Jasper Board Discusses Bridge Replacement

Jasper County board members Thursday discussed the need to replace a bridge.

The CIPS Road bridge was inspected and needs replaced. The bridge will be posted and then the replacement work can follow.

In the meantime, the Jasper board moved ahead with replacing a bridge in Wade Township. Allendale Sand and Gravel is the low bidder at $221,976. The Board also approved a construction engineering agreement on the Grove Bridge.

There was discussion of paying overtime to county workers. The Board's Finance Committee determined that a county employee must work a 40-hour work week before they will be paid overtime. A letter will be sent to county department heads, outlining the plan.

Board members voted to contract for a new phone system in the county jail. The new system will have a phone in the day room, each cell block, and one for visitors. The County will not pay out any money, but will receive 45% of what is paid to use the phones. The system will allow correctional officers to block numbers, record calls and limit the time a phone can be used.

Board members contracted with Smithenry for labor on a concrete project at the County Office Building, and approved Brian Griffith to tear out the existing concrete. The total project cost will be about $17,000. The Board also voted to shut down an ambulance website due to lack of views, but heard that new sleep rooms for those on duty for the ambulance service are almost ready. The Board lifted a residency requirement for ambulance attendants, since it's difficult now to recruit a sufficient number of attendants. The attendants will now work 24 to 48 hour shifts.