Thursday, April 4, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 33
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Iowa governor signs education bill reforming AEAs, raising teacher salaries
Jasper County lawmakers have discussed the issues in-depth for months, constituents have largely pushed back By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer 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 prolonged New-
ton school board meeting in January and at legislative gatherings hosted by the League of Women Voters. The most recent gathering in mid-March 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
Jasper County covers road maintenance in Reasnor
nearly 14 years ago. The results of the task force were released in a 99-page report in 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 AEA | 3
Stabilization of a 0.25-mile portion of Main Street to cost more than $86K
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County is footing the bill of a small road project on Main Street in Reasnor, and as a result the county engineer is recommending an agreement be drafted in order to cover the future construction and maintenance of the other farm-to-market routes in the small town. Supervisor Brandon Talsma said on March 19 he was contacted by city officials in Reasnor late last fall about resurfacing the stretch of road on Main Street from Broad Street to Robin Avenue, which is near the county garage. Reas-
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved road maintenance in Reasnor. The 0.25-mile stretch of Main Street from Broad Street to Robin Avenue will be restabilized for more than $86,000. The road is often used by secondary roads crews, which has a shed nearby.
nor officials asked if the county would be able to contribute because of its heavy traffic. Reasnor Mayor Tami
Weishaar brought Talsma a finalized plan and notified him that the road may also be considered a farm-to-mar-
ket route, which he said could change things a little bit. Jasper County REASNOR | 3
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.
Jasper County purchases 68K tons of rock for FY25 More than $1.4M worth of rock to be used in northern townships By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer 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 that’s kind of where we’re at right now.” Despite the rock bids for fiscal year 2025 going over the engineer’s estimate, he said the county is on track for what secondary roads budgeted. Frietsch when accounting for this, reclamation and spot rock, it leaves ROCK | 3
2 Republican candidates set to primary for IA-01 seat GOP voters will have to decide between incumbent Miller-Meeks and newcomer Pautsch By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer 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 bring sensible reforms to Washington and continuing to fight for Iowa.” In a press release on March 13, Pautsch’s campaign announced his Pautsch qualifying for the U.S. House ballot in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. He submitted more than 4,500 signatures, which
Pautsch said demonstrates the widespread support for his candidacy. He also shared some high-profile endorsements. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also ran for president in 2008 and 2016, spoke highly of Pautsch, calling the Republican candidate — who is described by his campaign as a dedicated advocate for Judeo-Christian values and conservative principles — “strong” and “uncompromised.” Huckabee said Pautsch will help save Americans from the oppression that has destroyed constitutional liberties, national security, the economy, schools, law and
Supervisors update Jasper County building codes By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer 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 withhold issuance of building/ electrical permits if there are some unresolved issues.
A publication of est. 1851
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, 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
order, small businesses and families. The former governor also drew attention to Pautsch’s faith. “He is confident the Lord will give us wisdom and power to overcome these national disasters and thrive under His loving care – just as our founders did,” Huckabee said. Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow, also gave his endorsement to Pautsch. “David’s commitment to saving America by trusting in God’s power is unwavering. His leadership guarantees constituCANDIDATES | 8
Ordinance gives county ability to withhold building permits if there are unresolved issues square feet or less, eave height of 12 feet or less and pole spacing of eight feet or less. Otherwise, construction documents for all buildings and/or structures other than those covered by the International Residential Code shall be prepared, signed and sealed by a registered design professional. Luetters said the exemption mainly covers much smaller buildings. The county also added a sched-
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ule of permit fees to the ordinance. Supervisors set the building fees via resolution. According to the ordinance, any person who commences work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits may have fees doubled. Valuation for the purpose of establishing permit fees for new CODE | 3
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