Picray presents county, landfill quarterly investment reports

   County Treasurer Amy Picray presented her quarterly investment reports during the May 6 Jones County Supervisors meeting. She had reports for both the county's funds and the Solid Waste Management Commission's (landfill) funds.

   For the county, the subtotal as a March 31 in CDs is at $5.67 million, down about $93 million from a year ago.

   "One change from a year ago," explained Picray, "which I like to see, is we actually have CDs at four different banks. Last year, it was just three."

   Those four banks include Citizens State Bank in Monticello, Citizens State Bank in Wyoming, F&M Bank in Anamosa, and Fidelity Bank & Trust in Anamosa.

   "For a lot of reasons," continued Picray, "it's good to spread the money around, and I was pleased to see that change."

   As for the decline in the CD balance, she said when the maturities are due, sometimes she'll take some money out to cover payroll and claims.

   The county's subtotal in money market funds (MMF) is at $22.07 million.

   Picray described the MMFs as "liquid money that I can more easily access if we need to cover claims, payroll, tax portioning, and motor vehicle fees."

   The county's MMF account at Citizens Bank in Monticello has provided the county with the best rate thus far. In Fiscal Year 2024, the rate was 4.33 percent; for FY2025, it's at 4.07 percent. Picray has over $17.85 million invested in that one CD alone.

   "A year ago, I did have funds more evenly split between Citizens and F&M Bank, but F&M did drop their rate to 3.61 percent," she said. "So I have been leaving a larger balance in Monticello so we can get as much interest as we can with all that money coming in for property taxes."

   The county's total in CDs, MMFs, and checking as of March 31 is $30,22 million, which is up aby about $2.8 million from a year ago. Picray said some of that increase could be the timing in collecting property taxes.

   The county's total assets sit at around $33.03 million, up almost $3 million from a year ago.

   The landfill's subtotal in CDs is $1.88 million. Picray has CDs at five banks in the county for the landfill; last year it was four banks.

   The total in CDs, MMFs, and checking accounts for the landfill sits at $2.08 million, down $23,000 from a year ago.

   The MMF is through Citizens State Bank in Monticello, giving the landfill the same rates at the county, 4.07 percent.

   "That took a drop like the county's funds did, but still higher than where we were two years ago," said Picray.

   The decrease of $23,000 is attributed to accessing the MMF to cover accounts payable.

   The landfill's total assets are at $2.10 million, up $99,000 from a year ago.

   Picray asked the board if they saw any value from her presenting the investment reports.

   "I talked to other counties; they don't do that very often," she said of providing the board with detailed explanations. "Do you want me to come in and present them? Or would you rather me just submit them as a report as other offices do?"

   Supervisor Jeff Swisher said he finds them helpful when he attends Solid Waste Commission meetings; he can bring the reports with him for the commissioners to review.

   "Some of them don't understand how it all works," he said.

   "I think there's value to it," offered Supervisor Joe Oswald.

In other county business:

   • The board approved the second consideration of a new ordinance pertaining to cryptocurrency and data centers.

   Swisher said ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties) has talked about data centers saying counties cannot stop them from building, but counties can regulate them.

   "Not everyone is required to build a facility and have a foundation," he said of Jones County's ordinance.

   Land Use Administrator Whitney Amos said Jackson County has a more lenient ordinance.

   • A public hearing was held on a nuisance located at 17205 E-23 County Home Rd., Monticello, owned by Andrew Stastny, Sr. The owners were present for the hearing. Amos said no progress had been made to the property since the original notice was sent in January.

   The owners said they did remove four cars from the property. They said it's difficult to do much in the winter.

   "More cars will be gone this weekend," they offered. "We're trying."

   The couple asked if they could erect a car port, whether that be considered covering the vehicles. Amos said the only way that would be acceptable is if the vehicles are all currently registered and in working order.

   The couple said if they had another 30 days, they could get everything cleaned up. The board will take action during their May 13 meeting.

   • The board abated property taxes on a parcel acquired by Jones County. The property is located in the Anamosa Commercial Park.

   • County Auditor Whitney Hein said contractors are still working on the final phase of the courthouse bathroom remodel project.

   "We're not signing off until there is a consensus that it's all done," warned Swisher.