Heritage praises Tallman, Jones Co. for senior dining

     Representatives with the Heritage Agency on Aging praised Jones County Senior Dining Director Lisa Tallman for her dedication to the program.

     During the June 13 Jones County Supervisors meeting, Tim Getty and Jill Sindt with Heritage relayed the positive news to the board following Heritage’s annual review.

     “I am pleased to report that there are absolutely no concerns,” said Getty.

     In May, Tallman requested additional funding from Heritage to help fund meals in Jones County. Getty acknowledged that Tallman’s original contract stipulated 25,211 meals. As of the end of May, it was up to 25,400-plus.

     “And that will continue to increase,” Getty said, “which is great. There is definitely a need out there throughout all of reports we’re seeing.” Heritage serves a seven-county region, including Jones.

     With funding issues involving MCOs (managed care organizations), Getty said some counties are sadly seeing a decrease in the number of meals. Federal dollars cannot be used to offset MCO waivers. Jones County is the exception, showing an increase in meals.

      “It’s showing a decrease in meals, but the numbers show an increase in need,” said Getty. “With Jones County, we’re actually proving what we’re seeing. This justifies the program.”

     Sindt said about a year and a half ago, Heritage reviewed its senior meal contribution program and found that it’s better to keep those contributions with the counties providing senior meals.

     “In the past,” she explained, “those community contributions, as well as those who paid for meals, went back to Heritage, and would be put back into the program.” Now, each provider, such as Jones County, will be able to retain their own donations and suggested meal contributions.

     “With Jones County you’ve always had one of the highest contributions rates within our region,” praised Sindt. “We think that this will be a really positive impact for Jones County, knowing that contributions will stay here.”

     Both Getty and Sindt thanked the board of supervisors for their continued financial support for senior dining over the years.

     “By far,” said Getty, “Jones County and the board of supervisors have the highest amount of support (in terms of total dollar amount) throughout the region.”

     Sindt added, “Without the county’s support, the constituents of Jones County would really feel hurt.”

In other county business:

     • Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben gave the board an update on the June 13 Planning & Zoning meeting. She said the three re-zoning public hearings the P&Z board held throughout the county during the month of May were all well attended. P&Z planned to review the feedback they gathered from those meetings and eventually bring their recommendations to the board of supervisors.

     Lubben said there were 15 different property owners requesting different zoning than what the P&Z recommended or proposed.

     “They need to carefully consider their options before sending their recommendation to you,” she told the supervisors of the P&Z.

     • The board approved a Purchase of Service Contract with ECICOG for Fiscal Year 2018 for transportation services for JETS.

     Kathy Koeperich, JETS director, informed the board that she would be getting three new vans from ECICOG, with three older vehicles going to Washington County who’s in need.

     • The board approved a contract with B&J Hauling for a grading project on Dale’s Ford Road in Scotch Grove Township.

     County Engineer Derek Snead said the equipment is already on site to begin.

     • Snead informed the board that Gee Asphalt out of Cedar Rapids is in the process of applying a crack sealing solution to preserve Business Highway 151 North and Hardscrabble Road, both in/near Monticello. With the recent humid weather, Snead said it might slow the application process down.

     • Snead said he is planning to update the Secondary Roads’ fence compensation policy. It was last updated in 2012, and Snead said falls short of the current material prices.

     “The goal is to compensate the landowner for replacing their fence,” he said. “The current policy does not satisfy that.”

     Snead said the policy helps with right-of-way purchases if the landowners know the county would replace their fence at no expense to the owner.