Jon Zirkelbach, County Supervisor Dist. 3

     Personal history: I’m a third-generation farmer from the Scotch Grove/Center Junction area. I have worked in the ag business my whole life, and currently own and operate Dutch Creek Lawn Care. My wife, Tracy, and I have been married for 31 years. We have three children: Gennifer (Nathan) Schroeder, Nick (Addy) Zirkelbach, and Jacob Zirkelbach. We also have one granddaughter, Ida.

   Why did you choose to run/re-run for county supervisor? Why should Jones County voters cast their ballot in your favor? Continuing to serve the citizens of Jones County is one way for me to give back to my community. Our current members of the board have created a team that works well together and we are able to talk out the issues that come before us with an open mind.

   I believe voters should cast their ballots for me because I am a member of a team that works out solutions for the betterment of the people we represent.

   What background/experience do you bring to the role of county supervisor? Being a member of the board of supervisors for the past eight years, I feel I have a voice for everyone within the county. With that amount of experience comes maturity within the job and I am better able to understand where we are headed in the future and can voice opinions of my constituents without bias. I have been self-employed for almost 40 years and understand how to be fiscally responsible within a set budget. As with any business, there are always limited funds to keep the business going. All business owners have to learn how to spend those funds to get the most impact out of their dollars. I feel that as a member of our supervisor team, we are able to accomplish that every day.

   What have you heard from voters regarding their concerns facing Jones County? How would you address those concerns? As a member of the board of supervisors, we are tasked with sitting on bother boards within the county. One of the boards that I am a member of includes Jones County Economic Development. There is always a concern for keeping our current workforce in place while also drawing new people in that want to work within our communities. I feel that we need to find a way to be competitive with other communities and provide competitive wages.

   Another issue that is brought up when I visit with Jones County residents is our infrastructure. Every year we are tasked with keeping our roads and bridges safe and in good repair. I believe as a county, we need to always put safety first. Some projects may have to be shuffled around in order to accommodate the unsafe situations that arise. This is mainly due to a limited budget for infrastructure.

   Yes, we do look at all needs as they come up, so do not hesitate to keep us informed about what is going on in your neighborhood.

   What do you think are the top three issues facing Jones County today? While I know that there are several issues that face our county, I feel that the top three issues we face in Jones County include keeping our county an attractive place to live and work, providing services for all age groups, and increasing the quality of life within each community. We need to ensure that people are wanting to live and work here. We all want to live in a community that is well maintained and has various employment opportunities, and we all want to support those that need some assistance from time to time. We are always looking at the needs of all age groups to provide quality of life projects and personal supports as needed. These can include early childhood services, walking trails, mental health supports, and those services required for the elderly such as Senior Dining and Corridor Rides (JETS). We are willing to listen to your suggestions in order to make this a place you want to live and work.

   Additional comments: It has been an honor to work for you the last eight years and I hope to continue to support your needs in the future. I would appreciate your support in the June 7 Primary Election.