Newton Independent

Eagle Scout project approved at county's community garden site

Newton Independent

The Jasper County Conservation Board on Thursday approved a Newton teen's request to build raised garden beds on the county's new community garden plot as a community service project to help him gain Eagle Scout status.

Sean Healy proposed to the board that he be allowed to build three garden beds, one for general use, one that will be wheel chair accessible and one that will be accessible for those with disabilities.

Keri Van Zante, director of the Jasper County Conservation Board, said that a portion of the $1,500 all-inclusive grant the department received from Thiesen's for development of the garden plot site could be used to assist Healy with the purchase of materials.

Van Zante said she hopes to use the new community garden plot as an educational tool and hopes residents living in the nearby area, as well as those living at Park Centre and Newton Village might opt to use the area.

Last year, the Newton City Council agreed to allow the conservation board to utilize the vacant lot owned by the city at 114 N. 2nd Ave. E., a site directly across the street from the conservation offices in the County Annex Building, as a community gardening area.

In addition, the city again agreed to allow Big Brothers/Big Sisters to utilize vacant city-owned property for a community gardening program.

Produce grown at the sites are not allowed to be sold.

Healy said he plans to have his service project completed by late May or early June.

Also on Thursday, the conservation board agreed to enter into a 28E Agreement with the Polk County Conservation Board to administer the FEMA financed repair project on the county's section of the bike trail running from Valeria to the county line.

The trail repair work in Jasper and Polk counties is scheduled to be done this year. The cost estimate for the county's share of the project is $388,059. FEMA is paying for 85 percent of the work, with the conservation board responsible for approximately $58,000.

Parsons to 'throw in the towel' over his park development concerns

By PETER HUSSMANN

John Parsons, the former county supervisor and conservation department employee who has been critical of the efforts being undertaken to develop ground bequethed to the county for use as a park or wildlife refuge, was a no-show at the Jasper County Conservation Board meeting today.

Parsons had been invited to attend today's conservation board meeting to discuss his concerns about the progress of the development of the 86-acre tract south of Prairie City that was given to the county by the estate of Lillian Johnston.

On Tuesday, Parsons again attempted to discuss the issue with the Jasper County Board of Supervisors but was told the conservation board had the authority over the management of the property and that a conservation board meeting was the proper venue for his concerns to be discussed.

At Tuesday's supervisor meeting, Jasper Conservation Board Director Keri VanZante, who previously said that steps are being undertaken to develop the property per the terms of bequest, invited Parsons to address the issue with the conservation board at today's meeting. She noted, however, that the agenda had already been set and the issue could only be addressed as a discussion item.

VanZante said following today's meeting that she had not heard from Parsons since extending the invitation at Tuesday's supervisor meeting to discuss the matter with the conservation board at today's meeting.

Parsons, when contacted following the meeting, said that he is sick in bed with the flu and was unable to attend today's meeting.

He further noted that he plans to "throw in the towel" on the issue. He said he's reconciled himself to the fact that the property will likely never be developed as a "traditional wildlife refuge."

However, he said he still has concerns that the yearly rent being received for farming a portion of the property might be used for other conservation projects in the county when it was previously agreed while he was a member of the board of supervisor that the money received "be deposited in a trust fund to be used for the sole purpose of developing that piece of property," minutes from the 2007 supervisor meeting state.

Taxable values tweaked again

Newton Independent

Jasper County's total taxable values were tweaked once again this week when the Jasper County Auditor's Office reduced the taxable value in the City of Mingo by $435,904.

Figures posted on the Iowa Department of Management's web site show Mingo's taxable value at $4,565,974, down from the $5,001,878 recorded earlier this week.

The change to the county's total taxable values, the fifth change made since they were first made available in late January, now puts the total value in the county at $1,379,880,348. The values are well above last year's totals of $1.312 billion.

Taxable values are used by local governments in calculating the levy rates needed to fund public services.

Iowa County magazine features story on Jasper County Freedom Flight

The February issue of The Iowa County magazine, a publication of the Iowa State Association of Counties, includes a story written by Jasper County Freedom Flight organizer and Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop about the efforts undertaken in the community to take more than 150 county veterans to Washington, D.C., to view the memorials. The story can be read by following this link and going to page 4 of the magazine.

Supervisors tell Parsons he's 'barking up the wrong tree' over his park property concerns

By PETER HUSSMANN

Former Jasper County Supervisor and long-time conservation department employee John Parsons was told he was "barking up the wrong tree" today when he again returned before the board hoping to discuss the lack of development of the ground bequethed to the county for use as a park more than five years ago.

Parsons is complaining that a nearly 90-acre tract of land south of Prairie City given to the county is not being developed according to the terms of the Lillian Johnston estate. He says that since it was given to the county in 2006, little work has been done to turn the site into a park or wildlife refuge as Johnston's will states.

Board Chairman Joe Brock nipped discussion on the matter today by asking Parsons whether he had followed the communication path they had agreed upon when Parsons first brought the matter to the supervisors two weeks ago. Parsons said that while he had talked to the county attorney and the conservation department director, he had not yet talked directly to the county's conservation board commissioners.

"I think you're barking up the wrong tree," Brock told Parsons. "I'm not going to interfere with the conservation board's authority. We are not micromanaging. I listened to the tape (of the previous meeting) and I told you what to do. I was real clear on it. For someone with 30 years in conservation and four years as a supervisor, you ought to know how it works."

And, Brock noted, "our counsel is telling us everything is fine."

Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen said the board of supervisors does not have the authority to manage the property. Iowa Code Section 350 outlines the responsibilities of county conservation boards, including the management and development of county owned park and wildlife property. He said it is up to the conservation board to determine how the property is developed.

Previously, Conservation Director Keri VanZante disputed Parsons' contentions and said efforts are continuing to develop the property in compliance with Johnston's wishes. She said today that when she spoke to Parsons about the issue, she tried to convey that message, though Parsons said today he was "not satisfied" with her response.

Parsons said today that he would speak to the conservation board about the matter. The board's next meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the department's offices in the Annex Building. VanZante said that while the agenda has already been set, she will allow Parsons to make comments to the board, though no formal action can be taken.

Supervisors slash comp board's salary hike recommendations; forego pay raises for themselves

Newton Independent

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors today cut in half the percentage salary increases the county's compensation board recommended late last year and agreed to take no pay hike next fiscal year for themselves.

Jasper County Supervisor Chairman Joe Brock went first by introducing a motion to eliminate the $2,000 stipend the chairman has received in the past and again recommended by the compensation board in the coming fiscal year. He said today that he had told the compensation board to eliminate the stipend in the salary increase recommendations, though the suggestion was not taken. The board voted unanimously to eliminate the chairman's stipend this year.

Supervisor Denny Stevenson went next by noting the tough economic times many in the county face by introducing a motion to propose no salary increase for the three supervisors. His fellow supervisors, Brock and Denny Carpenter, quickly concurred in approving the motion. The compensation board had recommended a 3 percent increase.

Finally, the supervisors noted that the remaining elected officials had foregone pay raises two and three years ago. A motion was made to cut the compensation board's recommendations for salary increases for the auditor, recorder, treasurer, county attorney and sheriff by 50 percent.

Following is a list of the salaries the current office holders are paid and the result of the 50 percent reduction in recommended increases:

• Supervisors - $41,200 - 0 percent
• Auditor - $61,174 - 1.5 percent
• Recorder - $61,174 - 1.5 percent
• Treasurer - $61,174 - 1.5 percent
• County Attorney - $95,145 - 2 percent
• Sheriff - $86,197 - 2 percent

County's total taxable value numbers change again

By PETER HUSSMANN

City clerks in communities in Jasper County working to put together budgets in advance of next month's deadline were thrown another curve ball late last week when a new set of taxable valuation figures were provided.

The Jasper County Auditor's Office submitted a new set of total taxable valuations to the Iowa Department of Management that this time dropped the total by $11 million.

In the last week of January, three different sets of total taxable value figures, the number cities, counties and school districts use in determining where to set their levies, were provided to the state that reported total values in the county of $1.366 billion, $1.383 billion and $1.391 billion. The latest figures now report total taxable value at $1.380 billion.

The decrease was all contained with urban property values across the county, dropping from $666 million to $654 million in the latest report.

The cities of Monroe and Colfax saw the largest total valuation changes between the last two reports. Monroe's value dropped from $48.4 million to $41.1 million. Colfax dropped from $44.5 million to $40.09 million.

Last week, Newton Community Development Director/Interim City Administrator Bryan Friedman presented council members with a proposed levy of $14.91 per $1,000 valuation based on a total valuation figure of $462,212,483. That number is now up by more than $440,000.

The Newton School District's total value increased by a like amount.

Last year's total valuation in the county stood at $1.312 billion.

Local journalists get special recognition

Newton Independent

Three journalists from two Jasper County newspapers were singled out for special recognition at Friday evening's Iowa Newspaper Association awards banquet in Des Moines.

Peter Scarnati and Criste Scarnati, publishers of the Prairie City News, were honored with the Harrison "Skip" Weber Investigating Reporting Award. Amy Gronauer of the Newton Daily News received a Genevieve Mauck Stofer Outstanding Young Journalist Award.

The newspapers also garnered a number of other editorial awards.

Peter Scarnati received a first place award in the small weekly newspaper class for best sports photo. Peter and Criste Scarnati also received a third place award for best breaking news story. The newspaper received second place awards for coverage of education, coverage of agriculture and coverage of business, with a third place award for best use of graphics.

The Newton paper received first place awards in the small daily class for best front page, coverage of business, best newspaper web site and best slide show, with second place awards for best feature page and coverage of education. Ben Frotscher at the paper won a third place award for best sports story.

Reporter's Notebook: Journalism 101

By PETER HUSSMANN

Pete Scarnati, publisher of the Prairie City News, is going to come out with a piece in his weekly paper today dealing with the spat going on between John Parsons and the Jasper County Consevation Board over the development of farm ground donated to the county more than five years ago.

Scarnati, however, took a little different tack then just the "he said, she said" stuff that's been going on in the letters and stories on the topic in the local media by scouring the records of what actually took place, a basic tenant of the craft. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.

Lucky for me, Scarnati shared with me some of the things he found in his search. Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, some information being presented doesn't match with the record or has been left out of the story.

It starts in October of 2006 when Terry Rickers, then an attorney with Matthias, Campbell, Tyler, Nuzum and Rickers, informed the county of his client's wish to bequeth a piece of farm ground to the county. As executor of Lillian Johnston's estate, Rickers notified County Auditor Dennis Parrott of her wishes and provided a copy of her will.

"Jasper County is a beneficiary under the Last Will and Testament of Lillian Johnston," the Oct. 17, 2006-dated letter states. "The County is bequethed a tract of farmland located south of Prairie City. The bequest carries the stipulation that the County must use the land for a park or wildlife refuge. The County must decide whether or not it wishes to accept the land with that stipulation. According to Lillian's Will, the County has 120 days from the date that the Will was admitted to probate to make its decision. The County should notify me of its decision, in writing, no later than 120 days after the date the estate was opened (October 2, 2006).

The record also contains a copy of the will. In it, Johnston states, "I give to Jasper County, Iowa, the following described real estate for use exclusively as either as a park or wildlife refuge, and if the County cannot or does not accept the real estate for use as a park or wildlife refuge, then I give this real estate to the United Methodist Church of Prairie City, Iowa, to use or sell as it may see fit. The County shall indicate in writing whether or not it accepts this bequest (subject to the foregoing conditions) within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date that this Will is admitted to probate."

All this information can be found contained with the Jan. 17, 2012 Jasper County Board of Supervisors agenda.

Here's where some memories have appeared to have faded.

The Nov. 21, 2006 supervisor agenda has an agenda item asking the board to accept the farm ground from the Johnston estate. The minutes from that meeting show that it was moved by Bill Ward and seconded by Denny Carpenter to approve the acceptance of the tract of farmland. Max Worthington also voted to accept.

Discussion of the farm ground site came up again in early 2007. At the March 21, 2007 meeting, the supervisors - who now consisted of newcomers Parsons and Rick Tiedje, along with Worthington - were asked for permission to deposit land rent from the Lillian Johnston Estate into the Conservation Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

The minutes from that meeting indicate the board agreed to allow that the $11,160 yearly rent being received at the time from the Johnston estate ground "be deposited in a trust fund to be used for the sole purpose of developing that piece of property."

I'm not certain what else Mr. Scarnati may have uncovered but I look forward to reading his piece. He's obviously shed some new light on the situation.

Main Street Iowa to hold workshop in Colfax

Newton Independent

Main Street Iowa will hold its winter workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday in Colfax.

Representatives of the state's 45 Main Street communities will focus on upper floor revitalization during the two-day conference.

More information on the workshop, and additional information on Colfax Main Street activities, can be read here.

Jasper County taxable valuations up significantly

By PETER HUSSMANN

Jasper County's total taxable valuations continue to be bumped higher and higher, the latest report issued today by the Jasper County Auditor's office indicate.

The third report issued by the auditor's office this week shows that total taxable value for all property in Jasper County stood at $1.391 billion as of Jan. 1, 2011, a $79 million increase over values reported last year.

Today's report, which follows two instances earlier this week where the information was removed from the Iowa Department of Management's web site to allow officials to "correct a few errors," shows that total valuations increased by $58 million for urban properties to $666 million and $21 million for rural properties to $725 million.

Each time the information was posted the total values went up, from $1.366 billion to 1.383 billion to $1.391 billion.

The valuations are used by local taxing jurisdictions as the first step in determining levy rates necessary to fund city, school and county operations.

The valuation figures released today show that the City of Newton's total value as of Jan. 1, 2011 was $462 million, up $33 million from one year ago.

The Newton Community School District's total valuation was recorded at $702 million, up $43 million from last year's level.

You can download the latest report below.

Download JASPER_Co_Txbl_Valuations_By_Levy_Auth_By_Co_FY12-13

County conservation director disputes claims of reneging on terms of farm ground gift

By PETER HUSSMANN

Farm ground given to the county five years ago for use as a wildlife refuge or park is being developed according to the terms of the bequest, the director of the Jasper County Conservation Department said today.

Conservation Director Keri VanZante said efforts currently being undertaken on the 86-acre tract south of Prairie City are in "compliance" with the wishes of Lillian Johnston, the local woman who donated the parcel, and go beyond the "norm" of a typical wildlife refuge.

Last week, former Jasper County Supervisor and retired conservation department employee John Parsons set off a mini-firestorm after alleging the county was reneging on its promise to develop the ground according to the terms of Johnston's will. He followed up on a meeting with the Jasper County Board of Supervisors where he was told the proper channel of communication of his concerns was with the conservation director and conservation board with a critical  letter to the local media, another of which was delivered to the Newton Independent today and will be printed on Friday.

VanZante said that when the Jasper County Board of Supervisors received the Johnston gift in 2007, the board adopted a motion that the land continue to be rented out for farming in order to give the conservation department time and funding to proceed with improvements to the property.

Since that time, the conservation board has often discussed the land's development, VanZante said, but it wasn't until last year that the conservation board "began actively working" on the site.

"In 2011, the conservation board began actively working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service on a new conservation plan for the site - one that not only meets compliance, but one that combines farming some of the land with conservation practices to improve soil quantity, water quality and improve wildlife habitat and wildlife food sources," VanZante said.

While the exact form of the plan continues to be developed, VanZante said possible practices to be implemented on the site include:

• planting a winter cover crop over corn stalks/bean stubble to provide food and shelter and also to build nutrients in the soil
• shrub/tree planting for songbird, quail, pheasant, small mammal, insect habitat
• contour buffer strips and filter strips for improved soild and water quality
• grassed waterway construction to reduce erosion
• native prairie planting.

VanZante said the conservation board's "vision" for the site goes beyond the "norm."

"A typical vision of managing a 'wildlife refuge' would be to plant prairie for the pheasants and deer and call it good," VanZante said. "But the conservation board vision is much more broad and involves managing not only for those deer and pheasants, but also for song birds, small mammals, and even insects and macro invertebrates living in the soil. This managment idea may not be the norm, but will create a farm that will be utilized as a teaching tool and an example of how people and wildlife can thrive together in the same environment."

VanZante said that by continuing to utilize a portion of the ground for farming, the income earned can be used for not only the site's development, but additional projects in Jasper County.

"In addition, if a bit of annual income can be earned from the farming of a portion of the property, we look forward to making the generous Johnston donation continue on to help other projects blossom," she said. "The plan is one that Jasper County Conservation is proud of and something that we are sure Lillian Johnston would be proud to be a part of also."

 

County valuation data again removed from state web site

By PETER HUSSMANN

City clerks in communities across Jasper County were once again left in the lurch after valuation data needed to prepare local budgets was removed from the state's reporting web site.

On Tuesday, more than three weeks after its statutory due date, the Jasper County Auditor's Office recorded total valuation data for the county as of Jan. 1, 2011 at $1.366 billion, up $54 million from the year before.

That data, however, was removed on Wednesday morning, officials with the Iowa Department of Management said, to correct "a few errors."

On Wednesday afternoon, the auditor's office filed another report with the state that recorded total valuations in Jasper County at $1.383 billion, $17 million more than the first report and $71 million more than the year before.

The data was again taken down from the site this morning.

The state code requires county auditors to prepare an annual valuation report not later than January 1 to the Department of Management and each taxing district in the county. The valuations are those used for determining levy rates necessary to fund the budgets of the taxing districts for the following fiscal year.

The Newton City Council had planned to hold a budget workshop last Monday but the meeting was cancelled due to the lack of the valuation data.

Jasper County's jobless rate sees uptick likely due to TPI's temporary furlough

By PETER HUSSMANN

Jasper County's unemployment rose significantly in December, likely due to Newton TPI Composite's need to temporarily furlough as many as 200 workers as it retools its production facility in order to build a bigger wind blade.

Iowa Workforce Development released jobless data for the county today that showed Jasper County's unemployment rate increased from 6.8 percent in November to 7.5 percent in December. A year ago, Jasper County's jobless rate stood at 8.2 percent.

The report noted that the number of resident unemployed in Jasper County increased by 120 in December to 1,310, the highest number seen since June when the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.

Even with the increase, December's jobless figure is still about two percentage points below January's 9.3 percent unemployment high mark for the year.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate in December fell to 5.6 percent, the lowest level reported since June 2009, even though the number of nonfarm jobs in Iowa in December fell by 4,700 to 1,482,400. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell for the fourth straight month in December to 8.5 percent.

"The state's economy ended 2011 in a better place than was expected just a few months ago," said Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "Both the labor force and total employment are beginning to trend upward, and the unemployment rate has fallen considerably below the 6.0 percent mark."

The statewide estimate of unemployed persons fell to 93,500 in December from 94,700 in November. In December a year ago the number stood at 102,600.

Iowa Workforce officials said manufacturing added 800 jobs in December, though other segments shed positions.

Leisure and hospitality was down 2,500 for the month, construction was down 900 jobs and trade and transportation saw a net decline of 200 as a gain of 800 jobs in transportation was offset by a combined loss of 1,000 jobs in retail and wholesale trade.

Even with Jasper County's increase in the jobless rate in December, it still continues its downward slide on the top 10 list of highest county unemployment rates. Seven counties had higher rates than Jasper County in December, led by Hamilton County's 9.5 percent rate. Marshall County also reported a 7.5 percent unemployment rate last month.

United Way of Jasper County issues Winter Newsletter

Newton Independent

The United Way of Jasper County released its Winter 2012 Newsletter today that highlights a number of programs and initiatives currently going on with the organization.

By linking to the newsletter here, you can:

• Read about the Newton YMCA's launch of a new after-school program at Berg Middle School that was helped to be made possible by $10,000 in financial support from United Way.
• Read about Peck Child Development Center's plans to celebrate its 40th year of service to the Newton community.
• See how the United Way's campaign drive has raised $282,920 to date, 90 percent of its $310,000 goal.
• Learn that the United Way's financial allocation teams are continuing their work for the coming year.
• Read a message from Tiffany Finch, the new director at the Baxter Early Learning Center.
• And find out when the United Way's partner agency RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) will begin its annual tax return preparation program.

OWLS program to discuss history of county railroad towns

Ice fishing clinic at Mariposa

JCC to host program at library

JCC sponsoring ski, snowshoe programs

Jasper County leader development program registration opens

Newton Independent

The Newton Development Corporation is again sponsoring a leadership development class open to all Jasper County residents.

For the fourth year, the NDC, in conjunction with JEDCO, the  county's economic development organization, Des Moines Area Community College and the Jasper Community Foundation, is offering the program designed to provide county residents with the skills needed to effectively participate in community or work-related leadership opportunities.

The program will be held Tuesday evenings from Feb. 28 to April 24 at DMACC in Newton. The program is open to any Jasper County resident or anyone working at a Jasper County business. The tuition for the eight-week course is $219. The Jasper Community Foundation will again reimburse half the tuition cost to the first 20 people who register and then complete six of the eight sessions.

Evelyn George, who holds a teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa, an MBA from the University of Iowa and attended the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, will teach six of the eight sessions.

Topics to be covered by George, who worked in marketing and product development at Maytag, Allsteel Office and Iowa Farm Bureau, include economic development, education and yough, county and city government services, health and human services, and civic groups. These sessions will feature panel discussions with community leaders in the first hour. In the second hour class members will evaluae leadership styles, communication methods, conflict management, negotiation approaches, board member roles and navigating change as they relate to building communities.

At the March 13 and 27 sessions, class members will participate in the "Real Colors Personality Instrument," a program designed to improve communication skills with all types of work styles. The segment will be taught by Buzz Hoffman, a certificed instructor for the "Real Colors" program.

Past participants of the leadership class have offered high praise for the "Colors" section of the program.

"I absolutely love the Colors portion of the Leadership class," said Vicky Norish, who participated in last year's class. "It was very interesting to find out what makes people tick. This would be useful in any work environment, I strongly recommend it."

Classes will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the NDC board room on the DMACC campus in Newton (room 264).

To register, call DMACC at 515-964-6800 or 1-800-342-0033. The course reference number is 26964. Registration deadline is Feb. 17.