THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 129 • ISSUE NO. 29 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Easter Bunny hops in to Colfax for a visit
Submitted By Colfax Main Street
Jasper County purchases 68K tons of rock for FY25 More than $1.4M worth of rock to be used in northern townships
Iowa governor signs education bill reforming AEAs, raising teacher salaries Jasper County lawmakers have discussed the issues in-depth for months By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch hands out documents explaining the secondary roads department’s new approach to gravel roads during a public meeting in Lynnville in 2023. The county secured its rock for FY2025, which will be used on the 10 northern townships.
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Jasper County secured more than $1.4 million worth of rock for granular roads in fiscal year 2025. The board of supervisors on March 26 approved the low bid from the Des Moines area-based Martin Marietta Materials, which will provide the county with more than 68,000 tons of rock, according to agenda documents. Michael Frietsch, county engineer, estimated the rock bids would cost about $1,321,069, which put the low bid of $1,409,811 from Martin Marietta over estimate by about 6.7 percent. Frietsch said the Decorah-based Bruening Rock Products, Inc. submitted a bid of about $1,523,600. “Overall, we’re seeing about a $3 per ton increase from last year for our rock prices for haul,” Frietsch said. “The prices for the material itself went up about $1 per ton at the beginning of this year, so the other $2 is probably hauling costs going up. So ROCK | 3
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds officially signed an education bill into law that not only provides schools a 2.5 percent increase in supplemental state aid, it also raised starting salaries for teachers and fulfilled her top priority this year to restructure the state’s Area Education Agencies, which spurred fierce discussions locally. Jasper County lawmakers spent considerable time talking about AEAs during a Newton school board meeting in January and
at legislative gatherings hosted by the League of Women Voters. The most recent gathering in midMarch was no different. In fact, it was the first topic they discussed. Specifically, legislators were asked about the task force element of the House’s AEA bill, which did make it through to the final version adopted by Reynolds last week. Sen. Ken Rozenboom said the Senate at the time was resisting the idea to create a task force, which was already created nearly 14 years ago. The results of the task force were released in a 99-page report in
Two Republican candidates filed paperwork to run for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House, which means Jasper County conservatives will have until June to decide who they want on the ballot in November: incumbent congresswoman Marriannette Miller-Meeks or newcomer David Pautsch. According to a Feb. 26 article published by The Gazette, Miller-Meeks submitted more than 4,000 signatures and said in a statement that she is looking forward to running for re-election and continuing “to
Ordinance gives county ability to withhold building permits if there are unresolved issues By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Updated building codes approved by the board of supervisors last week brings Jasper County up to compliance with state requirements, and the ordinance also gives the head of community development the ability to with-
bring sensible reforms to Washington and continuing to fight for Iowa.” In a press release on March 13, Pautsch’s campaign announced his qualifying for the U.S. House ballot in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. He submitted more than Pautsch 4,500 signatures, which Pautsch said demonstrates the widespread support
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AEA | 3
Supervisors update Jasper County building codes hold issuance of building/ electrical permits if there are some unresolved issues. Kevin Luetters, director of community development of Jasper County, said the building, residential, energy conservation and existing building codes identified in Ordinance #40D will stay the same. But the fire,
2 Republican candidates set to primary for IA-01 seat By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
2011, and it included several recommendations. Rozenboom said “absolutely nothing” happened after the task force completed its work, and there was no legislative action or internal reform. He said the same issues are still prevalent in AEAs. “We can go through the process of another task force. We’re going to find the same thing. Our recommendations are probably going to be very similar,” he said. “Meanwhile, those kids that were in kindergarten in 2011 are now high school seniors and we didn’t do anything.” From Rozenboom’s perspective, Iowa lawmakers have a good idea
plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes were all updated to current standards. “We’re required in Iowa Code to keep those current, which we’re not current right now,” Luetters said in a public hearing held during the March 26 county board of supervisors meeting. “So it’s more of things we’re already
doing; we just need to get our ordinance in order.” Under the “construction documents by registered design professional” section of the ordinance, Jasper County added an exemption for post frame buildings that meet all of the following requirements: area of 1,000 CODES | 4
GOP voters will have to decide between incumbent Miller-Meeks and newcomer Pautsch
for his candidacy. He also shared some Pautsch’s faith. high-profile endorsements. “He is confident the Lord will give us Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, wisdom and power to overcome these who also ran for president in 2008 and national disasters and thrive under His 2016, spoke highly of Pautsch, calling the loving care – just as our founders did,” Republican candidate — who is described Huckabee said. by his campaign as a dedicated advocate Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow, for Judeo-Christian values and conserva- also gave his endorsement to Pautsch. tive principles — “strong” and “uncom“David’s commitment to saving AmerShaw Media ica by trusting in God’s power is unwavpromised.” Huckabee said Pautsch will help save ering. His leadership guarantees constiAmericans from the oppression that has tutional liberty, biblical values, fair and destroyed constitutional liberties, nation- honest elections and a bright future for al security, the economy, schools, law and our children,” Lindell said in a statement order, small businesses and families. The former governor also drew attention to CANDIDATES | 3 est. 1851
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