Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety approves 2025 Heart of Jasper contract, takes other actions
The Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety approved a contract with Heart of Jasper for 2025 during its meeting Tuesday morning. The agreement provides $60,000 in city funding to support downtown revitalization efforts, including $50,000 for the organization’s facade improvement grant program.
Board member Nancy Eckerle raised questions about some contract language before ultimately voting to approve the agreement. Concerns centered on phrasing that described Heart of Jasper’s role in “property redevelopment initiatives” and “planning for redevelopment projects.”
“I’m just not again sure if that is in scope of the abilities of the Heart of Jasper is to plan for redevelopment projects,” Eckerle said. “It seems like that is in our other planning department, not the Heart of Jasper structure.”
City Attorney Renee Kabrick clarified that “property redevelopment initiatives” refer primarily to the facade improvement program, which provides matching grants to downtown businesses for exterior upgrades. The planning language relates to Heart of Jasper’s collaborative work with city departments on downtown projects.
The contract also outlines that Heart of Jasper will receive $10,000 for general operating expenses and $50,000 for facade grants. Eckerle pointed out that the contract language insinuated that Heart of Jasper would come before the board for each individual facade grant. However, funds will be paid in a lump sum once the agreement is executed rather than on a project-by-project basis.
Mayor Dean Vonderheide expressed confidence in the Heart of Jasper’s management of the program.
“We’ve been doing this for several years now and not really run into any problems, but I like the dialog and the clarification,” Vonderheide said. “I do think that we can trust the administration of this program.”
He noted Heart of Jasper reports back to the city’s Redevelopment Commission on the use of the funds and requests approval to carry over any unused money.
“I know they’re being responsible when it comes to this and they’re just not, you know, being slidy regarding the investments they’re making,” Vonderheide said. “They’re good investments.”
The board ultimately approved the contract unanimously after discussion. Funding was included in the city’s 2025 budget.
In other business, the board:
- Approved claims totaling over $1.1 million, including payments for downtown streetscape work and bond obligations: $284,000 for the downtown Phase Two; $118,000 for the multi-use trail project; $356,500 for the semi-annual payment on the cultural center lease; $372,696.25 for the semi-annual bond payment.
- Authorized retiring the service handgun of former Police Chief Nathan Schmitt.
- Approved conditional offers of employment to three new probationary police officers.
- Awarded annual supply bids for materials like crushed stone, asphalt, concrete and fuel. Street Commissioner Jeff Theising said most prices increased compared to last year due to inflation.
- Heard an update that paving work on Main Street between 4th and 5th streets was scheduled to begin Tuesday, weather permitting. The block is expected to reopen to traffic once paving is complete.
- Approved a contract renewal with the state’s Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System (TREX) program, which helps collect unpaid parking tickets and utility bills. The city recouped about $3,500 through the program in 2023.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 8 a.m. due to the Christmas holiday.
