Supervisors approve new signs for Wagaman Mill

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors gave a strong showing of support toward the Wagaman Mill in Lynnville on Tuesday. It approved a resolution to create and place two new county signs along Interstate 80 to promote the destination.

Dallas Cupples, an intern for the Jasper County Conservation Office, spearheaded the project. Cupples, whose internship is at the mill, contacted private landowners about placing the signs on their property, and she said she found two receptive parties. Cupples then made contact with Newton-based Sign Pro to come up with a mock-up for the signs.

The mill is operated by the Lynnville Historical Society with JCCO maintaining a small portion of the upkeep. Cupples said she wanted the board to make the signs county signs because of the high cost of getting signage through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante said this project had been on her list of things to do for a number of years; however, she never found the time to accomplish it. She publicly praised Cupples for her work.

An estimate for the new signs is $1,060.

Van Zante also received approval from the board for a transfer order. She sought to move $4,239 from the county’s general fund back into the conservation budget. The funds were garnered through camping fees at several of the county’s parks. Van Zante wants to use the fee money to continue making improvements on the camping properties.

“In my opinion, if we’re not going to use that money for parks, then we need to quit charging for camping … As long as it’s used for that, I’m extremely happy,” board member Dennis Stevenson said.

Integrity Audit Services owner Tameca Howze recently performed an audit on the county’s telephone services and presented her results to the board. Howze discovered the county was overpaying on several of its accounts, and in some instances, it was being charged for services it no longer uses.

In total, Howze’s audit will save the county $2,723.28 a month, which is a 21 percent difference between what it was previously paying. Howze said her clients most typically see around a 10 percent difference in savings.

The county will also receive $44,452.93 in credits for its phones services due to Howze’s work.

All three board members praised her for her work and Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott, whom Howze worked with on the project, said the county didn’t have to pay an upfront fee for the audit. He said Howze receives payment form a percentage of the savings.

Jasper County Community Services Director Jody Eaton’s update on the Central Iowa Community Services Region revealed that the new CEO for the region had been chosen. Deb Schildroth, Story County’s community services director, was selected for the role.

Eaton also mentioned she had been appointed to several roles within the region and that CICSR became officially operational on July 1.

The county joined the region last year, and the region is tasked with providing mental health services for its county members, which include Jasper, Boone, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Madison, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story and Warren counties.

In other business:

• Jasper County Human Resources Director Dennis Simon request for the county to participate in the Iowa State Association of Counties HIPPA program was approved. Simon said it will cost $1,750 and the program provides a valuable service for several department’s within the county.

• Cory Wade and Christie Dunwell each received approval for fireworks permits. Dunwell was amended into the agenda during the meeting.

Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.