Successes and challenges walked side by side in Greene County in 2016. The top story of the year is a big success – 168 feet tall, to be exact.
Bell tower expansion: The Bell Tower Community Foundation accomplished the most difficult portion of a decades-long dream of having a complete 4-octave carillon at the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. News in June that the $440,905 expansion project was awarded an $87,102 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant by Vision Iowa flipped the switch on the project to “ON.” The foundation had already received a $175,000 bequest from the late Paul Nally and a $61,500 grant from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation. Other donations of all sizes made up the total.
Dozens of sidewalk superintendents watched in September as a crew from the Verdin Company took nine bells from the top of the tower to haul them to Cincinnati. Strikers will be installed and they’ll be brought back, along with 14 striker-less bells that have been on display in the courthouse and 18 newly-cast bells, with delivery planned in March. The supporting framework at the top of the tower has already been modified to accommodate the new bells.
The entire 46-bell carillon is slated for completion in the late spring of 2017.
Fiftieth anniversary: Only the five bells that play the Westminster Chime were in place for a gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower in October. About 200 persons attended, including many who had donated toward the purchase of the bells.
Downtown restoration: Another success story is the strides made on restoring the facades of 16 buildings in Jefferson’s historic Main Street district.
The city of Jefferson learned in May that an application for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Iowa Economic Development Authority was approved. Jefferson Matters: Main Street spearheaded the project.
The grant funds will be matched with $250,000 in city funds and another $250,000 from participating building owners.
Planning has continued and construction is slated to begin in the late spring.
Greene County Medical Center: Also on the page titled “Successes” is the completion of the two-phase, $22.5 million expansion/renovation project at Greene County Medical Center. An open house in September showcased the renovation of the “old” hospital space, primarily for outpatient clinics and administrative space.
The first phase was completed in 2015. Phase One added 52,000 square-feet on the east end of the building, primarily for inpatient and diagnostic services and a new emergency room. The space included two birthing suites, but in May the medical center trustees voted to discontinue obstetrical services and terminated the contract of Dr David Jaskey, OB/GYN. Financial considerations were the justification.
Greene County Community Schools: Emotions ran high in matters concerning Greene County Community Schools. As 2016 began the board of education was considering changes to the good conduct policy after a high profile student athlete was charged with a felony. The athlete was acquitted in juvenile court in June.
The school board held an election in September on a $19.4 million bond issue to allow the district to have only two attendance centers – a PreK-4 building and a 5-12 building, both in Jefferson. A similar bond referendum failed a year earlier. A volunteer Pay It Forward committee promoted the bond issue and it received “YES” votes from the majority of voters, but not the 60 percent majority needed. The campaign leading up to the vote was highly charged and in many cases, not civil.
A point of contention in the proposal was the closing of the Intermediate School (grades 4-6) in Grand Junction. In October school superintendent Tim Christensen proposed closing the building as a 50-student decrease in 2016-17 enrollment created a need to cut $300,000 from the budget for 2017-18.
Public sentiment against closing the building was high in the former East Greene district. The decision to close it was was made, though, and plans are moving forward to add space to the elementary school using available funds. Fourth graders will attend the elementary school and the middle school will become a 5-8 building.
The board in October decided it would hold another bond referendum in April 2017, hoping to achieve the 60 percent majority needed for approval.
Pizza Ranch fire: Many county residents watched closely the story of a fire that gutted the Jefferson Pizza Ranch in January. Owner Rob Schultz was charged with arson in connection with the fire. He entered an Alford plea to amended charges in December and will serve no prison time. The restaurant has not been reopened.
Other highlights included Grow Greene County’s first competitive grant awards totaling $358,000, with a total of $900,000 being awarded from gaming revenues. That total included $119,000 awarded by the Greene County Community Foundation for smaller projects.
Greene County’s Freedom Rock© was dedicated in October. The rock, which is located on property donated by Landus Coop just east of the Milwaukee depot in Jefferson.
The new Grand Junction Community Center opened in January. That project also received funding from Vision Iowa.
Dianne Blackmer received the ABC Award at the Greene County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting in January. Mary Weaver of Rippey was the recipient of the Greene County Impact Award in May. The annual Bell Tower of Fame Award was presented to Dean McAtee.
News to watch for in 2017: The full carillon on the Mahanay tower and the downtown façade restoration in Jefferson are both slated for completion in 2017.
County-wide animal shelter: A steering committee headed by volunteer Don Orris in December presented plans and a cost estimate for a new animal shelter to serve the entire county. Greene County Development Corporation has made a 4.5-acre parcel of land in the west business park available for the project. Orris said he will coordinate a fund drive to raise the $1.2 estimated for construction costs, but only after the city of Jefferson and Greene County agree to provide approximately $100,000 annually in operating costs. Orris asked for a commitment to operating costs by the end of January. Watch for progress on that community betterment project.
GCDC: The Greene County Development Corporation board has announced plans to focus on community development rather than economic development in the coming year. GCDC partnered with the city of Jefferson in 2016 to conduct a housing needs assessment as the first step in expanding the amount and quality of available housing. That came after limited housing shrank the impact of new employers (like Wild Rose Casino and Hy-Vee) on increasing population and school enrollment. Efforts to create a public-private partnership to provide incentives to potential housing developers have stalled. Paxton proposes a water park north of Wild Rose. He is also developing a “Dream Team” to develop community assets of an artistic/cultural aspect to attract new residents. Watch for news of GCDC efforts and projects.
Beaver Creek Wind Park: MidAmerican Energy plans to build the Beaver Creek Wind Park straddling the Greene-Boone county line beginning in the spring. Approximately half of the 85 turbines will be located near Grand Junction. The project will bring an estimated $21 million in tax revenue to Greene County over the next 40 years.
Welcome Center: The Welcome Center located within the Thomas Jefferson Gardens should open by early spring. The Greene County Chamber of Commerce backed away from the project in February after the Jefferson city council failed to assure adequate funding from hotel/motel tax revenues. The Thomas Jefferson Gardens board picked up the project and was able to secure Grow Greene County funds to finish the interior of the building and the needed assurance of continued operational funding from hotel/motel tax funds.
Courthouse centennial: The Courthouse 100 committee held a rededication of the cornerstone last May and is working toward the courthouse’s centennial next October. Prior to the October celebration, the large stained glass dome over the courthouse rotunda will be repaired and restored. That project could start as soon as January.
