For years, Jasper has operated under the assumption that JEDCO must have 17 board members. But at the city council meeting, for the first time, the city attorney made it clear: “It is within the executive decision of the city council to appoint the number of people on the board.” He continued, “you don’t have to come up with 17 appointments or 17 board members. State law requires at least 5. We don’t have to have 17 members on the board of JEDCO. If you read the legal opinion, 17 is a larger number than what is common in most municipalities.”

This statement finally confirms what many have questioned since 2008 — Jasper’s government has been operating under long-standing directives without scrutiny, following what they were told rather than ensuring compliance with state law. Now that the truth is out, the real question is whether the council will take this opportunity to rethink the board structure or continue relying on outdated assumptions that have gone unchecked for years.

Although Councilman Bob Mayhar dismissed the suggestion with a smug “Interesting take”, Councilwoman Mamie Horn’s suggestion was one of the most logical approaches to addressing this issue: remove the entire board and allow them to reapply. Horn, who has openly acknowledged that she is still learning as a new councilwoman, may not have been fully aware that the board members are appointed, not part of an application process. But her reasoning remains sound — clearing the board ensures that council members can independently decide whom to appoint moving forward.

With Ronald Sample, Jennifer Miranda and Lequin Hilderbrand, the three legally seated board members already in place, the council only needs two more appointments for JEDCO to finally be compliant. Yet, as frustration grows over the months-long delay, the question remains — will council members follow state law and move forward, or will they hold out in hopes of reappointing the same regime that has kept Jasper stuck in this situation for years?

Also remember – If citizens are unhappy with the way the mayor or any council member is handling themselves in office, they don’t have to wait for a general election to take action. A recall can happen at any time, allowing the people to demand accountability when leadership fails to serve the community.

Start video at 1:12:53