County prepares for FY22 budget amendments

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     The Jones County Board of Supervisors took action during their Nov. 16 meeting to set a public hearing to amend the county’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget.

     The hearing will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 9:15 a.m.

     Several changes to the FY22 budget prompted the need for an amendment.

     The Conservation Department did not budget enough when it came to spending insurance money stemming from derecho damage. They budgeted $60,000, and they planned on spending $160,000 of the $500,000 that was received.

     Conservation has also been waiting on delivery of a skid loader purchase that was made many months ago.

     Another budget change, the county voted to contribute $2,500 toward the Jones County Economic Development daycare feasibility study. In the end, only $1,630 was needed from the county, not the full $2,500.

     There is also $5,000 of unused Memorial Hall funds for the facility in Wyoming. That money was earmarked for upgrades to the building.

     The board of supervisors also have $8,700 in their budget-holding line item, which reflects their disagreement with the Conservation Board’s salary increases.

     Hein noted that the total FY22 amendment comes to an increase of $170,994.

     Supervisor Joe Oswald pointed out that it does cost the county money to hold a public hearing for budget amendments because the hearing has to be advertised in the county newspapers.

     “That needs to be stressed, especially at budget time,” he said.

     Hein said she thought she could hold off on this amendment, considering it’s not a huge amount of money.

     “But bills need to be paid,” she said of the projects mentioned. “And Conservation would have to take money out of another fund (to pay their bills).”

     The county typically sets a budget amendment hearing in March as well.

     “If we don’t budget to spend the money, we can’t spend it, especially large amounts of money,” Hein reminded everyone.

In other county business:

     • The board certified the hiring date of Roadside Technician William Roller as of Dec. 6. He’ll be paid $20.44 an hour, the same rate of pay for MM2 drivers.

     • Hein updated the board on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) related to COVID-19.

     The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit temporarily halted the vaccine mandate.

     “This means that it can’t currently be enforced, but it could be enforced later,” she explained. “We just don’t know at this point.

     “At this time, the board is not deciding if the ETS will be implemented in Jones County until we have more information on how the court system is proceeding.”

     • Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben updated the board on her Nov. 16 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

     The Commission is still working on updates to the county’s comprehensive plan. The last time it was updated was in 2012. She said they want to stick to a 10-year plan, and have it approved by the board of supervisors in 2022.

     Right now, the Commission is looking at the housing and land use section on the plan.

     Lubben said Jones SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) and ECICOG are also updating their comprehensive plans. P&Z wants to make sure the county’s plan also aligns with others.

     “We want to implement the future land use map for future development,” Lubben said. “That hasn’t been done before.”

     She also praised P&Z member Jim McElheny for his extensive work on the plan.

     • The board received two bids for snow removal at the courthouse and Broadway Place Annex. The board approved the low bidder, Nick Zirkelbach, at $150. Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach abstained.

     • The board approved Family Farm Property tax credits, as presented by Assessor Sarah Benter. One application was placed on hold, pending further review.

     At first, the board voted 1-3 to deny the application because the deadline was Nov. 1 and the application was incomplete. Any additional review would take place after the deadline. Supervisor Joe Oswald was the lone vote in favor of denial. The vote failed.

     Benter explained the application just listed “tenant” as the person actively farming the property. However, the code states it has to be the owner or a direct family member of the owner taking on the farming operations.

     “I questioned whether they were actively engaged in farming,” Benter said. “He (the owner) rents it out, but not to a family member.”

     Benter said she sent the owner of the property a copy of the stated code. She said the owner does have the option to refute the board’s denial.

     “It wouldn’t hurt for him to clarify who the tenant is, whether it’s a family member or not,” she proposed to the board.

     Supervisor Ned Rohwedder offered to contact the owner on the matter.

Category:

Subscriber Login