Work on Jasper County Enforcement Center to Begin by End of May

Jasper County Board members Thursday learned that work will begin next month on the county's new enforcement center.

Architect Shannon Woodard notified the Board that the current Jasper County Jail in Newton will be abandoned by May 1, and that demolition could be by May 31. The new facility will be built on the site of the current jail.

Jasper board members viewed a resolution designed to protect local control of zoning and land use.

Members reviewed a resolution from DeWitt County addressing the issue. A sample resolution has also been received from Urban County Council of Illinois, which also stands in opposition to the matter. The association, of which most rural counties are members, strongly suggests that impacted counties pass a resolution stating their opposition to pending legislation in Springfield. 

Jasper County does not have zoning; the resolution would be symbolic and would show support of opposition to the measure, Senate Bill 1602. The Board approved the resolution to protect local control of zoning and land use.

The Board also looked into an ordinance supported by a number of individuals, and Farm Bureau, that would require any solar, wind, renewable energy, or public utility before erecting a fixed asset to detail the responsibility of cleanup and removal when the asset is no longer usable. The Board is to review proposal legislation at its May or June meeting.

The Jasper board approved a bridge aid petition for Smallwood Township on Road 200 North; approved bridge aid in Willow Hill Township on Road 12000 North; appointed Melvin Birk and William Michl to two-year terms on the Farmland Review Committee and Lawrence Pilman to a one-year term to the committee; appointed Tony Hartrich and Richard Ochs to three-year terms as Wade Community Fire Protection District Trustees; and appointed Kenneth Campton to a three-year term as Dieterich Community Fire Protection District trustee.