4% in June, down 0.4 points from May and this uncertainty fully.” the lowest level since October 2022. • Twenty-two percent of all owners reported borrowKey findings include: ing regularly, down five points from May. June’s reading • Job openings and hiring plans rebounded in June. is 12 points below the historical average of 34% Thirty-two percent (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current The entire NFIB SBET Report can be found at www. period (up three points), and a seasonally adjusted net nfib.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/NFIB-June11% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three 2026-SBET-report.pdf. months (up two points). The improvement can be seen The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Busias a correction from May’s decline. ness Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since • Twenty-one percent of business owners cited infla- the fourth quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since tion as their single most important business problem, 1986. Survey respondents are randomly drawn from up three points from May and marking the highest NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the secreading since October 2024. Inflation ranks as the top ond Tuesday of each month. This survey was conducted problem. in June 2026. • The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose two points from May to a net 38% (seasonFor over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on ally adjusted). This is the fourth consecutive month that behalf of America’s small and independent business actual price increases have risen, marking the highest owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state level since January 2023. capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and mem• There was good news on the forward-looking infla- ber driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been tion metric, as the share of owners planning to raise exclusively dedicated to small and independent busiprices in the near future declined. Looking forward to nesses, and remains so today. For more information, the next three months, a net 32% (seasonally adjusted) please visit nfib.com. plan to increase prices, down two points from May’s highest reading since July 2022. • The net percent of owners expecting better business conditions in the next six months rose ten points in June to a net 13% (seasonally adjusted), improving for the first time this year. • The net percent of owners expecting higher real
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10 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
SOLON SENIORS DINING • • • • • • • • • • • • FYI – Senior Dining is funded by donations only. THANK YOU donors for supporting Solon Senior Dining in it’s mission to serve seniors! 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 two days in advance of meal by calling 319-624-2251 Mondays 10-11:00 a.m. No meals Tuesdays and Thursdays. Home Deliveries - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Meals cost $5.00. Call 319-624-2251 for reservations (required) two days in advance of meal. Bingo Wednesdays AM/PM Cards Wednesdays PM Senior Dining will call clients personally if we need to cancel meals.
AUGUST MENU • • • • • • • Friday, August 14 Catch of the Day Baked Potato Sour Cream
Edited by Will Shortz No. 0709
Seasonal Vegetable Banana Split Dessert Monday, August 17 Baked Spaghetti Pie Zucchini Parmesan Garlic Toast Seasonal Fresh Fruit Wednesday, August 19 ***Consultants from Solon Community Housing to share information on future Solon project*** Roast Beef Mashed Potatoes Beef Gravy Roasted Carrots Cherry Pie Friday, August 21 Honey Butter Biscuit Pollack Macaroni & Cheese Broccoli Bread Fresh Fruit Monday, August 24 Country Fried Steak Mashed Potatoes Cream Gravy Honey Buttered Carrots Fresh Fruit
Know before you go to the Iowa State Fair Save time and money Buy admission in advance at iowastatefair.org, the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office or select Hy-Vee and Fareway stores. • Adults: $11 advance / $16 at the Fair • Children ages 6-11: $7 advance / $10 at the Fair • Children 5 and under: Free • Advance tickets are valid any one day of the Fair. Grandstand tickets Grandstand tickets remain available for most shows at iowastatefair.org. Purchase directly from the Iowa State Fair and beware of third-party ticket sellers. Select VIP Experience tickets are also available while supplies last. Getting to the fair Uber, Lyft and taxis: Pick up and drop off at Gate 8 off Dean Avenue. For GPS, use 203 Rock Island, Des Moines, IA 50317. Bus drop-off: Buses enter through Lot A off University Avenue and drop off at Gate 13, at the west end of Lot A. On-site parking: Lots A, B and C are available off University Avenue for $10. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. ADA/Accessible Parking is available in paved and hard-packed areas. Bicycle parking is free inside Gate 13. NEW! Free parking and bus service Southridge Mall: The new CIT Transportation service from Southridge Mall is free for all riders. Free parking will be marked in the mall parking lot. Buses run continuously from 8 a.m. to midnight. Fairgrounds service ends at 9 p.m. Sunday, August 23. DART park and ride Free parking and paid shuttle service are available from: • 7th & Center Street Park & Ride - 830 6th Ave., Des Moines • Iowa State Capitol - E. 12th Street between E. Grand and E. Walnut Buses run from 8 a.m. to midnight. Fair service ends at 9 p.m. Sunday, August 23.
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Be comfortable We've added more picnic tables and shade structures, including new shade east of the Barksdale's State Fair Cookie Building. New baby nursing/changing stations are located between the Grandstand and cookie building. Plan for additional walking, wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated. Water bottle filling stations are available throughout the Fairgrounds, or purchase water at Blue Ribbon Foundation water booths. Fairgoer shuttles run between the First Church and Campgrounds, with a stop at Pioneer Hall. New in 2026, the Iowa State Fair will offer complimentary Mobility Assistance Cart rides for Fairgoers who may need help navigating the Fairgrounds. Volunteer-operated six-seat golf carts will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from five designated Information Booth locations. The Mobility Assistance Carts will travel fixed routes between Information Booths, and passengers may be dropped off at the closest point along the route to their destination. These carts are intended to assist Fairgoers with mobility-related needs and are not individual mobility carts or rentals. Mobility Assistance Cart pick-up and dropoff locations will be at Gate 11, Gate 10, the Cattle Barn area at Rock Island and Logan, Grand Avenue in front of the Bud Tent, and near Gate 4 by the Fire Station. Look for the clearly marked "Mobility Assistance Cart" signs at each location. Scooter rentals are available at Gates 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 or can be reserved in advance through HomeTown Mobility. Fair hours August 13-22: 8 a.m.-midnight August 23: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Last admission: Enter before 10 p.m. August 13-22 and before 7 p.m. August 23. Safety first New walk through bag checks and metal detectors. Bags, purses and soft-sided coolers are permitted but subject to inspection.
Additional checks are conducted when entering the Grandstand. Allowed items include: • Soft-sided coolers • Outside food and drink • Diaper bags and backpacks • Visit iowastatefair.org/safety for a complete list of prohibited items for the Fairgrounds, Grandstand and Elwell Family Park. Weather can change quickly in Iowa. Weather alerts affecting the Fairgrounds will be announced grounds-wide. Weather that could affect events or concerts will be communicated directly to ticket holders and through social media. In an emergency, First Aid stations are located near the Ag Building and at the Service Center on Grand Avenue. Kid Find bracelets are available at Information Booths, the Iowa State Fair Public Safety Building, East Marketplace under the Grandstand and the Des Moines Media Group booth in front of the Grandstand. Fair tips • Dress for August weather and wear comfortable shoes. • Bring sunscreen and sealed bottles of water. • Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted at Fair food stands and vendors. • Bags, purses and soft-sided coolers are permitted but subject to inspection. • Stay up to date at iowastatefair. org or through the official Iowa State Fair App. • Text FAIR to 844.844.8508 for special offers, concert updates, daily activities, weather alerts and more. • First time at the Fair? Pick up a First Time Fairgoer brochure and special button at any Information Booth. Most importantly, have fun! With more than 3,000 events in 11 days, there's something for everyone. Map out your day, enjoy the free entertainment, try a new food, ride a few rides and make some memories at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. The 2026 Iowa State Fair, Fair Spirit, runs from August 13-23.
Across
1 In vogue 5 Seal hunter 9 Some rudiments to be learned 13 Flex time? 14 Stern 15 Container for peaches 17 *Honeybunch 19 Group of spellers? 20 Title in “Beowulf” 21 Back-to-basics regimen 23 Grp. of peacekeepers 25 *Afternoon socials 26 Caddies, in golf slang 29 Part of a blind 30 Partner of ends 31 Some messages from a road trip, in brief 33 Scare off 37 Many a golden parachute recipient, in brief 38 Renounced … or a phonetic hint to reading the answers to the starred clues 40 Sanskrit name meaning “extraordinary” 41 Capital close to the confluence of the Red and Black rivers 43 Gaels of the N.C.A.A. 44 Battling 45 Piece of cake 47 Food processor 49 *Worms or flies, often 53 Do some laps 54 Right now 56 ___ Hamilton, author of the classic “Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes” 59 Sass 60 *___ Beach, Calif. 62 Hit 1977 musical that included Franklin D. Roosevelt as a character 63 Juniors, e.g. 64 Trails 65 “Yikes!” 66 Rowers’ workout machines, informally 67 Straddling
Down
1 Anatomical pouch 2 “Star Wars” planet where Luke Skywalker rides a tauntaun 3 Dinosaur named for a lizard tooth 4 Quick timeouts? 5 AAA or B.B.B. 6 Bring in 7 200 milligrams 8 Sketchy activities? 9 Kudo 10 Guys’ night out 11 Trivial objection 12 Symbol of strength and solidity 16 Tonsillectomy docs 18 French crown? 22 Wing 24 Hydrox lookalike 26 Lomond, for one 27 Old theaters 28 Show that ends in disarray? 32 Long time follower? 34 Dojo furnishing 35 It’s a long story 36 One of the six sluggers on baseball’s Murderer’s Row 38 Spent 39 “Curly W” team 42 Caucasus region 44 Padmé ___ (mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker) 46 Horned viper 48 Is underwater 49 S.E.C. football powerhouse, informally 50 United 51 Tried to hit a baseball 52 Taste 55 Double-decker checker 57 Benin neighbor 58 Door fastener 61 Jerk
SUDOKU 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.
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 2
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IowaPublicNotices.com THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FORMAL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 30, 2026 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. thru 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, Mandi Remington, and Rod Sullivan. Members absent: Lisa Green-Douglass. Green sought and received unanimous consent for approval of the agenda as presented. Public Comment - No one from the public spoke. Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Remington, to approve the following consent agenda items: 1. The claims on the County Auditor’s Claim Register for July 30, 2026, in the amount of $1,207,666.82: 316 Holdings .............................. $700.00 4 Cs Johnson County.............. $62669.70 A Tech ......................................... $600.00 Abbe Cntr Cmty Mntl Hlth........ $3729.30 ABC Disposal Systems............. $1264.67 Action Sewer Septic Svcs........... $135.00 Adams Multimedia IA..................$327.49 Advantage Arch Solution.............. $20.00 Aero Rental ................................ $220.00 Aging Svcs ................................. $653.00 Agvantage Fs ..............................$267.99 Aleah Rocha................................ $122.00 Allegra..........................................$351.73 Amazon Capital Svcs.................$1200.74 Anderson-Bogert Engin............ $5981.50 Apartments Near Campus........ $1400.00 Arbsession ................................. $836.38 Arnold Motor Supply ............... $3066.00 At&T Mobility.................................$41.77 Bb & Co ...................................... $700.00 Benco Dental............................. $1390.24 Benjamin Campbell....................... $22.50 Big Bro Big Sis JC..................... $1544.69 Billion Iowa City........................ $2829.07 Bluepath Finance Fc.................. $3500.32 Bob Barker Company ................$1165.00 Boostlingo ...................................$617.62 Bound Tree Medical ................. $9362.94 Brenneman, Detweiler & Goer.....$427.50 Brown West Branch Ford...........$1661.50 Brp Rentals................................. $343.00 Bur Oak Land Trust................... $7626.21 Cdw Government ....................$15989.16 Charm-Tex ...................................$897.00 Chemsearch................................ $204.50 City Iowa City-Acc Rec............. $3201.75 Cole Kruse................................... $294.51 Cmty Cris Svcs & Food............. $2083.37 Consumers Cooperative......... $39597.77 Coralville Housing Group........... $850.00 Corridor Energy Coop................$2144.17 Cove Equipment.......................... $305.89 Custom Hose & Supplies.............. $80.68 Dakota Schwebke....................... $368.00 Dan Overhead Doors....................$437.41 Dane County Sheriff Office......... $134.50 Deery Brothers Ford Loln....... $36122.78 Del Ray Ridge...............................$687.00 Dell Marketing.............................. $867.10 Derek E Johnson......................... $848.64 Doula Consultants ..................... $675.00 E Cent IA Council Gov............. $17395.94 Eastern IA Light & Power........... $269.07 Eldon C Stutsman ...................... $230.01 Elite Truck..................................$1860.18 Ellipsis ........................................ $699.75 Emerson Point Apts.................... $700.00 Emory North Liberty................... $750.00 EO Johnson Business Tech........ $296.58 Fareway Stores........................... $104.03 Farmers Electric Coop.................$119.25 Fastenal Company...................... $486.72 Fin & Feather Sport Center......... $379.22 First Book.................................. $2185.04 Foundation 2............................. $6997.50 Galls ......................................... $1636.31 Gary J Schmit............................. $700.00 Giselle Coreas............................. $289.73 Glenwood Phoenix Condo.......... $850.00 Gov Finance Officer Assn......... $1000.00 Gregory J Downes...................... $850.00
PUBLIC NOTICES
Guardian Rfid............................ $1726.57 Handicare ................................... $500.00 Hardy Lawn Furniture................$1120.00 Hawk Area Cmty Act Prog...... $77271.80 Hawk Fire & Safety Comp............. $36.50 Hayley Abdo...............................$3116.64 Heartland Business Sys.......... $78246.00 Heartland Shredding .................. $150.00 Henry Schein ............................ $1025.65 Holiday Mobile Home Ct............. $390.00 Hospers & Brother Printer...........$189.00 House of Burke ........................... $850.00 Hy-Vee ........................................ $164.44 IDEMIA Identity & Security...... $1400.00 Insight Public Sector................ $9800.64 Institute IA Cert Assess.............. $895.00 Interstate All Battery Cent........ $2018.80 Iowa City Sober Living................ $600.00 IA Dept Natural Resources........... $25.00 IA Medicaid Enterprise..................$84.16 IA Natural Herit Foundation...... $1500.00 IA State Prison Industries.......... $448.00 IA Valley RC&D......................... $1928.37 IA State Assn Counties............... $275.00 J&K Homes................................. $850.00 Jeanne A Strand.......................... $391.60 Jefferson County...................... $1365.28 Jesse Lenz................................... $220.00 Jim Septic Svc ........................... $470.00 Joe Mcatee.................................... $22.50 Johnson County.......................... $252.64 JC Afford Hous Coal................... $200.00 Julie Persons.............................. $696.25 Junge Ford...................................$191.04 Kay Carr.......................................... $3.00 Keystone Property Mgmt........... $850.00 Kiecks Career Apparel................ $260.00 Kimball Midwest......................... $793.03 Kirkwood Cmty College.............. $925.00 Krm Stenography ........................$152.65 Kroul Farms ............................. $1920.00 Linder Tire Svc ......................... $6763.70 LL Pelling ................................... $658.05 Lowes........................................... $137.70 M & K Truck Centers................... $656.62 Magnum Electronic......................$307.36 Mandy Coates................................$24.51 Mara Drew..................................... $86.86 Marla Happel................................. $80.00 Martin Equipment IL................. $2271.01 Mcgrath Powersports..................$750.13 Medela ...................................... $2590.58 Mediacom................................. $3800.00 Melrose Investment Group......... $850.00 Menards - Iowa City.................. $2595.82 Meridian Rapid Defense........... $3982.68 MidAmerican Energy...................$194.41 Modern Manor ......................... $1550.00 Mutual Wheel Comp................... $166.57 Napa Auto Parts.......................... $703.86 Nat Assn Field Train Offic..........$1125.00 Neighborhood Centers JC.........$1421.40 Nelson Construction Svcs......$40993.45 Next Gen Equipment, ............. $33901.26 Nippon Sanso Matheson............ $645.95 Office Express Products............. $235.87 Old Capitol Group ...................... $700.00 Ottsen Oil ................................... $758.01 Owa Patch/Midwest Patch....... $4875.00 P & K Midwest ......................... $1302.73 Pace Property Mgmt................... $750.00 Pb Body Shop........................... $1346.00 Pip Printing & Marketing............ $839.00 Premistar IA.............................. $2476.52 Purple Bloom School ............... $4669.37 Pyramid Svcs ..............................$487.63 Quadient Finance Usa ................ $866.39 Rapids Reproductions...............$2011.26 Rebecca Hackett-Leas.................. $43.50 Ricoh Usa ....................................$170.41 River Products Co......................$1104.72 S & M East ................................. $750.00 Safelite Fulfillment ..................... $393.82 Sarah Thompson.......................... $82.80 Schimberg Co............................. $159.84 Sentry Dental Products.............. $704.95 Sharon Telephone Comp.............. $80.00 Shelter House Cmty Shelter... $90245.51 Shive Hattery ........................... $9770.00 South Slope Coop Commun....... $682.90 Southgate Property Mgmt.......... $700.00 Staples Contract & Commer....... $130.36 Star Equipment Ltd................... $8039.76 Stivers Ford Loln....................$99800.00 Stryker Medical....................... $87496.32 Sun & Fun Motorsports...............$130.24 Susan Vileta.................................$391.79 T-Mobile Usa .............................. $431.58 Tailwind IC/The Quarters IC....... $700.00 The Collins Group ...................... $472.93 The Hunt Club ............................ $700.00 Theisens ..................................... $865.87 Titan Machinery...........................$571.97 Toadally Awesome Pets.............. $104.32 Tomlinson-Cannon..................$12247.00 Treasurer IA State University..... $200.00 Tristar........................................ $2921.68
Truck Country IA........................... $33.23 Ty Espinoza................................. $368.00 UniFide CST................................ $560.95 University of Iowa................... $16544.65 Valley Village Investors.............. $750.00 Van Diest Supply Comp.............$2871.75 Verizon Wireless......................... $198.46 Versaterm Public Safety US..... $1273.08 VISA........................................ $32130.90 Visiting Nurse Assn.................. $2708.24 Vrban Fire Protection ................. $886.00 Wade Golf & Mow......................... $35.20 Wellmark BCBS IA................ $247000.00 Wendling Quarries ......................$945.74 White Cap Construct Supply...... $313.32 Windstream Holdings ................ $623.41 Woodcraft Iowa City................... $265.94 Zavash Zarei................................ $800.00 2. The minutes of the Formal Meeting for July 23, 2026. 3. Payroll authorizations submitted by department heads and elected officials. Approved unanimously. Motion by Sullivan, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to authorize the Chair to sign the federal certification form certifying the Johnson County Cost Allocation Plan for Fiscal Year 2025. Approved unanimously. Motion by Sullivan, second by Remington, to approve the Contract to Provide Professional Consulting Services to Johnson County with Cost Advisory Services, Inc., Johnston, for preparing cost allocation plans for Fiscal Years 2026, 2027, and 2028 in the amount of $7,750 per year. Approved unanimously. Motion by Remington, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the Service Agreement between the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and Lighting Up Language, LLC, Kansas City, MO for Language Access Planning Development and Procurement of Technology, utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funds, in an amount not to exceed $85,000. Approved unanimously. Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Remington, to approve the Subrecipient Grant Agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, to accept Urban Forestry Development Grant funding for trees and maintenance at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Approved unanimously. Motion by Sullivan, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to appoint Nathaniel Rose to the Johnson County Commission of Veteran Affairs, to fill a vacancy expiring May 31, 2027. Approved unanimously. Motion by Sullivan, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Mobile Integrated Health Expansion Agreement between the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, Concord, NC, for increasing the number of Community Paramedicine trainees, utilizing funds awarded through the State of Iowa Mobile Integrated Health Opioid Funds grant in an amount of $2,400. Approved unanimously. Motion by Remington, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve Fiscal Year 2027 Opioid Settlement Funds contracts in the amount of $236,569 as identified below: 1. Johnson County Ambulance Department, for a community-based opioid overdose prevention and response education program, for Johnson County residents and first responders, in an amount not to exceed $25,00. 2. Community and Family Resources, Iowa City, for opioid-specific prevention education at Solon Middle School and Regina Middle School, in an amount not to exceed $10,500. 3. Johnson County Public Health Department, for the Naloxone and Harm Reduction Supply Distribution Program, in the amount not to exceed $125,000. 4. Johnson County Sheriff's Office, for a jail-based Medication-Assisted Treatment program for individuals incarcerated at the Johnson County Jail, in the amount of $76,069. Approved unanimously. Closed Session- Motion by Sullivan, second by Remington, to enter into a closed session at 9:14 a.m. pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i), to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent
needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. 1. Collective Bargaining Agreement - Step 3 Grievance. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green, Remington, Sullivan; absent: Green-Douglass. Recessed at 10:11 a.m.; reconvened in closed session at 10:19 a.m. Green adjourned the closed session at 10:56 a.m. Adjourned at 10:56 a.m. Jon Green, Chair, Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Attest: /s/ Julie Persons, Johnson County Auditor Published in the Solon Economist August 13, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSAL TO VACATE ALL OF 2ND STREET LOCATED WEST OF S. IOWA STREET TO SOLON, IOWA. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a public hearing will be held by the City Council of the City of Solon in the Council Chambers, at the City Hall at 100 S. Cedar Street, at 5:30 o'clock P.M., on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Said public hearing shall be to consider the City Council’s intent to vacate all of 2nd Street located west of S. Iowa Street. After said vacation, the vacated alley will be conveyed to the adjacent property owners. Further information regarding said vacations may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk. /s/Susie Siddell, City Clerk, by Direction of the City Council Published in the Solon Economist August 13, 2026
PUBLIC RELEASE FOR SCHOOLS OPERATING THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM
The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services, has finalized its policy for free and reduced price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and the Afterschool Care Snack Program. State and Local school officials have adopted the following family size and income criteria for determining eligibility shown chart below. Households may be eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits one of four ways 1. Households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for reduced price meals or free meals, if they complete an application for free and reduced price school meals/milk. Households may complete one application listing all children and return it to your student’s school. When completing an application, only the last four digits of the social security number of the household’s primary wage earner or another adult household member is needed. 2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, students receiving benefits under the Family Investment Program (FIP) and students in a few specific Medicaid programs are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Most students from SNAP and FIP households will be qualified for free meals automatically. These households will receive a letter from their student’s schools notifying them of their benefits. Households that receive a letter from the school need to do nothing more for their student(s) to receive free or reduced price meals. No further application is necessary. If any students were not listed on the notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school to have free or reduced price meal benefits extended to them. If you feel you would qualify for free meal benefits and received notification qualifying for reduced price benefits, complete an
SOLON ECONOMIST | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | 11 application for free and reduced price meals. Households must contact the school if they choose to decline meal benefits. 3. Some SNAP and FIP households will receive a letter from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) which will qualify the children listed on the letter for free meals. Parents must take this letter to the student’s school to receive free meals. 4. SNAP or FIP households receiving benefits that do not receive a letter from Iowa HHS must complete an application with the abbreviated information as indicated on the application and instructions, for their students to receive free meals. When the application lists an assistance program’s case number for any household member, eligibility for free benefits is extended to all students in a household. Eligibility from the previous year will continue within the same school for up to 30 operating days into the new school year. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their students are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the students must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility. An application cannot be approved unless complete eligibility information is submitted. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. If a family member becomes unemployed the family should contact the school to complete an application. Households notified of their student’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the free meal benefits. Foster children are eligible for free meal benefits. Some foster students will be qualified for free meals automatically through the state direct certification process. Their host family will receive notification of these benefits. Families that receive this notification from the school need to do nothing more for their foster students to receive free meals. If a family has foster students living with them and does not receive notification and wishes to apply for such meals, instructions for making application for such students are contained on the application form. A foster student may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other students. Including students in foster care as household members may help other students in the household qualify for benefits. If the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, it does not prevent a foster student from receiving benefits. Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals based on a completed application. When known by the school, households will be notified of any child eligible for free meals if the children are enrolled in the Head Start/Even Start program or are considered homeless, migrant or runaway. If any children are not listed on the notice of eligibility, contact the school for assistance in receiving benefits. If households are dissatisfied with the application approval done by the officials, they may make a formal appeal
either orally or in writing to the school’s designated hearing official. The policy statement on file at the school contains an outline of the hearing procedure. School officials may verify the information in the application, and that deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal criminal statutes. Households should contact their local school for additional information. There will be no discrimination against individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the school meal programs. Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/ parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program. intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Iowa Non-Discrimination Statement: (revised 7-1-25) It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc. iowa.gov/.
Published in the Solon Economist August 13, 2026
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12 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
SOLONECONOMIST.COM
Photos by Grace Escritt | Solon Economist
Front page: Ada Marie Edwards-Lehman and Willow Birney put together flower bouquets in small vases at Wild Woods Farm Thursday, July 30, 2026. Left top to bottom: Beth Bird packages arugula inside a cool building at Silver Maple Farm Thursday, July 30, 2026. Carter Hackert stands ankle-deep in a field while picking fresh beans at Silver Maple Farm. Katie Hackert picks and sorts through beans at Silver Maple Farm Thursday, July 30, 2026. Tyler Bird washes arugula before handing it off to wife Beth. Top center: Beth and Tyler Bird smile while taking a break from washing and packaging arugula at their Silver Maple Farm. Top right: Clarence, Derek, Kate and Ada Marie smile as subscribers from the community gather their weekly supply of vegetables at Wild Woods Farm Thursday, July 30, 2026. Center: Scott, Maizey, Willow and Kally Birney smile in front of a barn after picking up their weekly supply of vegetables and mingling with friends at Wild Woods Farm. Above: Sally Hoelscher chats with a volunteer while picking out tomatoes at Wild Woods Farm. Left: Leni and Stacy Barnes pick out tomatoes at Wild Woods Farm Thursday, July 30, 2026.
CSA
from 1 mer, subscribers are welcomed to the farm every Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. to choose their own vegetables; those of which are picked fresh the same day. However, these farm visits extend far beyond just picking up one’s weekly vegetable supply. In addition, members are encouraged to stick around to mingle with friends and let their kids run off some energy outdoors. At Wild Woods, each Thursday during the summer is a community gathering. In addition to providing a space for like-minded people to connect, Wild Woods welcomes its subscribers to take tours around the farm and even volunteer as a way of getting better acquainted with the food they consume. Kally and Scott Birney, first-year members of Wild Woods CSA, said knowing how their food is raised and where it comes from is particularly important to them: especially amid the recent cyclospora outbreak. Along with having the comfort of knowing their vegetables are fresh and non-contaminated, the Birney’s explained Wild Woods’ transparency goes far beyond how its products are
grown. In addition, the CSA sends out a weekly email with recipes and guidance regarding how certain vegetables can be used. All this considered, the Birney’s emphasized becoming a member of CSAs is a great way to support local farmers while simultaneously receiving quality products. “I would say it’s totally worth it,” Scott said. “If you want to be healthy and support local, if that means a lot to you, do it.” A few miles down the road from Edwards’ red barn resides sprawling rows of fresh leafy greens enclosed inside large white tunnels. This marks the home base of Silver Maple Farm, which has been operating its CSA for two years full-time. Silver Maple’s owners, Beth and Tyler Bird, run a similar operation as Edwards, though offering two subscription programs each year: one during the summer and fall, the other during the spring. During the summer, members pick up their boxes either at the farm every Thursday night or at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning. Beth said one of Silver Maple’s biggest priorities is ensuring all foods it produces are organic and fresh. As a result, the Birds’ CSA does not use any chemical inputs, herbicides or pesticides when
growing their foods. The same can be said for Wild Woods, which does not use any synthetic chemicals. “Honestly, it’s because we have our kids here, and we want to grow the food that we want to feed our kids,” Beth said. “That’s the food that we would want our kids eating, so that’s the food we grow for our community.” Embracing the same practices as Wild Woods and Silver Maple, Sundog Farm and Local Harvest CSA — which is owned by sisters Carmen and Maja Black — follows organic practices and encourages members to come on-site in order to get connected not only with the farmers, but also the food itself. Though these three local CSAs are not certified organic, they follow each of these rules and practices. Local Harvest has three different shares that can be purchased throughout the year; that is, during the spring, summer and fall. Pick-up locations vary depending on the date and time — though the CSA works to bring food as close to the consumer as possible by traveling to Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty and deeper into Solon. Reflecting on her work, Carmen said that overall, the CSA business model hinges upon connection and community
to be successful. “It fosters a lot of connection between people — between farmers and members, farmers and farmers, and it also sort of brings people back to the land, which I think is very powerful and something that people often feel disconnected from,” she said. Edwards, Beth and Carmen all emphasized that in farming and CSA work, success is directly tied to the strength of the community. Regardless of whether one needs help determining which resource their tomato plants are missing or putting plastic on a high tunnel, each of these farmers jump at the opportunity to help one another. “My message to new farmers is to reach out to us — the farmers that have been here for a while — because we want to hear from you,” Edwards said. “Collaboration is the name of the game for us.” For more information about each of these three CSAs and how to become a member, visit Wild Woods at https://wildwoodscsa.com/iowacsa, Silver Maple at https://www.silver-maple-farm.co m/, and Local Harvest at https://solonsundogfarm.com/csaseasons.