Jasper County Board Discusses Transportation, Power Plant

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Published on February 10 2023 10:33 am
Last Updated on February 10 2023 10:33 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Jasper County board members Thursday received updates on transportation improvement projects.

A grant is being sought that would fund a soil cement project for the West Liberty Road. The funds would come after July 1st, so the project would be targeted for the 2024 construction season. 

The county highway department is putting together the pavement preservation project, which consists of more than 20 miles of chip and seal work using State and Federal funds. The roads programmed this year are the CIPS Road, Willow Hill south to the county line, and Shamrock Road.

The Board discussed increases in pay in the Ambulance Department. Fulltime paramedics pay would increase to $25/hour, which would affect just one or two current employees, and an increase in part time medics pay to $23/hour, which would affect two or three current workers. Board members heard that surrounding counties pay more per hour.

Board members heard that work is nearing completion on the county jail and sheriff's office. Officials anticipate finishing Dispatch and moving soon. They are hopeful of moving in a month.

Jasper board members revisited VISION 2031, a Jasper County Government Strategic Plan. February 15, 2031 will mark the 200th anniversary of Jasper County. VISION 2031 is designed to be a strategic plan for where the county wants to be in 2031. Simply put, the effort is designed to see what's going on today, where you want the county to be tomorrow, and what steps should be taken to get there. The thought is that a well-thought-out plan would assist in setting budgets, allocate resources, and determine resource and personnel needs. The goal is to have the plan developed by the end of the Fiscal Year on November 30.

The Board also discussed the upcoming closing of the Newton power plant and a plan by the plant owners Vistra to develop solar energy and battery storage at the plant site. Construction on the solar project is set to start the second half of this year. A meeting with Vistra officials is scheduled for March 22.