Gibbs proposes countywide ‘Invasive Plants Resolution’

     Jones County Weed Commissioner Wes Gibbs met with the Jones County Supervisors, Feb. 15, during their regular meeting. Gibbs presented a draft policy for the board’s review: the Jones County Invasive Plants Resolution.

     “This runs alongside the Iowa Noxious Weed Law,” explained Gibbs, which was created in just 2018.

     Gibbs said by establishing a county policy, it makes it easier to add or subtract different weed species.

     “Before, we had to change the law, which was impossible for weed commissioners,” Gibbs said of any changes.

     The county policy states that invasive plants that exist on private and public land in the county must be “controlled, eradicated, or otherwise mitigated.”

     Gibbs highlighted numerous species that have been discovered in Jones County. These are species that, “based on current science, are competitive, persistent, or pernicious, and may directly injure or cause damage to crops, other useful plants, livestock, public roads, fish, or public health.”

     • Japanese knotweed

     • Amur honeysuckle

     • Tree of heaven

     • Japanese hops

     • Chinese silver grass

     • Japanese barberry

     • Autumn olive

     • Oriental bittersweet

     • Chinese bush clover

     • Common reed

     This policy also spells out the steps the county weed commissioner/roadside manager would perform in an effort to control the growth of the above-mentioned noxious weed species.

     “It’s an effort to keep a lid on things,” Gibbs said. “We make recommendations to landowners to control the invasive species.”

     Gibbs said these countywide policies are becoming more and more commonplace throughout the state and Midwest.

     “Some counties are doing their own resolutions through Conservation, some through their roads department because we’re the ones seeing it,” explained Gibbs.

     In piecing together this policy for Jones County, Gibbs made contact with Conservation officials as well.

     On April 20, Gibbs is partnering with Conservation to offer landowners and the public an opportunity to learn about noxious weeds, as well as the Invasive Plants Resolution.

     The board of supervisors will take action to approve the policy during their next meeting.

In other county business:

     • The board awarded the Buffalo Road bridge replacement project to the lowest bidder, Jim Schroeder Construction out of Bellevue. Their bid was $759.906.71.

     • The board approved the hiring of Jennifer Cass as a full-time jail officer at $17.29 an hour. Her effective start-date is Feb. 22.

     Sarah Tate, jail administrator, said the jail is now fully staffed.

     • The board approved the 2021 Ordinance Codification, which compiles all of the ordinances approved in calendar year 2021 into the overall county code.

     Some of those ordinances include zoning, flood plain management, general assistance, veterans assistance, and district and voting precincts.

     • County Auditor Whitney Hein informed the board that Jellystone Park in Monticello plans to voluntarily annex the campground into the Monticello city limits. This would also include the Walnut Acres Estates.

     “This does not affect us because there are no roads we maintain,” explained Hein.

     Paula Hart with Environmental Health told the board after talking with City Administrator Russ Farnum, it’s a plus for the operation to hook up to city services, especially sewer.

     “The new owners will have to do a lot of work to get it done,” Hart said. “They either need to get their (own) system fixed within a certain amount of time or hook up to the city.”

     • County Attorney Kristofer Lyons informed the board that Assistant County Attorney Amy Dollash had submitted her resignation, effective Feb. 25. Lyons said already posted the assistant job opening for the public.

     “I just don’t know about the job market,” he said.

     In Dollash’s case, she got a job working for the Johnson County Attorney’s Office.

     “I imagine they pay better,” he said in comparison to Jones.

     In comparison, the Cedar County Attorney’s Office is also looking to hire an assistant. In this case, Jones just happens to pay better than Cedar.

     “Money talks,” commented Supervisor Joe Oswald.

     Dollash has been with Jones County for three years. At the time of her hiring, Lyons said they received 15 to 20 resumes; conducted a handful of interviews.

     “I hope it could be that good again,” he said. “But, again, I don’t know what the legal market looks like. Over the last few years, law classes have gotten smaller.”