Conservation board and county supervisors at odds over filling naturalist/office manager position

Supervisors have issued a number of responses to community backlash regarding the conservation department’s pleas to fill a vacant position, which, if left unfilled, could mean fewer educational programs for students in Jasper County. But elected officials say there is another side to the story.

Jasper County Conservation staff have been partnering with local school districts to provide educational programming for many years, but the department worries whether programming will diminish if it can’t replace an employee position that was pivotal to those programs. The position is a naturalist/office manager.

Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger said the school district is fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with Jasper County. He noted that the agenda included program documents for every grade level. Programs either happen on-site in the classroom or on field trips to the many county parks.

“They’re very engaging,” Messinger said. “I don’t care how old you are there are things you can learn from it. It’s really some good information and good experience our kids can get but we’re unable to provide on our own. With that said, I invited Katie here this evening to talk with us again.”

Katie Cantu, a naturalist for Jasper County, has provided educational programs to area students for the past 25 years. Cantu estimated the department regularly hosts programming for about 16,000 people each year, with many of that population consisting of kids and teenagers from local school districts.

Currently, there are eight staff members in Jasper County Conservation, broken down to four mainly office workers and four field staff. One of the naturalists was also the office manager who handled a variety of work in and out of the office. But the employee has decided to devote her time being a stay-at-home mom.

“The challenge we’re facing right now — just so you guys are aware — the county board of supervisors does not want our conservation board to replace her,” Cantu said. “So we’re kind of limping along a little short-staffed here into a really busy season. I don’t know. There’s a lot happening.”

Cantu encouraged the school board, teachers and anyone who utilizes the programs to reach out to supervisors and voice their support for conservation.

“Let ‘em know that this is important,” Cantu said. “…We would normally offer five opportunities per class, and she’s kind of behind all of our big fundraising.”

SUPERVISORS RESPOND TO COMMUNITY WITH PRESS RELEASE

The community learned of Cantu’s plea thanks to an Aug. 28 report by Randy Van Roekel of KNIA-KRLS. Comments were overwhelmingly in favor of conservation, and people questioned whether the board of supervisors is truly supportive of the department. In response, the county issued a press release.

The board of supervisors hoped to clarify the situation regarding the position, saying they had not told the conservation board that they cannot fill a vacant position. Supervisors acknowledged that conservation has the ability and funding to fill this position, but they wanted a conversation about the position.

Specifically, supervisors wondered if the position could be handled more efficiently. Supervisors said their No. 1 goal is to increase government efficiency and reduce costs for taxpayers across each department in the county. The release said the board tried to initiate this conversation several months ago.

Supervisors wondered if the office manager duties could be combined or shared with another department — secondary roads — which is in need of an office position to handle day-to-day work. The board also proposed the idea that certain custodial duties in the parks be outsourced.

“Since then, the conservation board has been unwilling even to sit down and discuss at length the possibility of this option, what it would entail and whether it is feasible,” the board said. “Additionally, the board of supervisors has clearly communicated and stated that this attempt may not work for one or both departments.”

If that proves the case, supervisors said they would again consider all options.

Supervisors also claimed the vacant position does not affect programs like the fishing club, school naturalist programs or other community services.

Over the next few years, the board of supervisors wants to continue evaluating positions within the county as they become open. The supervisors said it is an effort to reduce redundancies in positions and job duties and reduce the duplication of services.

The county is committed to being responsible stewards to taxpayer dollars, the supervisors said, and it encouraged citizens to come to the next board meeting.

CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORS RELEASES VIDEO

Supervisor Brandon Talsma released a video on his official Facebook page to address the issues more in-depth and reiterate much of what was said in the original press release. He noted supervisors work very hard to keep levy rates the same, and he warned that state lawmakers will be addressing property taxes.

Which means the budget constraints the county is already under may become even more strenuous and limiting. Talsma noted that he spoke with department heads during budget sessions this past year about vacant positions and the scrutiny the board would be taking when looking at those positions.

“Just because you have somebody quit and have a vacant position, do not automatically assume that the supervisors are going to be supportive of filling that position,” he said. “What we are requesting going forward is that when you have a vacant position it will not be filled unless you come and request from the board.”

While the conservation board does have funds to pay for the position, Talsma said supervisors have power of the purse for Jasper County, suggesting they have final say. He also disliked the idea of filling the vacant position as is because the funding may dry up by the end of the fiscal year.

To him, it isn’t right to offer someone a full-time job and then eliminate that position during next year’s budget sessions.

Finding alternative ways to fill and pay for positions is nothing new for the county. Talsma pointed out that the veterans affairs director is often a 30-hour job but can get bumped to 40 hours when circumstances change. Veterans affairs also currently shares a full-time position with general assistance.

He also stressed the only discussion supervisors have had with the conservation board was during a past work session, which turned combative and accusatory. In that meeting, supervisors said they needed to at least have a serious conversation about a split position.

Talsma said the supervisors didn’t say no but that they wanted conservation to work with the secondary roads department about the feasibility of the position.

Talsma also wanted to address what he felt was a false narrative that supervisors do not support conservation. Talsma adamantly disagreed and said he is an avid outdoorsman himself and is a big proponent of conservation. Supervisors, he said, have contributed millions to conservation.

“In just the past five years, there has been $6,924,417.51 in property tax dollars that has gone to conservation,” Talsma said.

He also mentioned that supervisors have dedicated $1.1 million in ARPA funds to Jasper County Conservation for various projects. The supervisors also bonded to pay for new sheds. Talsma said he is very supportive of conservation, “but it does not mean you get a blank check and operate without accountability.”

And it does not mean a department can operate without looking for alternative ways to find efficiencies, he added.

“We owe it to at least try,” Talsma said.

TENSIONS ARE HIGH

Tension between the Jasper County Board of Supervisors and the Jasper County Conservation Board happened as recently as late June. The supervisors wanted to draft a contract with conservation over the nature center duties. Talsma said the 28E agreement is an effort to make sure the facility doesn’t fall to taxpayers.

Supervisors have held the conservation director accountable to her words from a past meeting when the department was requesting ARPA funds for the nature center. Talsma said it has been communicated to the board and to others that taxpayer dollars would not go towards the upkeep and costs of the nature center.

Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Vane Zante told supervisors in June that it seemed strange when the community has shown it wants this facility.

Willie Yeager, chairman of the Jasper County Conservation Board, told Newton News in a recent phone interview that a member of the board still has not been appointed back for the past several months. He said the conservation board feels slighted by the supervisors. They know the budget is tight, Yeager said.

“But this has already been appropriated for and we’re going to hire another naturalist, a full-time position, probably after Tuesday’s board meeting,” he said. “…We’ve never been given any explanation why at least Robyn (Friedman) hasn’t been reappointed to the board.”

As to the future of that position, Yeager said the conservation board will cross that bridge when the time comes. Right now, the main goal of the board is to find someone to fill that position and take some pressure off the director. Yeager said the current setup of staff is just not working.

Newton News received a statement from the board of supervisors implying that better communication is needed in the future:

“The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is striving to improve communication with all departments. We believe that this situation could have been avoided with better communication on all sides. We will be searching for opportunities to improve communication going forward.”