Friendly Reminders About Yardsigns

It's campaign season again, and that means signs are popping up around the county. We haven't heard any complaints yet about signs where they shouldn't be. We like that and want to keep it that way. So here's a refresher on the rules.

Our number one concern is safety. Yard signs can't be in the public right of way. In the rural part of the county, right of way generally extends 33 feet from the center line of the road and includes the ditch.  Within cities, the right of way includes the area between the sidewalk and street.

WRONG: between sidewalk and street

RIGHT: Inside of sidewalk

I can haz votes?

That covers most of our complaints but we see some raised hands here.

Isn't it too early to put signs up? I thought it was only the last 30 days you could have signs up.

That ordinance may still be on the books, but the courts decided it was an unfair restriction on free speech and it can't be enforced.

When do signs have to come down?

They don't. We still see a few strays from the 2012 caucuses. Or maybe they're early for the 2016 caucuses. We don't know.

What about signs at businesses?

Those are OK for issue campaigns, but generally not for candidate campaigns. Here's the details. There aren't any issues on the June 3 ballot.

Someone across from the polling place has signs up.

Campaigning isn't allowed within 300 feet of the polls. However, there's an exception for people's houses, so if someone happens to live near a polling place they can leave their sign up.

Someone has a sign where it shouldn't be. Can you come take it down?

We don't have a special Yard Sign Police Unit on standby. If there's a sign near a polling place on Election Day, our poll workers will take it down. Complaints about signs in the right of way should be directed to the appropriate city streets department, or in the rural part of the county, Johnson County Secondary Roads. They'll remove signs as the schedule permits. (Secondary Roads has a good collection.)  Don't risk a confrontation by taking them down yourselves.

Complaints about possible illegal sign placement on corporate property should be directed to Iowa Ethics, (515) 281-4028, during office hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday – Friday.  They don't have yard sign police either, but can reprimand a campaign after the fact.

First Ballots Mailed Today

The first absentee ballots for the June 3 primary election were mailed from the Johnson County Auditor's Office today.

Ballots were mailed to 50 Democrats and one Republican who have requested ballots through today. After today, ballots will be mailed by the next business day after we receive the request.

Under Iowa law voters who wish to vote by mail must request a ballot each election. Request forms are available on our web site. Since this is a partisan primary election, voters must specify which party's ballot they would like, Democratic or Republican.

In person early voting begins Thursday, April 24 from 7:45 to 5:30 at our office and from 11 to 7 at the Old Capitol Mall. A full early voting schedule is here.

Auditor Clobbered for Charity with Cold Water

Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert was balloon bombarded by members of the public - OK, mostly by members of his staff - at the County Administration Building at high noon today.



Travis accepted a challenge from Page County Auditor Melissa Welhausen to participate in a Polar Plunge for Cancer. He raised $105 on the spot for 5 month old Landon Shaw, who has atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor or AT/RT, which is a rare tumor usually diagnosed in childhood. Landon is just home from brain surgery and still has a long road ahead of him, and will complete chemotherapy and radiation in the upcoming weeks, so Travis will be happy to accept additional donations. More info at https://www.facebook.com/groups/14064...

But beware: now that Travis has taken the plunge, he gets to challenge someone else...

Auditor To Be Balloon Bombarded For Charity Friday

Who doesn’t like to throw things at an elected official? Well, this Friday you can, AND it’s for a good cause!

Page County Auditor Melissa Welhausen has challenged our own Travis Weipert to participate in a Polar Plunge for Cancer. Lucky for Travis, this challenge arrived just as our weather turned the corner to spring, so Travis is adapting the “polar” part of the plunge..

This Friday at noon, county employees, passers-by, and members of the general public are invited to throw water balloons at our county auditor in the County Administration Building parking lot..

Donations are not required but will be happily accepted. Proceeds will benefit Landon Shaw, a little guy who’s off to a tough start. 5 month old Landon diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor or AT/RT, which is a rare tumor usually diagnosed in childhood. Landon is just home from brain surgery and still has a long road ahead of him, and will complete chemotherapy and radiation in the upcoming weeks.

SEE Travis getting challenged! 

LEARN more about Baby Landon!

First Votemobile Site Announced

The Rural Health and Safety Clinic of Greater Johnson County, Hy-Vee, and the Johnson County Auditor’s Office are proud to announce Johnson County’s first ever Votemobile satellite voting site.

The Rural Health and Safety Clinic’s Outreach Trailer will be at the 1st Avenue Hy-Vee, 812 S. 1st Avenue, on Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for early voting for the June 3 primary election.




Auditor Travis Weipert and staff members met with Rural Health and Safety Clinic director Andy Winborn and 1st Avenue Hy-Vee manager Jeff Canfield this morning to check out logistics for the May 18 site.

The May 18 site is the only Votemobile site planned for the June 3 primary. If all goes well, the Auditor’s Office hopes to expand Votemobile sites for the November 4 general election.

The full list of sites for the June 3 primary, updated with the Votemobile site:

Old Capitol Town Center
201 S. Clinton St, Iowa City
Thursday, April 24, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

University of Iowa Main Library
125 W. Washington St., Iowa City
Wednesday, April 30, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Kirkwood Community College
Commons Area
1816 Lower Muscatine Rd.
Iowa City, IA 52245
Tuesday, May 6
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.


Saturday Night Concert Series
City High & West High Jazz Ensembles
Wedge Pizza, Pedestrian Mall
136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
Saturday, May 17, 5 - 8 p.m.

Rural Health and Safety Clinic Votemobile
Hy-Vee Food Stores
812 S. 1st Avenue, Iowa City
West Parking Lot
Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Broadway Neighborhood Center
2105 Broadway, Iowa City
Wednesday, May 21, 1 - 5 p.m.

Iowa City Farmers Market
Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp
405 E. Washington St., Iowa City
Across street from City Hall

Saturday, May 24, 7:30 a.m. - noon
North Liberty Library
520 W Cherry St., North Liberty
Thursday, May 29, 3:30 - 7 p.m.

Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St., Iowa City
Friday, May 30, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 1, noon – 5 p.m.

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City
Fountain Lobby
Friday, May 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Coralville Public Library
1401 5th St., Coralville
Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 1, Noon - 4 p.m.

Early voting for the June 3 Primary Election begins at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, April 24 at the Auditor’s Office, 913 S. Dubuque St. Iowa City. Voting will be available at the office every weekday 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Monday, June 2, the day before the election. (Closed Memorial Day Monday, May 26.)

The Auditor's office will also be open as required by law on the Saturday before the election:

Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Coming Soon To A Parking Lot Near You

Our satellite voting program has always been about bringing voting to where people are living their lives. We've been to stores and hospitals and libraries and schools and ball games and science fairs.

But one thing that's kept us out of some places has been space. Some places with good traffic just don't have enough room inside for our booths and workers and computers. We're very kindly offered room outside. But once we publish the sites, we're required by law to keep the date, rain or shine.

So we need a space that's both outside and inside. And we've finally found it. Behold: the Votemobile!



Well, that's not its real name, Officially, it's the Rural Health And Safety Clinic's Outreach Trailer. Most of the year it's used for mobile health screenings, youth fundraising, disaster recovery and other events. (They're also looking for more sponsors to help fund their programs. Still room for your business logo on the side...)

May and October are busy months on the farm, so there's not as much demand for the Outreach Trailer then. By happy coincidence, that's exactly when we need a Votemobile.

We're still working on a schedule but hope to announce our first Votemobile dates soon.

FY13 Johnson County Audit Report Released

Anderson, Larkin & Co. P.C. today released an audit report on Johnson County, Iowa.

The County had property and other county tax revenue of $243,130,191 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The County forwarded $199,010,078 of the tax revenue to the townships, school districts, cities and other taxing bodies in the County.

The County retained $44,110,113 of the tax revenue to finance County operations. Other revenues included $8,168,918 for charges for services, $12,840,306 from operating grants, contributions and restricted interest, $4,462,371 in capital grants, contributions and restricted interest, $263,505 in unrestricted investment earnings and $884,313 in other general revenues.

Expenses for County operations totaled $59,737,768, an 8.0 percent decrease from the prior year. Expenses included $20,188,789 for public safety and legal services, $10,141,639 for roads and transportation and $8,630,946 for physical health and social services.

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the County Auditor’s office, the Office of Auditor of State, and on the Auditor of State’s web site at http://auditor.iowa.gov/reports/1310-0052-C00F.pdf (68 pages)