County plans for FY 2019 close-out

Jones County is closing out one fiscal year and getting ready to move into the next. 

During the May 7 Board of Supervisor meeting, the board set a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2019 county budget. 

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 28 at 9:15 a.m. Despite being amended in March, County Auditor Janine Sulzner said additional amendments are needed to close out the fiscal year. The amendments result in an overall increase of $31,000. 

The county budget needs to be amended by May 31. 

 In other county business: 

• The board approved several amendments to the county purchase policy. There had been much discussion on the matter at previous board meetings. 

• Sulzner informed the board that due to changes in state legislation, a county auditor’s signature is no longer valid on ballots as official certification. 

“It has to be the county seal,” she said. 

Sulzner shared a version of the county seal with the board, and they did not have any objections or changes. 

“The law now requires counties to have a seal,” she said. 

• Sulzner gave the board an update on how the passage of Senate File 634 will impact Jones County. 

Known as the “property tax transparency” bill, county budgets now have until March 31 (previously March 15) to certify their budgets with the state. The county must estimate the maximum amount of property tax they plan to levy, and hold a public hearing on the matter. If the county plans to increase tax revenue by more than 2 percent, a two-thirds vote is required instead of a simple majority vote. 

“I’m thankful they watered it down quite a bit,” said Supervisor Ned Rohwedder of the bill’s initial stipulations. “There is still extra time and expenses involved.” 

• The board approved re-zoning a parcel at 10663 Second St. in Center Junction from A-Ag to R-1-Residential. 

Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben said the owner, Brandon Schmitt, plans to build a house on the 6.17 acres. 

• Lubben informed the board about a nuisance at 22247 Eby’s Mill Rd. near Cascade. Lubben said a neighbor came to her with the complaint. A courtesy letter was sent to the owner with no response or action. 

The board asked Lubben to look into whether the property, which is part of a subdivision, has to follow a covenant or not regarding the upkeep of the property. 

It will be placed on the board’s agenda again for further review. 

• The board approved the hiring of Travis McNally as a deputy sheriff. McNally will begin on May 13 at $24.01 an hour. 

• Veterans Affairs Administrator Susan Yario updated the board on upcoming events: A Home Based Iowa event on May 22, and the VA’s annual grill-out in Monticello on June 11. 

• The board approved the first consideration to amend the county’s water and sewer ordinances in Center Junction. Both services will increase $2 a month.