Commission Discusses Recreation Complex

The Jasper County Commissioners Monday spent considerable time discussing the location of the new recreation building in relation to parking, the fields, the expanded senior center and more. They also discussed exactly where the sheriff’s office expansion will go, and the new garage for the Public Works Department.

County Engineer Robert Jordan provided large maps of the area that the commissioners and others gathered around to determine what is needed now and what will be needed down the road. A representative from JMA Architect was on hand. That is the firm that planned the senior center changes, and may be hired to plan more.

Monday’s meeting was a round table discussion to best determine where to go. They had the timber cruised recently, and were planning to move forward on cutting timber. However, several in attendance Monday urged the commissioners not to cut down all the trees, and talked about the aesthetics of the property with the trees. For example, if they clear-cut, the landfill would likely be visible from Hwy. 212.

Visibility was a consideration for where to put the new building too, and one location would make it visible from the road, which most considered a real plus.

Also at Monday’s called meeting, the commissioners voted to give a three percent raise to each department, and the department head, human resources representative and county manager will determine how best to divide the raises.

Commissioner Craig Salmon voted against the raises, saying he has long asked for evaluations to be completed, and that raises be based on merit. The way the motion was worded it won’t be an across the board three percent raise necessarily.