March 29, 2024

4 things to know from Jasper County Supervisors meeting

1. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved Shive-Hattery for $5,200 to assist the county with defining the general scope of replacing the east courthouse window. The engineering firm will review the existing window conditions, determine the approximate extend of window removal, research possible window manufacturers who can provide the window, reach glazing and meeting with a manufacturer’s representative to discuss details and specifications.

Shive-Hattery will then prepare drafts of biddable documents for the project. The documents will include descriptions of the project, narrative of the work and details.

Supervisor Joe Brock was in favor of the services saying in the past the county has gone forward without the use of an engineer and the results showed the lack of attention to detail the engineer brings.

2. Shive-Hattery was also approved to provide professional services for a courthouse masonry restoration project in the amount of $4,200. The tuck-pointing project consists of data collection, a visual survey and a report on preparation for all of the masonry areas at the Jasper County Courthouse.

The report will then be used to attract contractors on a level basis, instead of each contractor attempting to assess the large building individually.

3. A public hearing was held and a decision was made to convert a portion of North 75th Avenue East to a level C road with a gate installed on the west entrance. The county engineer originally proposed vacating the road and returning it to the two adjacent land owners.

Following two weeks of discussion and a visit to the area by the supervisors, it was decided to keep the road but take it from a level B to level C and only give access to the adjacent land owners, the county and the sheriff’s office.

4. Several hiring resolutions were approved for various departments throughout the county. The sheriff’s office hired Tracy Cross as a deputy starting Monday at a pay rate of $25.03 per hour. Elderly Nutrition was approved to hire Wendy Smith as a substitute dishwasher at $10.26 per hour and Debra Moore as a substitute delivery driver at $9.22 per hour starting Wednesday. Shelia Bills was approved for hire to the Jasper County Health Department as a home care aide at $15.28 per hour starting May 22. Jasper County Conservation hired Sidney Trotter as a seasonal intern at $9 per hour starting May 17.

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