Jasper County will now be providing a full-time officer for the City of Baxter, and the city will cover all the costs. Jasper County Sheriff Brad Shutts got the new agreement unanimously approved by the three Jasper County Supervisors during their meeting yesterday.

“This will begin July 1st, 2025. Right now we are doing contract law enforcement in Baxter, but not at a guaranteed 40 hours of actual physical time up there. We will make the request in our budget for the additional deputy with the income this contract brings.”

Shutts says a current deputy or a new hire will fill the position in Baxter. Chair of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Brandon Talsma believes this type of an agreement is good for small towns.

“I think it will benefit Baxter and benefit us. I know it’s an issue in other surrounding counties too. So I think the way you spelled it out, that if you want someone 40 hours per week we can provide it, but you are going to have to pay 100% of the cost. That’s very important”.

Baxter will pay Jasper County $130,416 from July 1st of this year through June 30th, 2026, and they will also be giving the county equipment used by the city’s prior police department. For Fiscal 2026/2027, Baxter’s cost increases to $140,621, and the last year of the contract will be in Fiscal Year 2029/2030 and will cost the city $149,185.