News

Sen. Zumbach announces Sec. of Ag run

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 10:12am

     Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan, announced he is running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Zumbach, who farms in the Ryan area, said agriculture has always been a big part of his life.

     Zumbach said most people know the passion he has for agriculture and how he has defended it in the Iowa Senate.

     He is currently serving his sixth year in the Iowa Senate. Current Ag Secretary Bill Northey has been nominated for a USDA position. Zumbach said he would not seek the job if Northey stays in Iowa.

City clarifies rumors about garbage, recycling services

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 10:12am

     With rumors circulating around Monticello concerning the future of residential garbage and recycling services and the future of the Public Works Sanitation Department, City Administrator Doug Herman took time during the Feb. 5 council meeting to clarify a few things.

     Herman said he sought input from about 20 different cities with similar population to Monticello and found that very few still offer residential garbage collection.

     “It’s contracted out,” he said.

Supervisors propose county employee pay increases

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 10:11am

     When it came to county employee salary and wage increases, for the most part the Jones County Supervisors tried to stick to a 3 percent increase across the board.

     For budgetary purposes, the board approved proposed increases during their Feb. 7 board meeting.

     Elected official (board of supervisors, auditor, treasurer, attorney, sheriff, and recorder) increases of 3.6 percent and 2 percent for supervisors were approved by a vote of 3-2, with Supervisors Wayne Manternach and Jon Zirkelbach opposed.

JRMC now offers Palliative Care

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 10:10am

     UnityPoint Health – Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) is pleased to announce it’s now offering Palliative Care.

     Palliative Care is specialized medical care for individuals with serious chronic illnesses. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from symptoms they face every day. The goal is to improve the quality of life for patients and their family.

Supervisors fine-tune county appropriations

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 10:00am

     During the Feb. 7 Jones County Supervisors meeting, the board considered several appropriation items as they prepare to finalize the Fiscal Year 2019 county budget:

     The board chose not to budget additional funding for the Conservation Department’s request for an additional full-time employee.

     The board voted 4-1 to maintain county library funding at $103,692 from $101,976. Manternach opposed.

     “Rural libraries are hurting,” said Oswald, who spoke with a Monticello Public Library board member.

Holub Insurance named 2018 Gem Too Agency

Published by admin on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 9:55am

     The IMT Group, a Midwest-based provider of personal and commercial insurance products, recently announced its list of 2018 Gen Too Agencies, distinguishing Holub Insurance Agency, LLC as one of the 34 qualifying recipients.

     The IMT Group is proud to recognize Holub Insurance Agency, LLC as a high performing IMT and Wadena Insurance agency in its six-state territory (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).

Community meeting draws school building perspectives

Published by admin on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 8:37am

     About 120 people attended, and many of them spoke, during a community meeting with OPN Architects regarding Monticello Community School District facilities.

     It was a chance for citizens to provide feedback to OPN, the firm hired in November to oversee a possible bond issue election. The meeting was held Wednesday, Jan. 31 in the Monticello High School Auditorium.

     A total of 18 people spoke at the meeting, offering a variety of thoughts and questions from a variety of perspectives.

Legislators address education funding, rural broadband

Published by admin on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 8:34am

     Sens. Tod Bowman and Dan Zumbach and Rep. Lee Hein were all present for a legislative forum hosted by Jones County Farm Bureau. The forum was held on Jan. 2 at Kirkwood’s Jones Regional Education Center.

     Topics of interest that afternoon included the Bottle Bill, SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education), education funding, and rural broadband.

SAVE/Education funding

     Bowman said the Iowa Senate voted for the 1 percent SSA (State Supplementary Assistance), but admitted he did not vote in favor.

Budget cuts could mean court service closures

Published by admin on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 8:34am

     Could Jones County’s court services be shut down?

     Last week the State Court Administration released information concerning a proposed de-appropriation under Senate Study Bill (SSB) 3089 of $4.8 million against the state’s Judicial Branch. The reduction is proposed to affect their current budget for FY 2018.

     The total amount of the cut recommended for all of the Justice System Appropriations is $7.7 million. At $4.8 million, the Judicial Branch is absorbing 63 percent of that total. The overall de-appropriation amount being recommended by SSB is $50 million.

County sells old Secondary Road shop

Published by admin on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 8:31am

     The final sale price for the former Secondary Roads’ Wyoming Shop, located at 8220 County Road X-75, was $7,100 over the highest bid.

     The building and property, comprised of three lots, went to Ryan Dodge for $24,200.

     During the Jan. 30 Jones County Supervisor meeting, a public hearing was held for the sale. Five bidders were present for the hearing and submitted sealed bids ranging from $14,000 to $17,100.

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