The Highway 4 overpass over the railroad tracks in Jefferson may be renamed the Greene County Veterans and First Responders Memorial Bridge. Jim Andrew, American Legion Post 11 commander, asked the county supervisors Monday for a resolution in support of that designation.
According to Andrew, Legion Post 11 and Veterans of Foreign War Post 9599 members have voted to ask for that designation. “For some years we’ve been asked by families of living and deceased veterans as to what we can do. We’re doing a great deal with the Freedom Rock project, but we want to take it one step further,” Andrew said.
VFW post commander Don Ihnken was also at the meeting. He told the supervisors the groups want to honor all deceased veterans, not just members of their groups.
Signs would be posted on either end of the bridge with that designation. The signs would be created by the Iowa Department of Transportation, but funding would come from local sources. There was no discussion of how much they might cost or where the funds would come from.
Andrew plans to speak to the Jefferson city council next week. The DOT needs a resolution from both the county and the city before it considers the request.
“I don’t know why anybody would disapprove this,” supervisor Tom Contner said.
The supervisors expect to approve a resolution at their May 8 meeting.
In other business, the supervisors signed a proclamation naming Sunday, May 7, at Jim North Day in Greene County. North and the Webb House will be honored with the Greene County Impact Award that afternoon at 3 pm in the courthouse rotunda.
North was instrumental 20 years ago in establishing the Webb House as a gathering place for teens, particularly middle school students. He has been very actively involved in all facets of the Webb House, including spending untold hours chaperoning there.
The supervisors also approved recommending to the DNR that a construction permit for Eason Feedlots on Highway 30 east of Scranton. Easons plan to build two deep pack cattle confinement buildings, increasing the number of cattle in confinement there by 950 head, for a total capacity of 1,440.
The master matrix for the CAFO scored 485, with 440 needed for approval.
At the brief public hearing there were no comments opposing the proposed buildings. The 2-1/2 inches of rain that fell in Greene County over the weekend was on the minds of the board. “On behalf of cattle everywhere, thank you for hoop buildings,” said board chair John Muir.
The buildings will be placed where there are now two open feedlots. The buildings will provide better containment of manure. “It’s environmental and it helps the cattle, too,” county zoning coordinator Chuck Wenthold said.
There was also discussion of the joint city/county impound lot now being prepared in the 900 block of N. Locust St in Jefferson. The project has been delayed by a lack of communication between the city and the county, according to county engineer Wade Weiss.
The project was first approved as a 100 X 100-foot fenced in area, with the sheriff paying for up to 600 feet of chain link fence and gates, and the county providing and hauling white rock. The city’s share is the property and the cost of trenching for a power line.
As the project has evolved, the lot is 130 X 150-foot, increasing the cost of the fence by $5,000. The secondary roads department has put down about 700 tons of white rock, at a cost of $9,800. The smaller lot would have required only about half that much white rock.
Weiss suggested that going forward, an engineer’s report will be requested before agreeing to any joint project.
