County Supervisors approve cemetery bill

Jasper County is the seventh largest county in Iowa, by area. There are 67 cemeteries within the borders of the county, and 18 of those are designated as “pioneer cemeteries,” meaning there has been fewer than six burials there in the past 50 years. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors has the authority to appoint county citizens to a cemetery commission, which was officially established in Jasper in 2002. The county levies .00088 cents, or $1,000, for use by the Jasper County Cemetery Commission for maintenance of the 18 pioneer cemeteries under the cemetery commission’s jurisdiction. Bob Mick, secretary for the Jasper County Cemetery Commission, made those preliminary comments before the board of supervisors Tuesday. He was bringing a pair of quotes for tree removal at the Raridon Cemetery, a pioneer cemetery northwest of Baxter. The low bid of $400 from DW Tree Service of Newton was approved by the supervisors. Board appointments With the new year inevitably comes board appointments. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors made the following appointments at its regular meeting Tuesday: • Denny Stevenson to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center commission, with John Parsons as alternate; term to expire Dec. 31, 2009. • John Parsons to the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance as policy representative and Rick Tiedje as alternate. Jim Christensen was named technical representative to CIRTPA and Paul Geilenfeldt as alternate. • John Parsons was named to the CIRTPA Enhancement Subcommittee, term to expire Dec. 31, 2009. • Denny Stevenson was named to the Enhanced 911 Service Board, with John Parsons as alternate. • Rick Tiedje was named to the Fifth Judicial District Board, Denny Stevenson, alternate. • Rick Tiedje named as representative to the Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Board, with John Parsons as alternate. • Rick Tiedje was named to the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Authority as representative, with John Parsons as alternate. • Jody Eaton was named to the Human Services Ames Service Area Advisory Board, with Rick Tiedje as alternate. • John Parsons and Brian Hauser were named to the Mid-Iowa Development Board. • John Parsons was named to the Jasper County Economic Development Board, with Rick Tiedje as alternate. • Denny Stevenson was named to the Jasper County Emergency Management Commission, John Parsons as alternate. • Denny Stevenson was named to the Red Rock Community Action Program, with John Parsons as alternate. • John Parsons was named to the Grinnell Airport Zoning Commission, Denny Stevenson alternate. • The previous appointments of Bill Ward and Helen Lanser to the Aging Resources Advisory Council were revoked, and Ward was reappointed to ensure that the terms of those serving are staggered. • William Ponder and Beverly Cross were named to the Jasper County Cemetery Commission. • Andy Stone was named to the Jasper County Conservation Board. • John Parsons was named to the Enterprize Zone Commission as supervisors representative, with Bev Price, Joe Pugel and Marvin Morris named at-large members. • Kay Vriezelaar and Connie Martin were named to the Board of Health. • Todd Schippers, Steve Harthoorn, and Russell Rippey were named to the Jasper County Zoning Commission.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jennings@newtondailynews.com.