Thursday, April 17, 2025
Vol. 6, No. 35
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Viva Las Vegas
What happens at the 2025 PCM Prom doesn’t stay at the prom as students celebrate the event with friends and family April 12
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
‘EARS’ to having fun and learning at the same time PCM FFA students serves as Easter Bunny for Monroe Elementary egg hunt event By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Monroe Elementary kids got an extra Easter surprise April 9 when they came to school. High school FFA students organized an egg hunt with extra treats as a way to connect with the younger Mustangs. “I thought it would be fun to do it for the elementary and it is around Easter so it would be a good idea,” high school organizer Baili Birkenholtz said. “It is another way we can interact with the community.” FFA and Agriculture teacher Jenny Petersen told Birkenholtz if she could organize the event, they would do it. The high schooler found eggs and candy to purchase and developed additional incentives for the kids beyond just collecting eggs for treats. The group had perfect weather for their event and used it as an
Conference board meeting gets heated as members demand accountability By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Easter egg hunt organizer Baili Birkenholtz explains the rules of the event to the elementary students. Birkenholtz is a member of the PCM FFA group and, along with fellow members, put together the egg hunt as a way to interact with younger students and teach them about what FFA is.
opportunity to engage with younger kids and put their plans into action. Eggs were spread throughout the elementary playground, some easy to find and others a little more hidden. The group also had a couple of special eggs that came with
an additional prize for those who found them. “We have mini tractors and there is an FFA sticker on one egg for each grade that will win the FFA EASTER | 3
Repairing the 100-year-old courthouse master clock was only a matter of time Jasper County recruits help of local tinkerer to fix pneumatic clock now on display By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks knows a thing or two about fixing odds and ends in the courthouse, but when it comes to repairing the inner workings of an antique pneumatic clock that is over a hundred years old, he calls a local tinkerer with a proven track record of solving these kinds of problems. Even so, Dave Simons knew the task would be difficult. It is not every day you come by a clock that uses air pressure to drive its internal components. With many now relying on electricity or some kind of gear mechanism to operate — heck, most people just use their phone — a pneumatic clock is a relic of the past. It took a little time and a little patience, Simons CLOCK | 3
A publication of est. 1851
Scrutiny over assessor’s office budget leads to reductions
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks explains how the 1910 Hahl pneumatic master clock operates alongside its secondary clock. The master clock was recently restored so that it could still operate using compressed air.
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Three weeks ago the Jasper County Conference Board demanded the county assessor scrap her entire FY26 budget and restart from scratch after concerns were raised about the office’s supposedly high reserve funds, staff raises, the amount of deputies needed in the office and whether line items were “spitballed.” By the following week, the conference board — which is comprised of town mayors, county supervisors and a representative from the school boards in Jasper County — met again with the county assessor to review her new budget, which was reduced by about $20,000. The meeting was over rather quickly. However, the previous meeting on March 18 was much longer, and it was because Baxter Mayor Doug Bishop and Supervisor Brandon Talsma wanted the assessor to explain items in her budget. When they asked for specifics, she couldn’t answer. When they asked for estimates, she couldn’t answer. “It seems like we’re spitballing a lot of these numbers,” Bishop said, noting line items like FICA, IPERS and health insurance were rounded to $25,000 and $31,000 and $90,000, respectively. He suggested every department in the county is notified of these amounts
— to the penny — by the auditor’s office staff. County Assessor Stacey Von Dielingen said whatever doesn’t get spent, it gets offset for next year’s budget. Bishop had his doubts. He saw no offset from this year to the next year, except for software and maintenance. Talsma grew aggravated with her not knowing estimates for reserves and other line items. Bishop later pointed out that he knew a rough estimate of her reserves balance, which he estimated to be above $200,000. To him, it is “crazy” to see a reserve balance that high when the assessor’s office budget is around $653,000. It is common practice for taxing entities to have at least 25 percent reserves. Going by these estimates, the assessor’s office would have 30 percent of its budget in reserve; 25 percent reserves amounts to about $163,000. Frustrations only continued. Bishop scrutinized line items for mileage reimbursements and continued education trainings, and he disagreed with her going against county policy and staying in Des Moines hotels for trainings. He said Von Dielingen spent $2,888 on hotels in Des Moines over the past two years. Pushing back, Von Dielingen said her office operates autonomously BUDGET | 3
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