~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors presented certificates of valor to deputy Shane Allen and Churdan firefighter Nate Byerly at the regular meeting on Oct 28.
Board chair John Muir and sheriff Jack Williams recognized Allen and Byerly for rescuing a motorist whose vehicle had gone off the road into swollen Buttrick Creek on Oct 10. The two swam to the vehicle and pulled the driver from the swirling, cold water, saving her life at significant risk to themselves.
Jim Andrew, Barb Labate, and Mike Bierl, director of Greene County veterans affairs, brought a framed photograph of Floyd Brown, a World War One veteran who was killed in France hours before the Armistice in 1919, and spoke to the board about honoring veterans. American Legion Floyd Brown Post 11 in Jefferson is named in Brown’s honor.
“This photograph was probably taken days before Brown was sent to France,” said Andrew.
The group asked that the photograph be permanently displayed in the courthouse, along with photographs of other veterans from the county, living or deceased. The second photographs would be displayed on a rotating basis with biographies of the veterans.
To meet the procedures established by the new art policy, the board unanimously approved the solicitation of a photograph to display in honor of Veterans Day and gave responsibility for choosing it to Mike Bierl. The board required the photograph convey messages of “gratitude, respect, and esteem for our nation’s veterans.”
The art policy now requires a separate resolution for board approval of the photograph chosen by Bierl. That resolution could come at the next meeting, since the photograph of Floyd Brown has already been selected and shown to the board.
In other business, sheriff Williams and county attorney Thomas Laehn spoke of the need for “a vicious animal ordinance.” This would address “unprovoked animal bites in the county,” said Williams. Animal bites while an animal is guarding property would not be counted against the animal.
“Dogs are the biggest deterrent for burglaries,” said Williams.
The board heard a report from supervisor Peter Bardole about security for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower during tours and business hours. “A phone in the elevator is planned,” he said. “Security could be included with courthouse plans.” Cameras could play a role in that.
Attorney Laehn reported the city of Jefferson wants to negotiate a new 28E agreement for dispatch services for the next fiscal year.
Laehn also said assistant county attorney Laura Snider “is doing an excellent job for the county.” Snider is currently working 15 hours a week at the courthouse. Laehn and Snider would like to increase her hours to meet workload more efficiently.
“This would mean an amendment to the attorney budget would be necessary,” said Laehn. He suggested a total of 25 hours per week for Snider.
The board was in general unofficial agreement with several agreeing “this is the direction we want to go.”
Chair Muir said, “That (more hours for the assistant county attorney) would make a more complete office.”
