County to partner with Keep Iowa Beautiful program

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Associate Editor

     The Jones County Board of Supervisors made a commitment to partner with the Keep Iowa Beautiful Home Town Pride program during its regular meeting April 18.

     In Jones County, the program provides funds for the Grant Wood Loop initiative and Parks to People.

     Parks to People has contributed to several area projects, including the Monticello Pocket Park, modifications to the Mon/Maq Dam, the Central Park Lake restoration and access project, and more.

     “We see this as an opportunity to keep us moving without a huge commitment,” Embree told the board.

     Jones County Conservation director Brad Mormann and Jones County Economic Development director Dusty Embree were present to discuss the partnership, requesting a $25,000 commitment over five years. Funds approved by the board will be matched, 3-to-1, by the program.

     The board approved a one-year, $5,000 commitment, effective July 1, with plans to discuss continuing it on an annual basis.

     • discussed salary with new Community Services Director Lucia Herman. Herman was approved for the position at the March 28 board meeting, at a salary of $58,994 – the same salary previous Director Deb Schultz was receiving at the time of her retirement.

     Herman came to the board asking that it reconsider her salary. She said the job is an advanced position. She listed other advanced positions and their salaries, including auditor, treasurer and recorder, and said she believes she should be paid accordingly.

     She also listed the salary range for community services directors in other counties, $62,000 to $95,000.

     “It should be increased to what it’s worth,” Herman said.

     “It is a pretty specialized position,” Manternach said. “I would like to start with the correct wage and not have to worry about, in the future, making big bumps to catch up.”

     Eaken offered another view.

     “I don’t disagree that she’s probably on the low end of the scale,” Eaken said, “but then I’m wondering, how many people start a new job and start for the same amount of pay (that the previous person earned)?”

     It was not an action item on the agenda, so none was taken.

In other county business, the board:

     • made record of the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the new JETS facility to be constructed in Monticello. The RFQ was issued by the ECICOG on April 12.

     • authorized the auditor to obtain sealed bids for weed control and fertilizer services for the courthouse lawn.

     • dismissed a court case for a violation of setback requirements in the Jones County Ordinance for a property in Center Junction. Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben requested the dismissal, as the setback requirements has since been satisfied.

     • approved the fiscal year 2018 Secondary Road Iowa Department of Transportation Budget and five-year road construction program that was submitted by engineer Derek Snead. Estimated expenditures from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 are $10.95 million, according to the budget.

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