Former SHS vocal music teacher facing sexual abuse charges
Joel Mark Foreman, age 43 of Mount Vernon, was arrested and booked into the Johnson County Jail Friday, August 21 on allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct during his time as Solon High School’s vocal music teacher. According to court documents Foreman is facing five charges: • Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree (Class C Felony) (709.4(1)) August 1, 2016 – May 31, 2017, at Solon High School “on or about the above stated date and time the Defendant did commit sexual abuse upon ____, a person 14 or 15 years of age, over whom the defendant is in a position of authority, which authority the defendant used to coerce submission. During the above time frame, the defendant was employed as a choir instructor with the Solon High School when he entered into a sexual relationship with a student during a session of private instruction.” • Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree (Class C Felony) August 1, 2016 - May 31, 2017, at Solon High School “On or about the above stated date and time, the Defendant did commit sexual abuse upon ____, a person 14 or 15 years of age, over whom the defendant is in a position of authority, which authority the defendant used to coerce submission. During the above time frame, the defendant was employed as a choir instructor with the Solon High School when he entered into a sexual relationship with a student during a session of private instruction.” • Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee (Scheme) (Class D Felony) (709.15(5)(a) April 1, 2019 – May 31, 2019, at Solon High School “During the above time period, the above defendant was a choir instructor for Solon High School and engaged in a scheme of conduct with a juvenile student in his care during and after school hours which
Presenting their case New jail and Sheriff’s Office proposal explained in first of three public information sessions ahead of November bond referendum
Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and Michael Lewis with Shive-Hattery held a public informational session last Tuesday in which they addressed questions about the proposed new county jail and sheriff ’s office. Standing at the head of the Solon City Hall council chambers, Kunkel began the session by explaining this idea — which has been discussed for over a decade — resurfaced and began gaining traction in 2022. A consultant was hired to conduct an audit of all Johnson County buildings. According to Kunkel, any build-
ing that scored above 60% was deemed in need of replacement. The sheriff ’s office scored 104%, and all other associated facilities — like Chatham Oaks — shared similar scores. Soon after receiving these audit results, a jail inspector and engineers with Axiom Consulting performed an assessment. This led to concerns about the building’s structural integrity, which later resulted in Shive-Hattery — an engineering and architectural firm — conducting a needs study, which Kunkel said was crucial in helping to develop the concepts discussed at the meeting. A f ter connecting w ith Shive-Hattery, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee resurfaced with its mission statement focused on replacing the worn facility. In search of public perspective, Kunkel said the University of Iowa’s Center for Social Science Innovation was contracted to conduct a survey, which showed around 74% of respondents reported being favorable or leaning favorable to
a new facility. This brings the project to the present day, where Kunkel’s main priority is on sharing the new facility proposal with Johnson County residents and answering community questions before a referendum vote is held in November. Following his discussion of
this proposal’s creation, Kunkel went into further detail regarding the perceived need for a new jail and sheriff ’s office. With 92 beds, an average daily population of around 88 inmates, an operational capacity of about 65 and the frequent need to house
Solon City Council discusses next steps of Jordan Creek Church Councilmen voiced how they would like to see developers proceed with utility and infrastructure connections
just south of Highway 382 NE, which is outside Solon city limits, Schechinger and Mayor Dan O’Neil expressed that the city would prefer this land to be annexed in order for the church to connect to city utility services. “This council has taken a pretty firm stance that if you want to be on city utilities, you should be in city limits,” O’Neil said. “There was the exception At the regularly-scheduled that we allowed Macbride Point Solon City Council meeting on to connect previously…but that Aug. 19, City Engineer Dave was out of water conservation.” Schechinger provided his proAlthough the city’s preference fessional opinion regarding is for annexation and connecdifferent options the new Jor- tion to city services, the project dan Creek Church site may engineers explored a few other pursue in setting up utilities. options to ensure utility conAs the project site resides nectivity would be accounted
for regardless. After the project engineers identified cost estimates for utility connection and access, Schechinger provided his insight to the council. In terms of sewer set-up, the church developers are in favor of implementing a septic system as opposed to extending sewer to the church from Trail Ridge. It was estimated whereas a septic system would cost the church $65,654 while a sewer extension from Trail Ridge would cost between $200,000 and $300,000. “As we’ve done with some other locations in town, or right outside of town, we’ve given the permission to do the septic with the condition that at such time
the sewer is adjacent to that property or close enough they can connect, they would make that connection and abandon the septic system,” Schechinger said. “The agreement would include that language.” In setting up water, the church developers identified three different options: to connect to city water, connect to Gallery Acres water line, or install a private well. These last two options would require a fire suppression tank to be installed at the site. Connection to the Gallery Acres line would cost around $369,225, and the well would cost about $650,000. “The request there is for them
SOLON
EC N MIST Focused on community.