County narrows down jail staff analysis report

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

In January, the Jones County Supervisors decided to have Shive-Hattery conduct a staff analysis concerning the county jail. The decision was made following a recent jail inspection that found staffing issues associated with the jail.

During the March 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, the board conducted a conference call with Steve Davis with Shive-Hattery to review the process of the staff analysis, as well as other services.

“Long term, what might your staffing needs look like?” proposed Davis.

While Davis was suggesting more than just a staff analysis in terms of a long-range facilities report, the board felt they only wanted the analysis at this point.

“We want to stick with the staff analysis and look at other things as they come up,” said Supervisor Ned Rohwedder. “Further analysis at this time

is preliminary.”
Davis urged the board to

consider a long-term plan for the jail and the staff.

“Your facility is very inaccurate now,” Davis said. “It will only continue down the road.”

In 2018, Shive-Hattery conducted a facilities assessment on the entire courthouse, including the jail. Davis said based on that report, the court might want to consider the future of the jail.

“Add on to the courthouse. Do something new,” suggested Davis. “That way you know 20 years from now what you need.”

Davis offered to follow up with the board in the next couple of weeks concerning just the staff analysis.

Supervisor Wayne Manternach suggested bringing in the county’s insurance firm into the conversation for additional advice on the jail. “They might have a different opinion about staff,” he said.

In other county business:

After sending an amended county purchase policy out to department heads, the board only received feedback from County Engineer Derek Snead. Snead requested that Secondary Road equipment purchases be exempt from the policy.

The board took no action on amending the purchase policy. The current policy will remain in place.

• The board approved the hiring of Denise McCrea as a part-time clerk in the Recorder’s Office. McCrea will work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at 20 hours a week. Her starting salary will be $14.66 an hour.

• The board held a public hearing concerning the re- zoning of a portion of a parcel (1.05 acres) in Scotch Grove Township from A-Agricultural to R-1- Residential. The property allows Brian and Angi Kearney to expand their yard, and clean up some boundary issues.

Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the re-zoning request. Lubben said there were no objections.

The board suspended the first and second considerations and adopted the re-zoning request.

• Assistant Engineer Todd Postel said pavement marking bids for the county and cities of Monticello and Anamosa would be opened on Tuesday, April 16.

Approximately 110 miles of roadway are included in the project. The total project cost with Monticello and Anamosa is around $87,000.

• The board approved a resolution opposing state legislation (SF 184) on increasing the weight limits for logging operations. Postel said the state is considering increasing the weight limit from 80,000 pounds to 130,000 pounds.

“County engineers across the state are adamantly opposed,” said Postel. “It’d be very detrimental to the Secondary Road system, especially this time of the year.”

“There’s no way I’d be in favor when we’re talking an embargo,” added Supervisor Wayne Manternach.

• The board will hold a Secondary Roads work session on Tuesday, April 16 at the County Engineer’s Office.

• After receiving four RFPs from insurance companies, the board decided to meet with two of those firms separately during their March 26 board meeting: Insurance Associates and Athur Gallaghar.

 

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