March 18, 2024

Colfax works to beautify north edge entryway

Approval was given to move forward with the Trees Forever grant process to the Colfax Park and Recreation Auxiliary Board by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

The grant is part of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Iowa Living Roadways Project Program and will be used to beautify the entryway on the north edge of Colfax. The board agreed to support the project with a letter of resolution and act as the financial conduit for receiving funding reimbursement for the grant.

“We would like to sow native Iowa wildflowers and plant trees in the right-of-way areas adjacent to Highway 117 at the entrance to our new city park,” Colfax Parks and Recreation member Doug Garrett said. “We believe that this project will greatly enhance the area leading into our new 480 acre park.”

The board questioned the location of the trees, wildflowers and prairie grass in relation to the right of ways. Garrett said that there would be no trees blocking views and prairie grass and wildflowers would be planted in those areas.

The grant totals $20,000 and requires no money from the county. The auditors office would work as a conduit to reimburse the Colfax board for money they spent with money from the grant. County Auditor Dennis Parrot suggested passing a resolution when the time comes to make the auditor’s office the fiscal agent as it is with other organizations such as the courthouse lighting fund and veterans memorial for money that is not actually the counties but the county handles.

The board also approved applying for the EMS Systems Development Grant for fiscal year 2016. Rex Heisdorffer of emergency management said the amount of the grant this is $11,909, similar to what was received in recent years.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com