The Jasper County Board of Supervisors have issued a statement that they say clarifies their position on a vacant job within the Jasper County Conservation Department. Jasper County Conservation Department Naturalist Catie Cantu mentioned this position at the school board meeting last week, as she sought their support to replace the person who left. Cantu stated this individual was a naturalist who also handled some office duties, and that the County Board of Supervisors encouraged the County Conservation Board not to hire a replacement.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors say they have not told the Conservation Board that they cannot fill the position, and that the Conservation Board has the ability and current funding to hire someone for it. According to the County Supervisors, they requested a conversation about whether the duties of that position could be handled more efficiently, and several months ago, sought to initiate a discussion with the Conservation Board regarding the idea of outsourcing certain custodial tasks and combining other office duties with a position in another county department that already performs similar work. Since then, the County Supervisors state the Conservation Board has been unwilling to sit down and discuss at length the possibility of this option, even though the board communicated that this attempt may not work for one or both departments. The County Supervisors also state this vacant position does not affect programs like the fishing club, school naturalist programs, or other community services. They also state over the next several years, it is their intent to continue evaluating positions within county government as they become open, to reduce redundancy in positions and job duties, as well as duplication of services.