County takes steps toward land purchase for Public Safety Center

   There were two items on the Dec. 19 Jones County Board of Supervisors' agenda that dealt with the future of a new law enforcement/public safety center.

   The board approved an ARPA-funding resolution for the purchase of land for a new center. The resolution states: for "the purchase of real estate for the future site of the Public Safety Center in the amount of $255,000."

   In the same respect, the board approved a balance guarantee letter. The county remitted $10,000 as earnest money to the realtor via the letter, noting that the county is financially good for the remaining $245,000.

   The board of supervisors has held several closed sessions with Sheriff Greg Graver throughout the past month or so regarding Iowa Code Section 21.5, pertaining to the discussion of the purchase of real estate, including following their Dec. 19 meeting. A special board session was also called for Dec. 21 for this exact reason.

   The board also called a special session on Dec. 22 with County Engineer Derek Snead to approve a Partial Acquisition Contract for a landowner on 215^th Avenue related to the grading project. The county acquired .59 acres of needed right of way at a cost of $7,670.

   During the special session, Snead also asked the board to approve a resolution authorizing the acquisition of right of way on the same roadway by eminent domain.

   The board approved both resolutions.

In other county business:

   • The board set a public hearing on Jan. 9 at 9:15 a.m. to re-zone Lot 1 of Energy Consultants Group 2^nd Addition (2.97 acres) in Fairview Township on 230th Avenue from C-1 Commercial District to C-2 Highway Commercial District.

   County Auditor Whitney Hein said the Planning & Zoning Commission held its own hearing on the matter and recommended approval of the re-zoning.

   "There is a slight setback difference," Hein noted. "It doesn't meet the setbacks required in C-2 because it butts against residential property."

   She said the owner of Energy Consultants plans to purchase the residential property and eventually re-zone that to C-2 as well.

   • Supervisor Ned Rohwedder updated the board on the hiring of a new Jones County Tourism director, with Bob Hatcher retiring at the end of December.

   Rohwedder, who serves on the Tourism Board, said they were interviewing two candidates yet this week, before the holidays.

   "They both seem very good," he commented.