The Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, opened nine bids for the renovation of a county-owned building into a Law Enforcement Training Center. All nine bids came in higher than what was expected. Companies from Des Moines, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Grimes, Polk City, Waukee, and Boone submitted proposals with base bids ranging from $725,000 to $882,000. Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks had presented the county supervisors with a cost estimate of just under $625,000. That estimate was from BBS Architects and Engineers of Des Moines. Due to the higher than anticipated quotes, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors will be holding a work session to decide how they want to proceed. 

The project involves turning the former Jasper County Animal Rescue League building and property at 5411 Liberty Avenue, just southeast of Newton, into a law enforcement training facility. The Animal Rescue League operated at the site for many years before closing on June 30, 2020, due to a lack of funding, partially related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a deteriorating and overcrowded facility.