Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty will be present at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting and will be seeking board approval of a Community Oriented Policing Services grant for a school resource officer.
COPS is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. According to its website, COPS advances the practice of community policing in America’s state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. COPS does its work principally by sharing information and making grants to police departments around the U.S.
If the board approves the resolution, there are several requirements the department would have to meet if it were awarded the funds from COPS. First, the funds would not be allowed to be used for any other community policing initiatives. The department also would have to report contact information for every school that the resource officer attends and provide a memorandum of understanding between the school and the department to COPS.
Halferty also will be updating the board on the new K-9 unit, which the board previously approved March 12. In addition, he will update the board on weapon permit cards, the implementation of the $10 optional plastic laminated card proved to be popular with citizens, Halferty said. His department last reported earnings of $15,780 on concealed weapon permits.
County Engineer Russ Stutt will ask the board to approve a bridge embargo resolution. Stutt is asking that some bridges be closed and others have their maximum weight limits altered. There are 13 proposed bridges on the list.
Stutt is also seeking the approval to purchase 14 steel beams. The most likely winner of the bid will be Oden Enterprises Inc. of Wahoo, Neb., which gave a quote of $19,461.12.
Jasper County Medical Examiner Phillip Clevenger wrote a letter to the board asking former Jasper County Sheriff Mike Balmer to remain in his position as medical examiner investigator. In his letter Clevenger wrote:
“(Balmer) has done an excellent job. I would appreciate it if he could be reinstated to this position as he brings much experience, expertise, and dedication to the position.”
County Human Resources Director Dennis Simon will present the board with the official hiring resolution for Cara Ingle to be a Program Coordinator for the Conservation Department. Ingle will have an hourly wage of $10 an hour, if approved, and began work on Wednesday.
Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.