~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
Mike Palmer, Jefferson city administrator, updated the board of supervisors about downtown building projects at the regular meeting on March 9. Palmer said an architect looked at the Air Temp building and walked through the former Pizza Ranch.
Palmer said there is some interest in the former Pizza Ranch eventually being rented as individual bays.
Palmer reported roof installation for Angie’s Tea Garden is out for bids. The investment group interested in bringing the tearoom back to life is asking if work is possible on the first floor at the same time the roof is being installed. Work on the former harness shop behind the tearoom continues.
“We’ve had lots of inquiries (from businesses looking for properties),” said Palmer. “We’re looking for good fits.”
“The Heartland Bank has had several grand openings,” Palmer said.
Palmer also reported on airport progress. The relocation of a road that will facilitate the building of a 4000-foot landing strip is on schedule to be done by June. The landing strip will eventually be able to land small private jets. Palmer said the project is financed by 100 percent federal grant.
Palmer spoke briefly about a proposed merger of the Chamber and Jefferson Matters: Main Street. He said current thinking is for one person to be director of both and be on the city payroll with benefits.
This idea has been previously discussed by the Jefferson city council. They want revenue generated by projects under the director’s control to be used to pay back the city for the director’s salary and benefits. Palmer described this as a “net zero” arrangement.
In other business, the board unanimously adopted Resolution 2020-15: Central Iowa Solid Waste Management Association Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Update. This is the eighth update to the comprehensive plan for Greene County.
The plan update was done by HLW Engineering Group located in Story City, Iowa. The board unanimously approved adoption of the plan update and directed it to be sent to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to satisfy the requirements of the Code of Iowa.
The board also unanimously approved the hiring of Cynthia Thurman as part-time EMT for Greene County Ambulance at $17 an hour for patient care and $4 on call. Cole Jackson was unanimously approved as part-time driver for the ambulance at $10 and hour for patient care and $4 an hour on call.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph reported Scranton Manufacturing might be “hampered this year in participating in housing development,” due to a recent fire. At a previous supervisor meeting, Rudolph had reported the business was interested in financially contributing to housing development in Scranton.
After going into public hearing for the FY2021 proposed county budget, the board found no written or oral objections to the proposed budget. The board then unanimously approved Resolution 2020-13: Adoption of Fiscal Year 2020 Greene County Budget.
Resolution 2020-12: Adoption of Salary Schedule for Elected Officials was also approved by the board with Supervisor Tom Contner voting against it. The salary schedule was recommended by the Greene County compensation board who meet annually to recommend salaries for elected officials of the county. They met in December 2019.
Raises for elected officials go into effect July 1, 2020.
The board also acted as a board of canvassers for the Jefferson city council special election held March 3 to elect a council member to fill the vacancy when councilmember Matt Gordon was elected Mayor.
Pat Zmolek received 365 votes and Sean Sebourn received 298 votes. Precinct breakdown of voting was Zmolek (J1 86; J2 97; J3 182) and Sebourn (J1 101; J2 89; J3 108.)
