Courthouse reopening tentatively set for June 3
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The engaging nature of videoconference meetings, as seen at the meeting of the Greene County board of supervisors on May 11, prompted public inquiry of the board this past week into whether video Zoom meetings could be a standard option and could be recorded.
At the regular board meeting on May 18, Information Technology director Michelle Fields answered questions she had received from the public. Fields said meetings have not been recorded thus far and the board itself is not currently set up for video meetings.
The video seen last week was of individual attendees who had enabled the video and audio functions of their home computers through Zoom. The board of supervisors had participated through audio only, as had many attendees from the public.
Chair John Muir said, “The pandemic has changed our view of what we can do at meetings. My fear is that recordings could be edited.”
County attorney Thomas Laehn said, “The county must make provision for access (to the board meetings,) but there’s no obligation to record them.”
Additionally, he said attendees can’t be forced to identify themselves, either during in-person attendance at the meetings or electronic attendance.
Fields said there is nothing that forbids the recording of meetings and people can record from their computers.
The media routinely does audio recordings of board meetings when attending in person. The same audio-visual type recording using an external recorder could be used with computer-based Zoom attendance.
Muir said the courthouse might be open for board meetings in a few weeks. Opening of courthouse offices is tentatively scheduled for June 3, with individual offices deciding whether it will be by appointment only or general opening.
When asked by GreeneCountyNewsOnline whether the public forum part of the board meetings could be reinstated now, Muir said, “That’s not a problem,” and he set public forums to begin with the next board meeting which will begin at 8:30 am to accommodate the extra time needed.
Regarding the May 11 public hearings concerning two applications for construction of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), Muir said he had received questions after the meeting.
Muir said the matrix scoring has always been held on a separate date from the public hearing.
Additionally, he said, “No changes have been made to the board’s recommendation process to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Comments from the public are included in the submission to the IDNR.”
Attending electronically, Chris Henning spoke about confusion of some supervisors about who actually scored the matrices, and supervisor confusion about the board’s role in the approval process and the role of the DNR.
Henning spoke of the importance of “people rebutting Becky Sexton’s scoring at the public hearing.”
The board appeared to believe those objections should have been presented at the matrix scoring meeting on April 20. There was additional public concern over sufficient notification not being given for the public meeting on April 20 when the matrix was reviewed.
Rick Morain, a member of the Iowa Public Information board, spoke about requirements of the law regarding public comment at public meetings being different from public comments at public hearings.
The issues remain unclear.
In other business, Muir reported he, sheriff Jack Williams, and Greene County Ambulance director Michelle Madsen had met with Dr. Robert Clemons, county medical examiner. Clemons had inquired about payment for autopsies and suggested $100 per death.
Clemons is currently not paid. Muir spoke of a good working relationship with Clemons.
The board was in general agreement that payment could start July 1. Supervisor Tom Contner said, “A hundred dollars (per death) seems more than fair.”
In a related matter, the board unanimously approved raising the county cremation assistance rate from $900 to $1,250. This will be paid to funeral homes in the county for approved cremation assistance applications effective July 1.
The Bell Tower Festival steering committee had inquired about a possible one-day event and a possible “memory display” on the courthouse grounds. After discussion, the board was in general agreement that it would require an art resolution.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph suggested an on-street display rather than going through the process for a resolution. Muir spoke of lights left wrapped around trees on the courthouse grounds from last year’s Bell Tower Festival and suggested they not be left on the trees for extended periods of time.
The board adjourned and then reconvened in a drainage meeting for DD14, located south and west of Jefferson. The board unanimously approved $8,050 additional cost for field tile hook-ups and set a completion hearing for 9:00 AM on Monday, June 15.
Engineer Wade Weiss told supervisors of a bridge located on a gravel road over East Buttrick Creek in Paton Township needing repair due to rotted wood pilings. Repair will require closing the roadway. The board unanimously approved Resolution 2020-26 Road Closure Resolution. No date was set for closure.
The board unanimously approved a cigarette/tobacco permit for Paton Pit Stop.
