Sully wants support for potential new business

By JOHN JENNINGS NDN Staff Writer

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City and economic development officials from Sully and Lynnville came before the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, requesting financial assistance for a development grant for a new business considering relocating to the Sully area. Sully Economic Development Corp. director Teryl Ver Ploeg told the supervisors that a company that manufactures electronic parts is in the process of buying the former Lynnville Friends Church and an additional half acre of land outside of the Sully city limits. The total project is valued at $280,000, and Ver Ploeg said he has also asked the cities of Sully and Lynnville for assistance as well. Approximately $80,000 is still needed for the grant. “We think this is a great opportunity for the county to demonstrate its commitment to development in the southeast part of the county,” Ver Ploeg said. He said he couldn’t release the name of the company yet but expected more information to be available in late March. He said the company currently has 12 employees and has plans for an additional 10 or more jobs in the future. They hope to be operational in Jasper County in about three months. Supervisor Rick Tiedje said he felt inclined to offer support, but needed more guarantees before committing county funds, such as an assurance the area would not be annexed in the next few years by the city of Sully, and a security clause for the county should the company incur financial difficulty.

In other action Tuesday, the supervisors:

Heard a funding request from the Jasper County Agricultural Society for the county fair and fairgrounds. Reed Hiemstra and Jerry Elscott told the supervisors that capital projects for the fair board this year include fencing around the property purchased three years ago for farm equipment display during the fair for $17,000, replacement of gates in the sheep pens because of a fungus that can affect show animals for $13,000, and new portable bleachers for $25,000. The county provided $5,000 each for the fair operations and the fairgrounds in this year’s budget and will tentatively approve an additional $5,000 for the fairgrounds in the budget for next fiscal year.

Approved the purchase of a Polaris ATV for $3,000 from Adam Sparks to be used by the county maintenance department for snow removal at the courthouse and the Annex building.