Board of Supervisors Going Back to Drawing Board with Public Meetings After Jail Bond Defeats: Iowa City Daily News Links, July 30

Feels weird to have an overcast day all day this time of year.

On to the Links!

Adam Sullivan of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that the Johnson County Board of Supervisors is going to be holding listening posts to hear from the public on what should be done about overcrowding at the Johnson County Jail.

Terry Dickens is running for Connie Champion's soon to be vacant seat in District B, with her blessing. (Daily Iowan)

Local officials meeting in North Liberty from different Johnson County elected bodies stressed that the various municipalities need to have good communication as the county continues to grow. (Daily Iowan)

Speaking of growing Johnson County, North Liberty and Iowa City are considering paying special censuses to gain more funding as their populations may be outgrowing projections. (Press-Citizen)

Here's a Press-Citizen report from that same meeting. 

A surgeon fired by the University of Iowa and later disciplined by the state medical board has lost an appeal of this disciplinary action. (KCRG)

Umm... Iowa Man Put Shock Collar on Boy (KCRG)

A proposed rule could affect the time when school districts start classes in the future. (Press-Citizen via Des Moines Register)

A Nebraska child prostitution ring, with customers in Iowa, resulted in a large number of arrests by the FBI. (Press-Citizen via Des Moines Register)

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

The county consistently has more inmates than the 92-bed facility can hold, forcing leaders to pay to send inmates to nearby counties. Last fall and again this past spring, county voters rejected a proposal to expand the jail and improve the courthouse.

“We’re really looking forward to getting out there and listening to what people have to say,” Johnson County supervisor John Etheredge said. “I would classify these as more listening posts to visit with people in the community.”

Proponents of expanding the jail say the space is needed not only to save money from sending inmates elsewhere, but also to ensure safety for jail staffers. The two jail referenda in the past year earned majority support but not the 60 percent necessary to authorize the county to borrow money for the project.

At a series of six meetings next month, county supervisors will listen to community members’ ideas for dealing with space concerns at the jail.

“There’s just enough tension against it, and hopefully, those folks have an opportunity to be part of these meetings and provide productive input,” said Chris Hoffman, a North Liberty City Council member.