Groups ask for funding from county supervisors

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors heard two requests for county funds, but took no action on either during Monday?s meeting.

Also Monday, the board set the public hearing on the 2010-2011 budget for March 15. Supervisor Steve Burgmeier reported the levy rate was set at $9.37802 per $1,000 of taxable valuation during a special meeting Thursday. The 2009-2010 levy rate is $9.53682 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

The Jefferson County Wellness Coalition requested $1,500 from the board to get the University of Northern Iowa?s Institute for Decision Making?s assistance developing a strategic plan to implement health and wellness programs.

Coalition representatives Detra Dettmann and Ken Daley explained the initiative began a couple years ago with a Harkin Wellness Grant that enabled the group to assist local food, tobacco cessation and trails programs. Additionally, the coalition has completed a baseline study of local health and begun work educating the community on preventing obesity.

?We?re really looking now at what we can do with all this money we?ve got to really implement some more programs and strategies to really get things going. Part of that is we?re looking at developing a strategic plan, and we feel if we get that in place, we?ll be able to really attract the bigger dollars that are out there ? hundreds of thousands of dollars,? Dettmann said.

The Fairfield City Council has already allocated $2,000 to the plan?s development ? Dettmann estimated working with the Institute for Decision Making will cost around $4,000. Daley explained the process will involve more than 30 people from various sectors of the community meeting for six three-hour sessions April through June.

Burgmeier suggested the request for funds should be considered by the Jefferson County Board of Health. Supervisor Dick Reed disagreed, saying the money could come out of the county?s budget.

Because the request was only included on the board?s agenda as a discussion, no action was taken Monday.

Iowa Aftercare has requested a $15,000 economic development grant to purchase the former Jubilee Christian Fellowship building at 116 W. Burlington Ave. and open the Jericho Transitional Learning Center, a facility to assist ex-offenders. Opening the center would create eight new jobs.

Iowa Aftercare?s President Kerry Hadley said the building is suited to the center?s needs, given it already has dorm-style rooms for men and women. However, Reed said Fairfield?s code enforcement officer Tom Baker had indicated the building may not be zoned for that use and would need a variance.

For the complete article, see the Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.