Supervisors hear historical program, talk about budget
Comments (...)This year marks the bicentennial year of the American War of 1812. Often called the Second War of Independence, or America’s forgotten war, it was fought between the United States and Great Britain in Virginia, Maryland, the nation’s capital, the Canadian border and the Gulf coast.
Members of the Grinnell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution came before the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to ask for a proclamation to remember the war in this 200th anniversary as well as the 12 War of 1812 veterans buried in Jasper County.
During a presentation to the supervisors, DAR member Barbara Hug said trade tensions and blockades by Great Britain, as well as the kidnapping of citizens for British ships and British support of American Indians during the Indian wars led to the War of 1812. The war gave the USS Constitution its nickname of “Old Ironsides” when a British cannon ball bounced off its hull, it strengthened our sense of need for a standing army when the British invaded Washington and burned several federal buildings, and it gave us our National Anthem when Francis Scott Key spied the large American flag flying over Fort McHenry.
The supervisors signed the proclamation remembering and honoring the American War of 1812 veterans buried in Jasper County. They are S.C. Clark, John Fleming, Daniel S. Fuller, Joshua Guessford, Sr., Jason Jones, Joshua King, Solomon S. Langmaid, Leonard Likins, Moses Manning, William Ramage, Aaron Rand, Francis S. Robinson and John Sumpter.
Also Tuesday the supervisors:
• Approved the bid from Randy’s Construction Inc. for $3,700 to install two commercial steel insulated doors on the Koppin Building, rear doors to the County Attorney’s office.
• Approved a bid from REEP, Inc. of Baxter for $6,229 to replace windows in the courthouse clock tower with a revised grid system. The revision will satisfy state requirements for historical accuracy, enabling the county to receive $587,000 in tax credits.
Budget talks
The supervisors began the process of budget talks with county department heads following Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.
Supervisor Denny Stevenson said the board was trying to be more farsighted in the budget process this year.
“Our goal is to look maybe five years down the road, not just to next year,” Stevenson said. “We’re now going through discretionary spending, items other than wages and salaries. We’re asking department heads to give us realistic budget figures, because they know they won’t be penalized next year for what they don’t spend this year.”
With the exception of the Secondary Roads and Mental Health departments, the county’s various departments reported approximately $400,000 in unspent funds at the end of last fiscal year, which went back into the general fund.
“Nobody’s really fluffed their budgets,” Stevenson said.
During budget talks Tuesday, County Treasurer Doug Bishop said he would not be asking for any increase in expenditures for his department. Likewise, County Attorney Mike Jacobsen said his only increase would be a $409 increase in a legal research line item. Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott said his department’s expenditure request for the 2012-2013 fiscal year would be the same as the 2011-2012 fiscal year actual expenditure.
John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.
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THANKS Newton!! See other proclamations at www.iowa1812.org |
