Vacancy Filled on Jasper County Board

Jasper County board members filled a vacancy on the board at this month's meeting.

Adam Deckard resigned from the Board as he accepted a position with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. A person isn't allowed to work for the sheriff's office and serve on the county board.

Deckard served in District 1, which includes Crooked Creek, Grandville, Hunt City, Wade Precinct 4, and Willow Hill Townships. 

Board Chairman Jason Warfel appointed local school teacher Jessica Schackmann to succeed Deckard. Schackmann will serve through November 30, but can seek election for another term.

Schackmann is just the second woman to serve on the Board in Jasper County.

The Board also heard from Libby Moeller of Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA. When a family is experiencing crisis and becomes involved in the child welfare system, a CASA volunteer may be appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of the children involved. The Board could consider budgeting for CASA in the coming year.

Board members heard that ImagineThis! has completed a prototype for a County of Jasper/City of Newton website. Once both the County and the City have signed off on the final version, the website will go live.

There was more discussion on a Courthouse Square Streetscape project. The work would upgrade the street lighting and sidewalks on the county property of the courthouse square to look like the city property around the square. Applications for grant funds will be accepted later this year.

Board members were updated on the replacement of the Courthouse in Newton. Once a design has been selected and approved by the County Board, actual plans will be drawn up. The project will then go out for bids. At the current timeline, no demolition or construction would start until late 2025 or early 2026.

The Board is expected to apply for an energy transition grant that would provide $876,316 toward Courthouse replacement costs. In the meantime, repairs are needed in the Circuit Clerk's office in the existing Courthouse for $9,020. Ceiling tiles fell in the office in June. 

Board members also discussed reports that some entities that should be paying the hotel/motel operators' occupation tax have not. Letters will be sent to any entity identified as not having paid the taxes.