The Greene County supervisors have committed to providing $250,000 for the construction of a new Greene County Early Learning Center, but it won’t be from tax increment financing (TIF) revenue as they first suggested.
Instead, the supervisors will provide the money over a period of years from the county’s Local Option Sales & Service Tax (LOSST) revenue. Board chair John Muir credited county attorney Thomas Laehn and county auditor Jane Heun with guidance in naming LOSST as the source of the funds.
The decision came about as the supervisors prepared a letter of support for a grant application from the Early Learning Center board to Grow Greene County. That grant application is due this Friday. The letter of support states the county intends to contribute $250,000 to the project.
“I’m pretty sure we’re all more comfortable with that,” Muir said. “I still think it’s a great project, and it’s important to see it happen. I think it (LOSST) is a better way for us to participate.”
“As we move forward with them (GCELC board), we need to have another agreement as to what’s expected for us to participate,” Muir continued.
The supervisors approved the letter of support by motion. Leann said the letter is not “a legally enforceable commitment.”
The supervisors heard an update from Lauren Subler of Region XII Council of Governments on updating the hazard mitigation plan. Greene, Carroll, Crawford and Sac counties are in the same planning group, and the document is about 1,000 pages.
The plan includes a “wish list” of projects the county would do if FEMA funding were available. The Greene County list includes an ambulance and equipment, security enhancements for all county facilities, a new jail, storm warning sirens at Spring Lake Park, and new road graders.
Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer provided his monthly update. He said Heartland Bank has moved into the building at 200 E. State St and is pleased with it. He also said that since putting new storefront glass in the building at 205 N. Wilson Ave he has received several inquiries from potential businesses.
The supervisors adopted the 28E agreement with the city of Jefferson for dispatch services. The Jefferson council adopted the agreement earlier this month. It significantly increases what the city pays for dispatching services provided by sheriff’s office employees.
The supervisors also okayed an agreement with OXEN Technology for IT services for the sheriff and Jefferson police department. ACCESS has provided services in the past. The county will pay OXEN $3,238 to remove ACCESS IT equipment, along with a monthly fee of $2,688 for IT services.
