Jasper County supervisors approve several hiring resolutions, IT license purchase and road‑project contract; set budget hearing

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a series of personnel hires, IT procurement and road‑project contract changes during its regular session, and set a public hearing for a fiscal‑year budget amendment.

The board voted to amend the hiring resolutions’ effective dates to January 1, 2025, and then approved four separate hiring resolutions for secondary roads and community development. The board also approved a three‑year Microsoft server licensing contract for county servers, a $12,600 supplemental services agreement with Snyder Associates to add construction administration for County Highway F48 phase two, and two transfer orders moving funds into the Secondary Roads fund. The board set the public hearing on the FY2024–25 budget amendment for January 2025 at 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors room.

Why it matters: the personnel actions formalize a reorganization in the county’s roads and community development departments intended to maintain inspection and operations capacity as senior staff retire; the IT purchase updates aging server licenses and the Snyder agreement adds on‑site construction oversight tied to DOT funding. Together the decisions allocate county funds and staff time that affect operations across public works, planning and IT.

Most important actions

- Hiring and personnel changes: The board approved an amendment moving the effective dates on hiring resolutions to Jan. 1, 2025, then passed individual hiring resolutions: Resolution 2502 hiring Mark Smith as Assistant Maintenance Superintendent (structures) at a listed standard salary of $75,956, Resolution 2503 hiring Steve Hodnett as Sign/Roadside Vegetation Manager at a listed standard salary of $71,913, Resolution 2504 hiring Jeremy Clapham as a full‑time skilled laborer (hiring rate stated in the packet/transcript as 25.41), and Resolution 2505 hiring Brett Jennings as Assistant Director for Community Development at a listed salary of $76,000. County staff explained these moves are reorganizational rather than new headcount and are intended to preserve inspection capacity and allow time for required certifications.

- Microsoft licensing: County IT staff presented options and recommended a three‑year licensing/service agreement to maintain server updates and licensing compliance. The board approved a three‑year contract for $38,660. County staff outlined a one‑time perpetual license option (quoted in the presentation as $13,930) but said that option provides no updates; the presented three‑year alternative included recurring year‑by‑year fees (first year quoted as about $7,571, second and third years quoted as about $8,581.44 each in the staff presentation).

- Snyder Associates supplemental agreement (County Highway F48 phase two): The board approved a $12,600 supplemental professional services agreement to add construction administration services to the original agreement for the County Highway F48 west project. Staff said the supplemental will allow Snyder to participate in preconstruction meetings and respond to design questions during construction; the county will submit the cost to the Iowa DOT (described in the meeting as DOT) for coverage from farm‑to‑market monies.

- Transfers and budget process: The board approved Resolution 2506 (Transfer Order 1537) moving funds from the General Basic fund to the Secondary Roads fund and Resolution 2507 (Transfer Order 1538) moving funds from a road services fund (described in the transcript as “world Services Fund”) to the Secondary Roads fund. The board also set a public hearing on the FY2024–25 budget amendment for January 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment to hiring resolutions (effective date change to Jan. 1, 2025): approved (motion passed; recorded voice vote) - Resolution 2502 — Hire Mark Smith, Assistant Maintenance Superintendent (Structures); salary $75,956; effective Jan. 1, 2025: approved - Resolution 2503 — Hire Steve Hodnett, Sign/Roadside Vegetation Manager; salary $71,913; effective Jan. 1, 2025: approved - Resolution 2504 — Hire Jeremy Clapham, full‑time skilled laborer; hiring rate stated as 25.41 (per transcript); effective date stated in meeting (recorded as Jan. 8, 2025 in the motion): approved - Resolution 2505 — Hire Brett Jennings, Assistant Director, Community Development; salary $76,000; effective Jan. 11, 2025 (as stated in the motion): approved - Microsoft server licensing — three‑year contract, $38,660: approved - Snyder Associates supplemental agreement (County Highway F48 phase two) — add construction administration; $12,600; to be submitted to DOT for farm‑to‑market funds: approved - Resolution 2506 — Transfer Order 1537 (General Basic → Secondary Roads): approved - Resolution 2507 — Transfer Order 1538 (Services/road fund → Secondary Roads): approved - Set public hearing for FY2024–25 budget amendment: January 2025, 9:30 a.m., Board of Supervisors room: approved

Discussion highlights and clarifications

- Personnel/reorganization: County presenters emphasized these hires are reorganizations, not new positions. Staff said the county left an inspection‑capacity position unfilled previously because required certifications (especially the state electrical inspector certification) take substantial time to obtain; the current plan moves responsibilities so a successor can obtain certifications before an incumbent retires.

- Microsoft licensing: IT staff said the county had not purchased licensing since 2017 and remained on Windows Server 2019. Staff recommended the three‑year support/licensing option as a cost‑effective way to remain current and receive updates automatically. The one‑time perpetual license price was presented but staff said it carries no future updates; staff provided year‑by‑year pricing that summed to the three‑year total presented to the board.

- Snyder Associates / Highway F48: County engineering staff said the supplemental covers construction administration so the design engineer can attend preconstruction meetings and help resolve design questions; staff will submit the invoice to DOT for farm‑to‑market reimbursement.

What the board did not decide

- No substantive changes to policy or long‑term budgets were adopted beyond the specific hires, contract approvals and transfers recorded above. The board did not set final budget adoption dates at this meeting; it set a public hearing on the amendment for January 2025.

Ending

The board closed the regular meeting and moved into a work session after approving the items above. The board recorded votes by voice; the transcript shows motion/second and unanimous “aye” votes for the recorded items.