Jasper County Economic, INC.
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 at 1:15 P.M.
Jasper County Chamber Building
Peoples State Bank Meeting Room
124 S. Van Buren St, Newton, IL. 62448
Attending: Amber Volk, Marlen Harris, Mark Bolander, Larry Brooks, Tom Brown, Jack Thompson, Jason Warfel, Doug Weddell, Ben Bollman, Ron Heltsley, Sarah Kinkade, Diane Scott, Brett Lessley, Ed Webb, Beth Probst, Andy Johnson, Louis Ochs.
1. Call to order, Executive Director Amber Volk.
2. Motion to approve previous meeting minutes made by Larry Brooks, second by Ed Webb, motion passed.
3. Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. Attended the National Rural Economic Development Association Conference
1. Virtual Reality videos are becoming a big tool insite selections for companies. With our resources, this is something we could do ourselves and even use the technology to market our community. Here is an example of a VR video:https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/placevr
2. Profession based learning in high school is on the rise. Junior and seniors are able to choose to enroll in bioscience, business, technology & media, engineering, human services, and medicine & healthcare. For more information visit www.bvcaps.org
3. Better marketing of our community.
ii. Christmas Cards will be sent out soon along with our new stickers.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
i. The discussion of opting out or not from the selling of cannabis in Newton is on the agenda for the City Council meeting tonight, December 3rd.
ii. GSI in Flora, IL will be ceasing all production on or after January 31, 2020 and will be consolidating with their Newton and Assumption locations. There may be employment opportunities for the Flora employees at these other locations. 89 jobs will be affected.
c. Ron Heltsley, Jasper County Board Chairman
i. Thursday, December 12th will be the next County Board meeting.
1. Voting on the Marijuana Act of whether or not to opt out.
2. The approval of the levy.
ii. Jason Warfel
1. A Mapping Meeting will be taking place on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 1:15pm at the Chamber. Anyone is welcome to come.
d. Andy Johnson, Superintendent of Jasper County Unit #1.
i. The state of Illinois has issued emergency rules and regulations due to the recent video of different schools abusing emergency isolation rooms for behavioralspecial need students. For questions, please contact Andy Johnson.
ii. Beth Probst:
1. The High School band traveled to Florida to Disney. The children were very well behaved and everyone had a great time.
2. The Elementary Christmas program is tonight, December 3rd at 7pm at the High School.
3. 3 weeks till Christmas break.
4. The High School is doing a Coat Drive along with Shoebox gifts. There are 161 Jasper County families in need of Christmas presents for their children.
e. Sarah Kinkade, Chamber of Commerce Director
i. Holly Jolly starts Friday December 6th and will continue Saturday the 14th and the next two Fridays. Info can be found athttps://www.facebook.com/hollyjollyjaspercountychristmas/
ii. The Chamber has approved their 2020 event list.
iii. We are currently creating our website.
4. Comments from those attending the meeting.
5. Motion to close meeting made by Louis Ochs, second byMarlene Harris, and motion passed.
