New AED batteries and Jail repairs approved

Jail repairs, public hearing dates and housekeeping items dominated the discussion during the Dec. 21 Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Jasper County Human Resources Director Dennis Simon requested the county replace several automated external defribillator (AEDs) batteries and chest pads.

AEDs are a common sight in every county building and are usually located somewhere near the entrances. AEDs are portable devices designed to treat people experiencing cardiac arrests before first responders arrive.

“The shelf date for the AED batteries is around four years. Some of the batteries and pads we’re replacing don’t have expiration dates printed, but they have been tested and need to be replaced,” Simon said. “We test all of the AEDs around once a month to ensure they are working properly.”

The cost of the new batteries and pads were $513. Supervisors approved the purchase.

“You hope you never need to use these things, but when you do you really want them to work properly,” Simon said.

Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks informed the board of supervisors of unit repairs taking place at the Jasper County Jail.

Sparks reported the building’s I.T. cooling system needs repairs due to a coolant leak. Without this cooling system to help regulate the temperature, the I.T. server rooms at the jail are at risk of overheating.

“We discovered the leak during regular maintenance,” Sparks said. “Repairing the leak is definitely the best way to go, we really prefer repairing the leak to replacing the unit.”

The unit was installed when the jail was originally built around 15 years ago and has not had any major issues until now.

The documents Sparks submitted to the board states the repairs will cost a little more than $4,300, which will cover the all the labor, calibrations and the 45 pounds of R-22 refrigerant, and will be handled by the Waldinger Corporation of Des Moines.

The board approved Spark’s repair request.

In other business the board of supervisors:

• Approved the zoning commission’s recommendation for the Co-Line urban renewal plan.

• Set the public hearing dates for the county redistricting ordinance. The hearings will be taking place at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 28, Jan. 4 and Jan. 11 during the board of supervisors’ regular weekly meetings.

• Approved the DNR’s yearly construction evaluation resolution relating to the construction of confined feeding operation structures.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com