Thursday, Jan 1, 2026
Vol. 6, No. 20
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Finding the ‘right’ size By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
As discussions continue on enrollment numbers for the PCM School District and how it plans to address projected short falls, superintendent Aaron Becker and district administration held a public forum to explain where the district currently sits and answer public questions. A large group of community members filled the Monroe Elementary library Dec. 17 to hear about the future of PCM and ask more specific questions about the potential changes. Becker started by explaining how the district is funded, including the general fund, general obligation bond (GO Bond), Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE). PPEL and GO Bonds are funded through property
taxes and can only be used on infrastructure (GO Bond) and transportation and technology (PPEL). SAVE is funded by sales tax and can be used on infrastructure, transportation, technology and debt service. The general fund comes from student funded state aid and is used to pay salaries and benefits, curriculum and fuel, electricity and water. Should the district continue forward at its current state, with an anticipated 2 percent increase in state aid — which is not a guarantee — by fiscal year 2028 it would be in the red by more than half-million dollars and have many other issues to deal with. “If changes are not made in the next year or two, PCM will likely face a negative balance in our general fund, based on current enrollment and budget ENROLLMENT | 2
PCM superintendent answers every question at public forum on right-sizing the district, closing Monroe Elementary
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer PCM Superintendent Aaron Becker, who is in his first year with the district, explains the administration’s work to help “right-size” the district to deal with declining enrollment during a public forum Dec. 17 at Monroe Elementary.
Jasper County puts law enforcement training center project out for bid
BUT FIRST, COFFEE
Sheriff’s office envisions local training area that could be used by other agencies
Winter weather won’t be a challenge anymore for Max’s Coffee. The mobile coffee shop that typically parks at Salon Essence in Monroe and the Pella Clinic in Prairie City will be opening in Jersey Freeze starting Jan. 6 through March 6, providing the same great drinks customers have come to know and love. “This is a great benefit to me by keeping us going through the winter without fighting the weather as much,” owner Amy Schreiber said. “It also keeps our name out there so people don’t forget about us over the winter.” The winter hours are set at 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. The idea came while Schreiber was talking to her staff about a plan for winter. She shares an employee with Jersey Freeze. From there, the collaboration was hatched. “I was in a conversation one day with Lainy (Curry) and Amy and they brought up having Max’s Coffee in Jersey Freeze over the winter,” Jersey Freeze owner Lynn Donahue said. “We talked it over and decided, heck yeah, it would be a great deal. I think it will be help for her and for us. It is always nice to help another business owner, that’s the thing to do.” Schreiber was just as excited to have the collaboration come together. “Lynn is a great customer. He stops each time we’re in Monroe,” Schreiber said. “Lynn and I were able to go over what it would entail and come to an agreement that really benefits everyone.”
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County is soliciting bids for its law enforcement training center project. The board of supervisors approved the construction plan for the facility during its Dec. 23 meeting. Maintenance Director Adam Sparks presented the plan, which he noted would be issued for bid on
Jan. 8, 2026. The actual bid opening will be Feb. 10 or Feb. 17 during the supervisors meeting. According to the construction documents prepared by BBS Architects Engineers, the total probable cost is estimated around $588,649. Sparks noted that additional costs increase that amount to around $624,995 for parking lot pole lights BIDS | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is working with BBS Architects Engineers to put the law enforcement training center project out for bid.
Max’s Coffee to open at Jersey Freeze during winter months By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Submitted Photo Max’s Coffee is taking up residence at Jersey Freeze in Monroe during the winter months, a partnership that benefits both businesses and keeps tasty drinks and snacks available to new and loyal customers when previously the mobile coffee trailer was unable to set up shop.
The menu will remain the same for Max’s Coffee — coffee, lattes, energy drinks, food items and seasonal flavors. One thing she will not be serving is ice cream. “We may offer specials once we’re in there, but you’ll have to watch our social media pages to see,” Schreiber said. Taking over a brick-and-mortar location has many benefits, especially during the cold winter months. Schreiber said it can be a struggle to battle winter weather, including the blistering winds. “Mobile coffee is that much more difficult in cold, ice and snow. We have to consider road conditions, but also what COFFEE | 3
IRUA to raise water rates of customers by 14% in 2026 Organization points to rising operating costs and water purchase costs from Newton and Marshalltown By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Iowa Regional Utilities Association is raising its water rates by 14 percent at the start of 2026 because of rising operating costs and “unprecedented escalations in its water purchase costs” from both Newton Waterworks and Marshalltown Water Works, the organization’s board of directors said in a letter
to customers. The majority of the water IRUA sells to its rural customers is purchased from these two primary suppliers. The IRUA Board of Directors said in the letter that the City of Newton — which now manages Newton Waterworks — raised its water rates to IRUA by about 127 percent. The board also said Marshalltown Water Works has increased its water
rates charged to IRUA by approximately 99 percent since 2019. “These increasing costs make up a significant portion of IRUA’s operating expenses, and are a driving factor in the need for IRUA to increase the rates it charges its members and customers by 14 percent beginning on Jan. 1, 2026,” the board of directors said, noting IRUA is a not-for-profit organization.
Keeping rates low is a priority for IRUA, which strives to balance the expectation to keep rates low as possible “without compromising on delivering a high-quality and reliable service and maintaining a financially sound organization,” the letter said. The board thanked IRUA customers for their confidence and support. The letter from the board also hinted at a possible large-
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scale project that could help mitigate rate issues for IRUA into the future. “IRUA regrets the need for a rate increase of this magnitude, but looks positively into the future as it plans to shift away from reliance on third-party water suppliers and into a position of water supply independence by owning and operating its IRUA | 3
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