Johnson County supervisors approve first vote on minimum wage ordinance

IOWA CITY - With a unanimous vote by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, a packed meeting room erupted into applause.

The county board on Thursday voted 5-0 to approve the state's first countywide minimum wage ordinance that would phase the local wage up from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour by 2017.

As the first of three votes required to pass, the ordinance is not yet a reality, but the board's statement was clear.

'This is another historic day in Johnson County,” Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said, noting the board's approval of the Community ID program earlier this year. 'Here we are again, another significant day for all of us. Today we have an opportunity to do what is right for the community and help those most in need.”

While all supervisors supported the ordinance, which would begin phasing in this November until reaching $10.10 in 2017, after which a Consumer Price Index will be used to determine future adjustments, Neuzil did question the 'aggressive timeline.”

'The aggressive timeline also gives little opportunity for city governments to hear from their constituencies to determine if they want to adhere to the County ordinance or opt out,” he said. While individual councils in Johnson County have not formally discussed the ordinance, they do have the option of passing a counter ordinance.

Supervisor Janelle Rettig said she was in support of the timeline, adding that she was tired of waiting on federal, state or city governments to take up the issue.

'It's time for somebody to step out on a limb in Iowa and raise the wage ... I'm sick of politicians posturing,” she said. 'I have never been more at peace with a controversial vote, I don't have any controversy here.”

Earlier this month, County Attorney Janet Lyness said the county had the legal authority to pass the ordinance, but it could come down to a lawsuit before anyone knows for certain.

'We have no positive answer until it's litigated,” Supervisor Pat Harney said.

If it passes the next two readings, the ordinance will begin the first phase up November 1. Anybody who works in the county will be subject to the new minimum wage, but state and federal employees will likely adhere to their own governing bodies.

That said, most, if not all, employees with some of the largest state or federal employers in the county, including University of Iowa (which is a state entity) and the federally run United States Postal Service, already make more than the minimum wage.

'I don't have any positions below that threshold,” USPS Postmaster Stacy St. John said of the roughly 170 employees she has in the county.

The UI has not taken a position on the ordinance, but officials have said, if it passes, they will turn to the Attorney General's Office for guidance.