Johnson County Supervisors extend Disaster Emergency and announce symbolic minimum wage increase

Hunter
03/26/21

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors announced Thursday that they’ve extended their local Public Health Disaster Emergency to the end of May.

In a release from the County on Thursday, the extension also includes the face covering/mask regulation for all residents. It requires masks or face coverings when in public settings inside or outside if not possible to stay at least six feet away from others.

The county added that the Centers for Disease Control strongly recommend the continuation of COVID-19 mitigation efforts, as although coronavirus vaccines are being distributed, the pandemic isn’t over.

Also at their meeting Thursday, the Board announced that the recommended minimum wage will be raised by 12 cents an hour to $10.75, based on Consumer Price Index data. The increase is unenforceable under state law, as then-governor Terry Branstad signed legislation  in 2017 that prevented jurisdictions in the state from setting a minimum wage above Iowa’s $7.25 an hour. The supervisors nevertheless approved the increase to stay in line with their initiative that began in 2015 to phase in minimum-wage increases.