My time immersed in municipal government started in the mid-1990s. I remember, back then, the tension between local cities, and between “town and gown.” There were jokes about Coralville. Ivory tower insults towards townies. Land disputes in North Liberty. More recently, the competition for economic development has been fierce, leading eventually to an agreement to help prevent cities from poaching businesses from each other.

Then: 2020.

The combination of the pandemic, George Floyd’s murder and the resulting protests, and derecho (all during Trump’s presidency and during a caucus-and-election year!) taught local leaders a lot.

While crises can bring out the worst in folks, over the last few years, our communities have stepped up and pulled together. Compared to what I saw in past decades, leaders are finding common ground and are willing to share ideas and resources. High-stakes meetings and highly scrutinized public decision-making on life-and-livelihood topics are uncomfortable, but they have been productive. Our region has committed to continued collaboration, even beyond Johnson County. We spelled out a vision for our shared future, and, despite increasing challenges, it looks pretty bright.