County adds new maintenance position

A new part-time position will be added to the maintenance department in Jasper County.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved making a seasonal position permanent at its meeting on Tuesday.

“We currently have a seasonal part-time maintenance employee that was set up to run through April 30. Through communication we are going to request that we keep that part-time position on a permanent basis,” human resources director Dennis Simon said.

Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks said the employee will mainly work about four hours per day unless needed for extra shifts during snow removal.

“I think it has worked out really good. I think he is there for you when you need him,” supervisor Joe Brock said.

In order to add the employee, the board first approved the new position of a part-time maintenance technician. A hiring resolution was then presented with David Berkenbosch approved at $17.93 per hour, starting on Monday.

Simon said part-time employees are held to 30 hours or less per week and are no entitled to benefits with the exception being the Iowa Public Employee’s Retirement System.

“You seem to have some real value in this job,” supervisor Doug Cupples.

The board also approved Shive-Hattery to perform exterior investigation services to the Jasper County Annex building. The services will cost the county $6,600 and provide a detailed description of issues with the building and workable solutions to fix on going problems.

“Last week an engineer and architect came down and gave us some itemized options on what they can look at,” Brock said. “Last week we agreed that we wanted to take a look at the exterior investigation services. That’s a good place to start out.”

It was also announced that Dave Lorenzen from the Iowa Department of Transportation will be in Jasper County on May 3 to tour the potential site of the Iowa Traffic Incident Management Training Center. Lorenzen will be looking at land that previously housed the former Jasper County Care Facility, south of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

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