The Jasper County Board of Supervisors held the first of two scheduled public hearings Monday morning  for the proposed development of a 400-acre industrial park on the northeast edge of Newton. The hearing revealed that Newton City officials and Jasper County representatives still have some issues to work out concerning future annexation of the proposed Jasper Rail Park land that now lies within the county. Mayor Evelyn George and At-Large City Councilman Randy Ervin attended the meeting, along with Newton Community Development Director Erin Chambers and Newton Development Corporation Executive Director Frank Liebl. Councilman Ervin spoke for the group.

“Some of the details in the second part of this, the city has an issue with. I think there is still an agreement out there that has yet to be determined. But as it is written today, the city can not support that.”

Current property within the city and within the county would be involved in the 400-acre development. Executive Director of Jasper County Economic Development Corporation Jeff Davidson says 249 acres needs to be purchased to go along with land the Iowa Interstate Railroad owns to form the industrial park. The railroad and Alliant Energy are private partners in this project, and Davison says they will contribute financially to the development of the site, if the project continues to move forward.

The second public hearing will be held in the County Board of Supervisors boardroom at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd.