The City of Jasper kicked off their Citizens Academy Tuesday night at Jasper City Hall.
This will be the second Citizens Academy hosted by the city. The event is the innovation of Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz who felt the need to offer an educational course taking a look at day to day operations of city departments as well as an informational look at due process with in the city and county government.
The Citizen’s Academy will be meeting the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of each month before concluding in May.
Over the eight sessions, classes will be conducted throughout the city’s departments giving those participating a first hand look at the application and process that goes into a working city landscape both in government procedure and tangible aspects.
The first session was an introduction of city department heads. Students to the academy where able to hear from those who serve in a more calculated arena as Clerk-Treasurer Juanitia Boehm previewed her position with the city.
Boehm who has been with the city for over two decades, serves as head of the Department of Finance along with being the official keeper of City’s records.
The Clerk-Treasurer’s term of office is for four years with no restrictions on the number of terms which can be served.
Also giving an introduction was Kevin Manley, pro-temp for the Jasper Common Council who provided an overview of Districts and how they are outlined across the city.
The Jasper City Council is comprised of seven part-time elected officials who serve four years and can run for re-election as often as they wish. As a legislative body, the council exercises power through the passage of ordinances and the appropriation of money.
To wrap up the first session of the Citizens Academy Mayor Seitz gave an oral history of past mayors who served the city and a tour of Jasper City Hall. The next session will be held on February 20th at the Jasper Stormwater/Wastewater plant.
