“I am honored to announce my intent to run for re-election to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors.”
Those were the words of Joe Brock, the current board chair of the supervisors, as he made his official announcement of his intention to run again for a seat on the board.
Brock first began serving on the board in 2010 and is one of the two current Democrats on the board, with the other being Dennis Stevenson, whose term doesn’t expire until 2016. Board member Dennis Carpenter is the lone Republican on the board and his seat is also up for grabs this year.
In his time on the board, Brock has helped oversee a number of changes within the county and listed a few of them.
“Over the past four years, we have worked hard to lower the tax levy, yet; keep the same level of services for the taxpayers,” Brock said. “This was not an easy task, but through the cooperation of the elected officials, department heads and employees, we have managed to do just that.”
He also cited his, and the current boards, work with helping develop the Jasper County Emergency Operation Center located at the former National Guard Armory adjacent to Maytag Park in Newton, as well as other projects they have helped oversee.
“Projects like the utilizing the former armory for emergency management services, replacing the courthouse boiler with a geothermal system and the new phones system that when added together, will save the county tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the new few years,” Brock said.
“We also refinanced the county’s debt bonds, which will save over $2 million in interest payments alone,” he continued. “There are many other proactive steps we have taken to save taxpayer dollars.”
Brock, along with Jasper County Community Services Director Jody Eaton, have been the key players in the county’s transitioning of its mental health services from an in-house item, to a regional effort by joining the Central Iowa Community Services Region.
He said he also enjoys the social and learning aspect of this job.
Brock also said he is hoping his experience, and the moves he has made thus far as a supervisor, will help with voters’ decisions later this year.
“I look forward to serving another term if re-elected and plan to keep researching opportunities to keep Jasper County moving forward in fiscally conservative, yet progressive manner,” Brock said. “I would like to thank you for your past support and hope that I have earned your vote in the upcoming election cycle.”