March 29, 2024

Several quarterly reports approved at supervisors Tuesday meeting

Several motions were approved at Tuesday’s meeting of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors, including the quarterly reports from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department and the Veterans Affairs Department.

In her presentation to the board, Iowa Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Director Shirley Stout Frederiksen recapped IHRCD 2012 annual report.

Frederiksen discussed her organization’s work with farmers markets in the seven regions it covers. The Newton Farmers Market received $802 in funding. She also elaborated on work with developing rural communities through USDA Rural Development funds.

“I kind of shine on helping small communities with projects,” Frederiksen said.

Toward the end of her presentation, Frederiksen pointed out the “abrupt departure” of funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service and sought aid from the board.

“We are also asking for a contribution of $5,000 to kind of get us over this hump,” Frederiksen said.

Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott asked what specifically the $5,000 would go toward.

“Mostly for salary support, and what I would like to do is get another younger person on(board),” Frederiksen said. “And start training them to take over, and do the grant writing and project development, those things that I can pass on that I learned the hard way.”

IHRCD is a 501-certified non-profit organization. The board agreed to look into the matter of a donation after more conversation and research on its part.

In other business, the board approved the addition of Hedrick Bank to the list of county depositories at the request of Jasper County Treasure Doug Bishop.

Sheriff John Halferty was unavailable to present his department’s report, however, it was approved by the board. In the report it is noted the department had a balance of $14,796.06 before the quarter and balance of $27,318.79 at the end of the quarter. The department receipts totaled $215,817.27 and its disbursements totaled $203,294.54.

County Engineer Russ Stutt was also unavailable and Highway Department employee Pam Olson asked the board for approval for the crossing surface repair project at North 39th Avenue East/County Road F27. The project is expected to cost $183,499.28 and the cost would be split between Jasper County, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Iowa Interstate Railroad. The county and IIR would each pay 20 percent and IDOT would cover the remaining 60 percent.

Director of Veterans Affairs Christopher Chartier presented his department’s quarterly report. His department assisted 15 veterans in the quarter for an average cost of $734.51. Chartier also updated the board on his department’s efforts to connect with veterans at Park Centre and Jasper County veterans who currently live at the VA Home in Marshalltown.

“The Marshalltown VA Home has 16 Jasper County residents in it,” Chartier said. “They have been there quite some time. It’s kind of dropped off the radar, so as much as we can, we are trying to involve ourselves up there. It just allows them to realize we didn’t forget about them.”

Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.