March 29, 2024

Supervisors delay decision on county newspapers

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors kicked 2014 off with an organizational meeting on Thursday morning to establish certain board and county protocols.

During this meeting, the board voted that Joe Brock serve as the chair for 2014 and Dennis Stevenson become the vice-chair. In 2013, Brock served as vice-chair and Stevenson was chair. The board also decided not to rearrange the additional committees and boards they serve on as county representatives.

The board also voted to continue holding board meetings on the first four Tuesdays of the month.

In what was a fairly short meeting, the most extensive conversation took place when it was time for the board to designate the three official newspapers for the county. The Newton Daily News, Jasper County Tribune, Prairie City News and Sully Hometown Press all requested the designation.

With four applicants and only three available designations, the board voted to delay the decision and board member Dennis Carpenter explained what the newspapers would need to provide for them to make a decision.

“Each newspaper needs to provide a list of subscribers, both by mail and by delivery, who have been subscribers for not less than six consecutive months and have been subscribers since July 1, 2013,” he said. “Further action will be taken on Jan. 14, 2014 at the next supervisors meeting.”

Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.