HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC 2023-01-19 transcript[00:00:00] [MUSIC] Thank you. So, um, I'll go ahead and read the Native American
land acknowledgments. It says, we meet today in the community of Iowa City, which
now occupies the homelands of the Native American nations to whom we owe our
commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of
Iowa, MS. Swanky, and Sock. And because history is complex and time goes far
beyond-far [00:00:30] back beyond memory, we also acknowledged the ancient
connections of many- of many other indigenous peoples here. The history of a
broken- a broken treaty and forced removal that dispossessed indigenous peoples of
their homelands was and is an act of colonization in genocide that we cannot erase.
We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing
these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration and reparations. Next, we'll go
to [00:01:00] the approval of the meeting minutes from January 5th. But first, I
believe I opened it up to public discussion. No, not for this one. Okay. So go ahead,
Stephanie. I move to approve the minutes.
Oh, yes. Do I have a second?
Yeah, I second it.
Thank you.
Rapidly moved and seconded to approve the meeting minutes from January 5, 2023,
Commissioner Harris?
Yes.
Commissioner Dillard?
[00:01:30] Yes.
Commissioner Krebs?
Yes.
Commissioner Merritt?
Yes.
Commissioner Gathua?
Yes.
Commissioner Traore?
Yes.
Motion passes 6, 0.
Thank you, Stephanie. We'll now move on to public comments of items on the
agenda. Just remember that we're not going to engage with discussion with the
public considering said items, is there anyone in the public that would like to speak
at this moment in the audience?
[00:02:00] If you'd like to speak, go ahead and come to the, uh, microphone and
state your name and let us just go ahead.
Yeah. Hello. Uh, my name is Yewa Vikunyu. Uh, I was fired in my job. I work in for
Dire company. Uh, Lesinal- Lesinial Senior Living Legacy [00:02:30] Garden. I started
work there since March 27, 2018. And then in November 14, they suspended me,
and on November, 18 they fire me. So I'm here to share what happened is absolutely
there. And then they fire me.
On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, [00:03:00] CMA certified medication, at second
shift. Who switched the shift with me, wrote down zero for the morphine syringes
when we were counting the narcotics. She told me that the morphine syringes run
out and the nurse, named Julie did not fill them up before she left. [00:03:30] I would
like to say that Julie never allowed the CMA to draw the medication from the bottle
to the syringes, especially narcotics. Even though I never did that as a CMA. If not,
she could tell me to do that when she filled up air in the syringes because she did
that before.
[00:04:00] That night I did not give morphine- morphine to the resident that she's
sched- schedule because we run out of it. I only gave lorazepam to the residents.
And then the- she slept well the whole night and she did not fall before I got out at
7:00 AM. The next day on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, [00:04:30] the dual
from legacy points Sean called me. She wanted to know why I did not give morphine
to the residents. I explained to her the situation and she said it was okay and that
was fine to speak to you.
And because of that, they suspended me on November [00:05:00] 14 and November
18 when they wanna meet for the discussion, she-they told me that I failed- I made
the medication error and then I failed to give to administer the medication to the
resident my whole-my entire shifts and then I refuse to report that to the nurse on
call. And if I report, [00:05:30] the nurse on-call will show me how to fill up the
syringes just like I delegate to do. But to be honest, like morphine is narcotics. They
never allowed the- the certificate- certificate medication heads to touch the bottle.
Always the hospice and the nurse fill up the syringes and count them and put them
in the- [00:06:00] in the bag. And then we lock that- we locked at in the bottle in the
mid car. I never did that. Then that day, like they accused me for that. I told them
that I disagree. And then the- the statement that they handle to me to sign up, I
refuse. I told her that, it was-it wasn't my job. That was her job. So she didn't do her
job before she left the facility. [00:06:30] First. And second time, the second shift
mid-manager didn't do her job because if you use the last syringe like she was the
one who used the last morphine syringe. She's supposed to report that to the- to the
nurse. So they are both supposed to fix the issue before me I got there 10:30 PM.
Then they told me to sign up the statement that they handle [00:07:00] to me right
away, I ask them to- to make a copy for me. And then if I got home, I can
understand everything before I sent- I sent- I put my signature and bring them back
to them. Then they continue to tell me to- to sit down and sign the-the statement
before I left the facility. The-the one thing I notice [00:07:30] before those things
happen in July-since to July, we work shots. Before this can we have two sides?
Willow and ELMS. And then they scheduled for the nights, three or four people. But
in July, they stopped that, they scheduled just one for each sides. [00:08:00] When
we had a meeting in July 21st, I told them that I didn't feel-feel comfortable for that.
Because, um, I was the only mid-manager there. And then I cover every night the
both side for them. And then we have 16 resident in one site and 12 in other sides.
So it's was too much for me because before the put one [00:08:30] at in each sides,
then only mid-manager, so I covered both sides. So that means I floats the nights.
Now they've refused, they puts me just in one side and then another staff my co-
worker in other sides. So that means I have to cover the both sides and- and do the
all the job in the same times. to alerting the resident at night, respond to the call
lights. If somebody needs-need the medication [00:09:00] as needed. I did that. If
somebody had a bowel movement, I have to do the shower for that person. And, you
know, Legacy Garden is memory care. That was too much for me. I could not handle
that anymore. Then we have to assist in the facility. I told them like I was there by
myself. I can- I can change it. I cannot change that person by myself. Then I feel
uncomfort- I didn't feel comfortable to live the resident in [00:09:30] the urine the
whole night until morning. And then if the fellowship to get there, we can change the
resident. They didn't do anything about it. They continued the schedule like that's
11. Since the July until October. October 14, 2022 when I got to work, when we were
counting the narcotics, I noticed that the nurse made a mistake. [00:10:00] They fill
up the syringes with lorazepam. Three of them was correct- were correct. And three
were- were fill- one was filled with 0.1 Milliliter and two others of the syringes were
filled with air. I thought the second she'd made manager to call her and let her know
because it's not my job. She was there. She- she- she- she was there. She called
[00:10:30] the nurse. The nurse say is not possible. She said that it's not possible
because she's- she filled everything correct before she left. And then like I said, they
made- made many second shift to check with me, and then she said, you-you're
correct. And then she- the nurse asked us- asked her to take the picture and sent
them to her. She took the picture, she sent to her, and then she send- the [00:11:00]
nurse send another person from legacy point because it's a two-building. She sent
another mid-manager to come and double check. She came and then she confirmed.
She called the nurse and let her know. I was there by myself the night around one-
1:30 A.M. the nurse came in the facility and fixed everything. But she looks unhappy
because she drove almost one hour that night and came and fixed the- the problem.
[00:11:30] October 26, 2022, early morning because me I worked night shifts, that
was Tuesday, early morning.
Stephanie, from the agency depart of- the agency people came in the fast rate for
inspection. She came that morning and then she- she spoke with me in the end of
my shift. She asked- when- when she [00:12:00] came, I called the nurse on call and
let her know. At seven o'clock in the end of my shifts, we- we- we spoke together.
She asked me about the residents and the staff. I told her that we work since the
July shots and then I suggested her if we can- they can- they can schedule three
people- at least three people that will be fine. After that, when [00:12:30] I give a
call to the nurse, she didn't pick up my call anymore and that time- so I noticed that
and then she didn't give me a call back but why? So because the- because of those
things, when that- that- that thing happened in November 1st- November 1st that
she didn't feel the syringes. The next day- [00:13:00] the next day, the- the- they
said, because I didn't give morphine to the resident- the resident- is like the resident
for them because of morphine the resident her rest- restlessness, so she fell and
then she cut her head.
But it's- it's not clear for me. [00:13:30] If you didn't feel the syringes and then me, I
didn't give that syringe- that- that- that medication to the resident, it wasn't my fault
and then nothing proved that because- because I didn't give the- the morphine to
the resident that why the resident fell. There is a memory care and then I remember
properly when me I got to the work that night, my co-worker told me the resident
[00:14:00] fell. I asked them why she fell. They say she moved- she moved on the
bed that why she fell and then like me I was there by myself. If I got the work I would
want everything to be clear for me. So I asked them that night to go so we can do
rounds so I can check everybody to make sure everybody was in their room before
they left. When we arrive in- in- in- in the room where the [00:14:30] resident wa-
was, Room 115, I was surprised to see the resident on the floor in her mattress. I
asked my coworker why she laid down on the floor. She told me again, she moved a
lot on the bed that's why the nurse and the hospice decided to put her on the floor,
so do not worry about that. Now, they are accusing [00:15:00] me for something me
I- I didn't do.
I don't know why they are accusing me for that and then they'd no warning and then
they suspended me and then they fired me like that. Me I was there, I worked for
them hard. Sometimes they leave me there with the dying people. I was there by
myself. Take care of the person. I took the resident like my-my own parent.
[00:15:30] I stay by myself with dying person. The person pass. I d- hold the corpse
by myself because I was there by myself. Clean the person did everything for for-
the- the lady. Now, in the end, that's why they say thank you to me but I- I-I don't
know. And if you see the paper that they're handed to me to fire me, me, I'm from
Africa there nobody gonna fire me in my home country [00:16:00] like that. The- the
paper, no- no- no- no, uh, the company name, no address, no phone number,
nothing. So finally, it's like they just use me and throw me away. Yeah. Because for
me it's like they just tried to find something against me to fire me because first she
was happy because I was the [00:16:30] person who always notice the mistake and
then we call her. She drove an hour to come. She was happy a second time because
I- I- I spoke with the- with the agency to Stephanie because we were short because
one thing I noticed when I spoke with her the next week, they send something
immediately to me to train. I train somebody for them next week. Then- then next
week again, they send another person for me to train for them. So now they have
the mid-managers [00:17:00] so they can fire me. They just use me and throw me
away like that and then they continue to lie against me. I apply for unemployment.
They denied- they denied it. The- the administrative law- law judge spoke with me-
with us first-time, they sent me a note that I was eligible to take the- the benefit- to-
to have the benefits. And [00:17:30] then they appeal again. When I tried to explain
everything to them, we had a hearing last Friday, January 13, they sent me the note
today that I- I- I have to pay back. That was my fault, they continue to accuse me
and then the nurse lie against me like she brief- I don't know why she lie like that.
She told the- the administrative law judge that we- she scheduled four morphine
that night but it wasn't four morphine [00:18:00] syringes. That was two doze and
two lorazepam and two morphine but I give lorazepam to that resident. Why- why-
why we give lorazepam to the resident? Is for anxiety and agitation, and then that
resident she slept the whole night but when in the- our- our hearing she continued to
lie that that was the four dose. That- the whole night I didn't give anything to the
resident. [00:18:30] And then for that, they sent me the note today to pay back. I
disagree for that. And then I wasn't the first person the- the- they fired that way,
they fire two black, one July, one person in- in- in August. No warning and then I was
the third person. I disagree for that. Is a- is a discrimination- discrimination is not
good at all. You can woke somebody- you can employ [00:19:00] somebody, and
then woke up one morning and then you fire that person like that. I had a shock.
Until now I didn't feel good at all because I know from my heart that I worked hard
for them. I love my residents and then I didn't- I didn't do anything bad there. They
didn't- they didn't like me if I can say that because in March 2022, last [00:19:30]
2022, the same nurse did this, did something horrible. I didn't work February 14th
but when the state- the state's people came in the facility, she switch the- the- the
schedule. That was another person, they- they put my name there. The- the state
people- Stephanie, call me- give me a call. I told to her, it wasn't me. [00:20:00] I
didn't work that night but the nurse continue to tell her in he phone that was me,
that was Yawavi. I said no. I said everything she said no, that was me and then they
continued to ask me the question about the resident. I told to her I- I- it wasn't me
because the- the resident fell that night. They tried to- to- to put me in the trouble. I-
I- I explain everything she said no. When I hang up with them, I call the person who
work that night, and then the person [00:20:30] confirmed that that was her. I call
back. I wanted to talk to the agency people that nurse say no. She refused
categorically. She refused me to talk to the- to the agency- to Stephanie. So why-
why she can- she can- she can- it's- it's not fair. It's not fair at all. So that way I see
it's like she just wanted to put me into trouble. It's not good at all. You can't do
[00:21:00] that. She could not do the thing like that to me because I was always
quiet. I- I- I- I don't like the problem. And then since I worked there almost five year,
I never had a problem with anybody. They never warning me. I never made the
medication error. Never because I know my job because I was around in my home
country before to move in this country because of English. I have to start over. So I
know I [00:21:30] was- I explain today I know what I was doing there. I was in this- in
the medicine field since 2008- since 2008. So I know what is morphine, I know what
is lorazepam. Morphine is not for- is for- not for everybody. That why the- they
protect that. It's not something you can- everybody can manipulate. No, is for the
pharmacist or the nurse or the RN to do that. Me I'm just [00:22:00] the CMA. I just
am a medication aid that's why they never allow us to touch the bottle and then we
respect that. It's not because I was RN, so I can do whatever I want in this country.
No. So they don't respect us at all. They don't care, especially me, they don't care
about me. They don't trust me. So this is- is very hard.
Yeah, that's why I want to share with you today. [00:22:30] Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Is there anyone- one else in the audience that would like to speak?
Yeah, my- my husband.
She's my wife.
Mmh, you-you may come up and speak.
Thank you very much. My name is Paul Anduko, and I graduate from the University
of Lome in the Department of Geography, I have my PhD from Togo. And as you
[00:23:00] may know, we came from Africa where I-I think people from this country
think, excuse me to say that they think that we came from a forest where we do not
have a brain, we do not have a- a head to think about what we can do, or what we
can say. Because my wife is not somebody who they can throw away like a garbage
or like a trash. Knows [00:23:30] somebody who works with you since 2018 and
since, I- I will say March 27, 2018, and November 14, 2022, you just send her a test
message saying that you do not have to put your foo- your feet or your foot on our
floor until we meet you. And- and what- she tried to call them and send a test
[00:24:00] message, and they did not reply to the test message until she asked
them three questions; Why did you suspended me? How long it will take? Will this
suspension, will be pay or not? I asked her to send three question to them. And
when they got the question, their response say, okay, so you can come tomorrow
and we will talk to you about that.
Once she got there, they tried to lie against her. [00:24:30] What she didn't do, she
knows what she's doing. And what I will say is that when she got a call from
unemployment like your works. The first lawyer, I think she understood what she
said, and even they appeal saying that she works from October 31st, 2022, until
November the 1st, and she never worked on Mondays. Unfortunately, [00:25:00] she
never works on Mondays, so they lie against her, and the first lawyer saw that she
was telling the truth. Unfortunately, last Friday, the one who-who spoke with her,
didn't- like it was like misunderstanding. Now we are here, we need your support.
We need your support. I know what you're doing, you're doing a great job in this
country. [00:25:30] And you will give us some evidence, some proof, that you are
doing a great job in this country, I trust you. So what I want to say is that I didn't
know my wife had this talents in her. She should-she should-she stood up for herself
when I was not expecting her, so I have to congratulate her. She is trying to defend
herself, [00:26:00] to improve herself, and for that, she needs all your help. I was not
at home when she took phone calls and she tried to explain to them even he need to
improve her English speak, her English language, but so far she's doing a very-very
good job because she-she-they try to understand her. And actually when I tell this
story about Legacy Garden, everyone says it is bad place [00:26:30] to work and
that the leadership is not serious. I've heard that they have great lawyers in this
country. I had the courage to tell to the colleague that the lawyers of lawyer took
control because he doesn't like to lie and he hated it. I would like to ask you to
support my wife one more time, [00:27:00] and so those who are left will no longer
suffer injustice and racist in this business. Thank you everyone, and God bless you.
Thank you. Is there anyone else, um, in this room that would like to speak? Anyone
online- joining us online that would like to speak on any items that are not on the
agenda? Okay, well we'll move on [00:27:30] to item Number 6, which is a practical
guide to planning collaborative initiatives to advance racial equity section ed-ed-
section edition 2022 discussion. Um, this is a book that we've been working through.
Um, is there anyone in the audience or-ar in the room or online that would like to
comment on this book at all or this line item? Okay I'll open up to commissioners. Is
there anyone that would like to jump on the discussion? [00:28:00] Mohamed, did
you want to start the discussion on this?
I don't know if-if you're speaking, we can't hear you.
Okay, does any commissioners in this room have anything they [00:28:30] want to
say? I believe we're on Section 2 [NOISE] Thank you. Um, if there's nothing to
discuss at this time, we can, um, table it for the next-the next meeting.
But, it looks like, um, there might be checking-let's see what's going on here.
Oh no [00:29:00] we-we still can't hear you Mohamed.
We could previously, so I don't know what happened.
We'll just give it a moment to figure this out [NOISE] If you want to [00:29:30] go
ahead and try to switch devices, you can al-also do that as well, Mohamed.
While we're working to figure this out, are we okay to move on to the next one, and
then come back? [BACKGROUND] Never mind, go ahead, um, [00:30:00] if you can
hear us, Mohamed.
And also have it in the room.
Oh, we can- now we can hear you. If you wanna start over. It's really-
But it's very faint.
It's faint.
Yeah. I'm saying that I'm going to- I'm adding this to our share drives and into the
record and then also- [00:30:30] and therefore this.
Okay you're adding, um, your, uh, discussion, um, notes to the share drive. Is that
what I heard?
Yeah. The summary.
The summary? Okay. Um, for some reason it's really hard for us to hear on this end I
don't know what happened, but, um, is- is there anything else that you wanted to
add?
Uh, no, not from there. Um, I'll just open the document to share live with [00:31:00]
all of you.
Okay. Did everyone hear that? As- as far as I heard as you said you're just, um,
you're sharing the notes and, um, we can continue discussion moving forward in the
next meetings. Is that correct?
That's essentially what I have. I have like a page-and-a-half of this [inaudible
00:31:22]
Okay. Thank you so much for writing those notes for us, um, and we will dive into a
[00:31:30] deeper discussion at the next meeting.
And we'll attach it to-
We'll attach it to the agenda. All right. So, um, we will move on to item Number 7
which is, it just says excluded workers. Um, I will go ahead and- I mean, is there
anyone in the room that would like to speak on this? Okay. Anyone on- in the online
that would like to speak about this item? All right. We'll move on and I'm gonna let
[00:32:00] Eric take there.
Okay so I decided that, um, I wanted to put this on the agenda because we- I haven't
had this on the agenda for awhile so I wanna update the progress and kinda give a
little backstory about how we, um, supported the scooter workers and what was the
result of that. Um, so first of all I would say, um, a scooter workers to explain how
the whole thing started was, you know, during the pandemic times there were
people [00:32:30] who worked during the pandemic, but, you know, they were not,
you know, legal US citizens at the time. So they might have worked through the
pandemic, they may have lost hours, they have- may have worked more hours, and
so when the pandemic relief funds were being passed out, those people were
excluded from that because they didn't have the proper doctrine and it is to say that
they were American citizens. But, you know, at times, you know, when people, you
know, during the pandemic, a lot of people [00:33:00] ate fast food a lot because,
you know, people- and all sorts of people who were in those kitchens and who are in
there cooking and things like that. So we led a whole campaign, we were always,
you know, every week I would give update me and a couple of other people on this
commission I would say, Commissioner Traore, Commissioner Johnson, we attended
events over at the- our Catholic Worker House because that's where the center
[00:33:30] of it was that, you know, that's what it helped people. And it was a long,
long, long campaign, you know. Basically, what happened was the US government
had gave counties and cities money for the American Rescue Plan. And the cities and
the counties were supposed to rescue the people who suffered during the pandemic.
Well, they had other plans, you know. They wanted to give money to places that
didn't need [00:34:00] money. They wanted to give money to places that already
had enough money. They didn't want to help the individual people because they
were worried about their immigration statuses. They put up all types of barriers,
there were lots of different insults and things that was said by city officials. Now, I'm
gonna get past that part. So what happened at the end we ended up working it out, I
ended up helping out a lot, um, and those people ended up getting $1,400 checks
and [00:34:30] there was a lot of speculation like, what are these people gonna do
with the $1,400 checks, you know? It was even- it was- it was- it was even city
official saying, what if they're gonna send the money back to another country and
things like that. And this is on a record, you know, you ever- you want to go back and
look at some things you can see that it's on the record. And then so those people
ended up getting that money and then later on, I think earlier, I think in the fall
[00:35:00] time or maybe in December, the people told stories about what they did
with the money. And it was pretty interesting and so that's why I wanted to give this
update because I don't think we ever talked about what the people that gave
interviews on TV about, like what they did with the money. Some people fixed their
roofs, some people fixed their trailers, some people paid back bills that they had
from pandemic times. Um, it was just amazing just to hear what people did with the
money. Some people fixed their vehicles, you know, just [00:35:30] things that they
couldn't get fixed because, you know, they may have lost their job because of the
pandemic, they may have, you know, just lost some opportunities. They didn't get all
that pandemic money people got, you know, during that time, you know, the $1,400
was lots of three- I think two or three rounds of checks that people got. And so I just
wanna like just bring up there and just like update that because we did, you know,
as, uh, like as a commission we [00:36:00] had wrote a letter of support for them
and we supported them during that time so and I haven't really- and we haven't
really brought that up, you know, so I just wanted to bring that up. And also- um, and
like I said, the testimony from people who was like, you know, it paid my light bill, it
paid my gas bill, just to hear what happened, you know, that was a good thing. But I
also wanna bring up too- this is the last thing imma bring up is how the- I would cut
the work house which is located on 113 South Johnson [00:36:30] Street, I believe.
So what they're doing right now is that, um, it's a lot of meat- it's a lot of meat
packing plants, you know, around Eastern Iowa and a lot of people from Johnson
county and Mascartin and, you know, Louisa county, they all worked in there and
their people-and it's not just, um, Latinos, is Africans as well. So, uh, if you go to 113
Johnson Street is the hour cut the work house, and- and they- [00:37:00] they have
French translators, and they have Spanish translators. And what they've done is
they've got a grant from the USDA, and they've got these people, you know,
because a lot of people suffer in those meat packing plants, you know, during the
pandemic and a lot of people die. And so those people didn't get like their relief as
well. So what they did is they got these people $600 checks and they came back
with the same sets of money. Oh, I paid my light bill. I was past through this, but
they shut my lights off. And [00:37:30] so I just want to make people aware of the
hour cut the work house, it's on 113 Johnson Street downtown, Iowa City, right
across from Green Square park. If you know some people that work in those meat
packing plants, there's a lot of people who live in Johnson County that work in those
meat packing plants. If you know of anybody and they wanna try to apply for that
grant, send them down to the hour cut the workhouse with that idea.
Thanks for that, Dill. Is there any other, [00:38:00] uh, discussion that we view we
need to have on this topic? Is there anything that you think we need to be doing,
Eric?
Um, just- just keep supporting them because we already wrote out like- like our
letter of support and I've also, um, made sure, you know, because I kinda been in
ambassador firm, the TRC over there because I was- you know, I was over there a lot
I helped out with a lot. So just- I would just say that we will periodically just have
updates [00:38:30] on how they're doing and things like that because I keep in
touch with them so-
Thanks for bringing it back to the table.
Yeah.
Yeah. This is Commissioner Wangui. I just want to thank Eric for always keeping us
updated on- on excluded workers and how the progress has been since the
beginning, and to add that maybe you mentioned it and I didn't hear it, but
[00:39:00] when you're seeing how, uh, some of the beneficiaries spent the money,
uh, it's great to hear that it's circulated in our community, our Iowa City and Johnson
County communities. And we are the better for it. Although, uh, it wasn't an easy
journey. And thank you, Eric for being a point person for that. [00:39:30] And
personally, I also want to repeat that I coordinate Nisaa African Family Services in
Eastern Iowa and our offices are in Iowa City. We are part of the partners and
organizations who suppo- who have supported this journey, and at the same time,
our clients and the African refugees and immigrants are, [00:40:00] um, some of the
beneficiaries of this fund. Thank you.
Commissioner Krebs, I just want to say thank you too because that was before my
time with- with the TRC and, um, you guy's support was really important. I watched
that play out in real time. A lot of these people, uh, they don't have health care and
they were scared to go to the doctor and they went to work sick, and, um, you know,
so [00:40:30] it wasn't a good situation. Some of them probably paid off hospital bills
with that money. So I appreciate you guys going to back and standing up for people.
Yeah.
This is Commissioner Merritt. Um, this was also before my time, um, but I was- need
to go back to some of the records that you're talking about because it's a little
disconcerting if we have city officials or anybody asking what- how they're gonna
spend the money when nobody else was ever [00:41:00] asked about how you were
gonna spend the money that you received or were there any restrictions, you know,
provided. If you're gonna get this money, you have to do this. That- that is not how
the funds worked, and so it- it is concerning that, uh, because of their status that
anybody was questioning, you know, what they were gonna do with the money when
that was not, um, a guideline.
Yeah. And I would just add, um, [00:41:30] and when we worked on that whole
campaign and I just told them something simple and that's when I just told them
simply, they're gonna take that money and they're gonna spend that right back into
the Johnson County economy. And I told them that and then when the people gave
the whole testimony, I was like see, there's probably somebody in Johnson County
who fixed their roof, somebody in Johnson County probably fixed their car. That, you
know- because that was the point of the rescue funds is to stimulate the economy
[00:42:00] because these people need these things as in this county, you know. Who
cares what they spend their money on? Whether it is the roof or the light bill
because, you know. Thank you.
Thank you. Um, so we'll go ahead and move on to the Iowa City community School
District elementary school performance incident and just, um, listen the updates
with that. But first, I'd love to open it up for discussion with our- with people in the
room. There's anyone online as well that would like to [00:42:30] comment on this
agenda item? Okay. We can go ahead and discuss as commissioners.
Um, updates, sorry writing notes. [OVERLAPPING] So I, um, sent out the letter the
sky was put together and the letter of support from the TRC sent that out to different
members of the school board and the list [00:43:00] of people that were on the
letter. Um, Mantegna did, uh, get in touch with me via email and as, um, was
apologetic and wants to meet. And, um- um, uh, so it seems that everyone again is
still being supportive. So that's really good. I'm working on getting something
together with Matt and of course, the, um, school board meeting is on the 24th at
06:00 o'clock. [00:43:30] So this upcoming Tuesday, um, it's at the professional
development center of the Educational Services Center. The address is 1725 North
Dodge Street. Um, I know the Callison and I at least will be attending that. And Merrit
Lauren.
Just curious, I was trying to look for the agenda. Do you know what, um, where you
[00:44:00] are on the agenda?
Um, I have not looked at their agenda, to be honest with ya.
Okay-okay
Um, I would like to be their interest and support. Um, I just needed to figure out my
schedule so I'll try to be there.
Thank you.
Yeah. Just a question. I think I- it's through Stefanie and you, Commissioner Dillard.
Can we receive this through an email please? [OVERLAPPING] What is the
information about the meeting with the board?
Yes [00:44:30] we can send an- you want an email about the where does.
[OVERLAPPING]
That information because yeah-yeah.
You can do that?
Yeah-yeah. Thank you.
We've got to be sure about who's all going because.
Oh.
You can have one.
You can't have more than five people.
I don't think.
I.
In the room or talking.
I don't know.
I will do [LAUGHTER] I will just be there for this report
Let me check on that and I'll give an answer tomorrow.
[00:45:00] Okay. Because I know it was some, uh, because I know what I would
capture work within. We used to have those.
Okay.
Issues some time.
Well, let's get to know.
Not more than five, I think, there'll something I don't know.
That might have been by design. But, um.
There are ways that you can be in the same place in this. But not be functioning as
a.
Some silly-silly.
I think we can be discussing things, [00:45:30] is that correct? So [LAUGHTER] other
people can go up and speak, but we cannot be you know discussing things amongst
ourselves.
Not in a quorum. But we can all be in the same room together as long as we're not
saying anything in groups of.
Pairs. Away from each other, 6 feet.
I don't know the exact group, but I know it's something.
We'll get the information from.
Yeah.
From Stephanie about it.
Yeah-yeah.
Did you wanna clarify anything [00:46:00] Stef?
Well, I-I think-if Stefanie Bowers goes to a school board meeting as Stefanie Bowers
and-and you can give your- you know your pedigree. You know, I'm a member of the
TRC. I'm here too. Um, I think that there would be more problems if you say
something like and we came here tonight. Because technically this kind of this
commission business. You know so I think it's-it's important [00:46:30] to
individualize.
That makes sense.
Okay. We won't worry about it.
Is there anything else that, um, we can be of help with before this meeting or just
showing up and supporting?
Showing up and supporting would be awesome.
Okay.
And very much appreciated.
We'll do. Any other discussion on this line item? Okay. We will move on to the
facilitator services proposal. But first, I'd love to open it up again to [00:47:00] the
public in the room or online. Anyone want to speak? Okay. So facility-facility service
proposal. We just wanted an update. We did get an email from Annie Tucker, um,
which I can read. Um, and then Stefanie, if you had any other additional updates,
feel free. Okay. So if you hadn't seen this already, um, and he wrote, '' Dear
commissioners, regretfully, none of us on [00:47:30] the team from the facility-
facilitator services proposal are available tonight to attend the TRC meeting. We
know the facilitator service proposal is on your agenda. We want to let you know
what we have heard from the city regarding their processing of the proposal in
response to our questions, Jeff Ruin, respondent, on Friday, January 13th, that the
city is currently reviewing the proposals and expects to have a number of questions
for us. We have not received them yet. They hope to get the answers from us by the
end of the month. At that point, [00:48:00] they expect to return to the TRC to
confirm that you understand it and don't want to explore any further changes. From
there, he said they will plan to have their agreements with the facilitator entities
ready to present to the city council. That is what we know about the process right
now. As always, if you have questions or if somebody we want to meet with us,
please feel free to email one or all of us. Thank you.'' Annie Tucker for the people in
entities involved in facilities that was proposal. Um, so [00:48:30] those-those are
the updates we have now, um, it has been awhile since I've met with anyone on the
team. So, um, if anyone is interested, we can set up some meetings to talk with the
team. If that's-if anyone has any questions. This would be outside of you know not in
quorum. I'll say at the meeting. So any other discussion on this item?
The only other thing I would add is that we-we do have some city staff meetings set
up [00:49:00] around it, and so I-I would know more at that point.
Okay. Thank you. Um, if there's nothing else to discuss, we can go ahead to
announcements of commissioners and staff and I'll start with Stef.
I don't-I don't think I have anything, um, but I will say this. Sometimes you're-if
you're wondering why you get spam emails. I can't filtered like they're just going on
the site and seeing that in. So if you [00:49:30] get an email that makes no sense to
you, it's-it's probably a spam email. That's not being captured by the Junkers spam
folder or so.
And Commissioners, any announcements?
Okay. If there's our announcements I'm-I'm sorry. Uh, Mohamed, do you have any
announcements?
No I don't have anything, um, I just put in the chat the link to the [inaudible
00:49:59] [00:50:00] [OVERLAPPING]
Okay. I see. Yeah. And then we will um, get that sent out to everyone. Thank you
very much. Okay. Um, is there a motion to adjourn?
I move.
Is there a second?
Second.
Okay. Thank you, everyone.