Keltner sees need for more volunteers

     Amy Keltner, the director of the Jones County Volunteer Center, met with the Board of Supervisors during the Dec. 27 meeting to thank them for the new office space. Earlier this year, the Volunteer Center relocated from the Farm Bureau building in Anamosa to the Broadway Place Annex, property owned by the county.

     “It’s been six months since we moved and everything is going well,” remarked Keltner. “But we continue to increase the needs of our clients.”

     Keltner said the funding she receives from the county goes toward the transportation program. Volunteers use their own vehicles to drive clients to non-emergency medical appointments outside of Jones County. Keltner said she applies for grants to help offset the reimbursement of mileage for the volunteers. In FY 2015 and 2016, well over $30,000 was spent each year on mileage.

     The SHIIP program (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) runs from Mid-October through December. Keltner said they saw more clients this year than in the past.

     The VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will soon get underway, January through April.

     “This program is all done by volunteers,” acknowledged Keltner.

     She said the clientele has been increasing here as well, demanding more volunteers.

     “We added the greeter position,” commented Keltner, “to help shuffle clients in and out.”

     The VITA program runs in the evenings to accommodate the volunteers’ schedules, as well as some Saturdays.

     Overall, Keltner said the Volunteer Center has been in need of volunteers.

     “Recruitment is the big thing,” she said. “In all of our programs, our clients are growing.”

     Within the past few months, though, Keltner said she has seen a 16 percent increase in volunteers. She said she’s been using social media and the local newspapers to help spread the word.

     The only program Keltner did see an increase in volunteers for was Day of Caring, which takes place in May.

     “We did pretty well with what we served,” she said. “I still feel like we made an impact.”

     Now that Keltner has her first year with the Volunteer Center under her belt, she plans to grow that program as well.

     Background checks are performed on all of the volunteers who choose to work with the Volunteer Center.

     Also during the meeting, the board placed on file a letter from the County Compensation Board recommending FY 2018 salaries for elected officials:

     • Attorney – Current salary of $90,476.31. A proposed 4.5 percent increase, or $4,071.43. A recommended annual salary of $94,547.74.

     • Sheriff – Current salary of $80,203.47. A proposed 5 percent increase, or $4,010.17. A recommended annual salary of $84,213.64.

     • Auditor – Current salary of $62,160.94. A proposed 5 percent increase, or $3,108.05. A recommended annual salary of $65,268.99.

     • Treasurer – Current salary of $60,728.99. A proposed 4 percent increase, or $2,429.16. A recommended annual salary of $63,158.15.

     • Recorder – Current salary of $58,185.05. A proposed 4 percent increase, or $2,327.40. A recommended annual salary of $60,512.45.

     • Supervisors – Current salary of $27,859.14. A proposed 4 percent increase, or $1,114.37. A recommended annual salary of $28,973.51.

     In regards to preparing for the FY 2018 budget, the board recommended planning with the recommended salary increases for now. No formal action was taken.

     “I don’t see anything that’s totally unwarranted,” said Supervisor Wayne Manternach.

     “This way we know we’re covered for sure,” added Supervisor Joe Oswald.

In other county business:

     • The board re-appointed Dr. Kirk Kilburg to the Board of Health

     • The board re-appointed Rosalie Ahrendsen and Kris Doll to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission, and also appointed new members Cole Fishwild and Courtney Pearson.

     • County Engineer Derek Snead informed the board about a request he received from a resident along 132^nd Street to change the road from a Level B to a Level C.

     The dead-end road is located east of Onslow, north of Monmouth.

     “It would be gated with limited access,” Snead explained if the change became effective.

     Snead said adjacent landowners were supportive of the change. A public hearing on the matter will be set at a later date.

     • Snead also informed the board that, budget wise, he is planning for the future purchase of two more trucks and a motor grader for Secondary Roads.

     “Some time in the early spring, I’ll be putting bid packages together,” he said.

     Manternach commented on the swift modernization of equipment within the county.