County to hire new social media manager

Three months after Jasper County hired a full-time social media specialist to improve its online presence, the board of supervisors are now in need of a part-time employee to fill in the role.

At the Oct. 19 meeting of the Jasper County Supervisors it was announced that Jasper County’s Social Media Specialist, KayLea Marchant, will be leaving her position.

“KayLea has made a lot of progress in improving our social media engagement and content,” Jasper County Community Development Director Kevin Luetters said.

Marchant has been working this past year to improve both the county’s website and social media presence. As a result of her work, over the past few months the county’s Facebook page has received over 17,000 hits and several new website updates will be launched very soon.

Marchant, who has an extensive social media management background, was offered a new job within the private sector and will be leaving her current position within the next month. Finding her replacement began at Tuesday’s meeting with the supervisors approving Luetters to begin the hiring process.

“We’ll want to hire someone with social media management and graphic design experience,” Luetters said.

The county will begin advertising for the new part-time position soon. The new hire will work around 15 hours a week for most of the year, but the hours will ramp up during busy times of the year, like during election season.

“If you think that most of the kinks of the position have already been ironed out by Marchant, the board is happy to reduce the position’s hours to part time,” supervisor Brandon Talsma said.

The board approved the reduction of hours and to begin the hiring process.

In other news, Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty reported to the supervisors about a new amendment to a contract which will increase the cost of food for inmates at the Jasper County Jail.

The county jail switched food contractors to Summit Food Services in August 2020. This switch was made in order to address complaints from inmates about the quality of food provided by the jail.

Since switching several issues surrounding food at the jail have almost disappeared.

“Our complaints about food have reduced significantly since we switched providers. There will always be some complaints but most inmates are happy with the new meals,” Halferty said.

Switching providers also allows the jail to provide meals with higher calories than are required by law.

The amendment to the contract between the sheriff’s department and Summit is to address the rising costs of food and labor. The increase in price is just under a 5 percent, which adds only pennies to the inmates’ individual meal costs.

The board voted unanimously to approve this amendment to the contract.

The new contract will go into effect on Nov. 1.

In other action, the board of supervisors:

• Informed by Halferty his department has renewed their agreement with the state of Iowa to continue enforcing the tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products enforcement agreement.

• Approved the application for voluntary annexation of 7.5 acres from Zane and Yefri Strawser-Picado to the City of Oakland Acres.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com