Supervisors approve comprehensive plan contract

Jasper County is another step closer to creating a new comprehensive plan.

One week ago, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the Iowa-based engineering, planning, and design firm Snyder & Associates to prepare the county’s updated comprehensive plan, which has not been touched or expanded upon in more than 20 years.

Nick Fratzke, director of community development for Jasper County, recalled a work session in January in which himself, Hometown Pride Community Coach Jeff Davidson and then Jasper County Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) Executive Director Chaz Allen spoke with the supervisors about the kinds of objectives they wanted to submit to a professional planning firm.

Of the eight firms Jasper County submitted its plans to, only five returned their proposals. A review committee was formed, Fratzke said, to look over each proposal. The committee consisted of Davidson, Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma, Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop and assistant county attorney Nicholas Pietrack.

“Of those five proposals, we ended up with a top two and interviewed those two,” Fratzke said. “Snyder & Associates ended up having the proposal we felt best suits our needs. They’ve put together a scope of services for us, and (I) really think it hits on everything that we’re looking to get out of this.”

Broken down into four main tasks, Snyder & Associates’ $64,600 comprehensive plan work will include details of the project administration, logo development, public engagement and plan development, the contract said. The proposal, Fratzke added, is “rich in community engagement.”

Snyder & Associates with have regular contact with the county and provide monthly progress reports and a branding, as well as maintain ongoing coordination and quality control of drafts and the “final deliverables.”

The firm and the county will also hold meetings for its citizens to attend and provide input to “develop a vision for the future.” Up to three focus groups will be organized to “target specific demographics or topics for more intense discussion,” such as county staff, farmers and incorporated towns.

A comprehensive plan will provide the county with a direction or goals in a number different avenues like community assessment, land use and growth management, transportation, rural housing and unincorporated villages, natural and agricultural environment, parks and trails and the economy, among other things.

According to the Snyder & Associates contract, the comprehensive plan will complete its scope of services within 10 months of contract approval. Assuming no unforeseen circumstances or changes occur, the plan will be ready by February 2020.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com