~by Janice Harbaugh for Greene County News Online
The Greene County farmers market could begin July 7 or 14 and run through the early part of September, according to a decision by the Greene County board of supervisors at its regular meeting June 22. Chris Henning, market coordinator, pressed the board for a formal statement about the event, now in its 21st year.
The market, held on the east side of the courthouse, requires public restrooms to comply with Iowa Department of Public Health guidance. That has been a point of uncertainty for the board, given the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“The custodians have done a great job of keeping things clean,” said chair John Muir about the interior of the courthouse. After some discussion, the board agreed the courthouse restrooms will be available for farmers market.”
Henning said the hours will be from 4 to 6:30 pm on Tuesdays, if vendors will sign up and details can be worked out. The east door of the courthouse will be open for access to restrooms.
“We might have to re-think this, if there’s a surge in COVID-19 cases in the county,” said Muir.
In other business, the county’s general fund received a windfall of $54,383 from the dissolution of Greene County Community Service. The service had coordinated community service activities for clients who were court-ordered to participate.
Attorney Rita Harmening-Pedersen sent the board a letter to report “the entity has discontinued operating, and its assets, upon dissolution, are payable to the county.”
County attorney Thomas Laehn spoke about the need for the community service option for adults with the possibility of a volunteer coordinator. The board agreed to look at the idea.
Diane Hinderaker from Boone/Greene County Probation was present and reported 29 clients are currently being supervised per a contract Greene County has with the group. She said most clients are on probation due to OWI, drugs, or criminal activity.
“We’re taking every referral,” said Hinderaker. Current funding from Greene County is $8,515 per year with an additional 5 percent fee for additional expenses. The agreement automatically renews year to year unless either party wants change, according to Laehn.
According to Laehn and Hinderaker, revocation of probation is a possibility for those clients who do not work with the program, but most clients have found the activities and relationships with probation supervisors to be beneficial and they appreciate the opportunity to serve the community through probation.
Engineer Wade Weiss signed in electronically and spoke about a need to replace picnic tables on the plaza at the courthouse. He suggested handicapped accessible tables manufactured by Iowa Prison Industries.
The board unanimously approved a resolution to appropriate 85 percent of the total budgeted expenditures for each of the county officers and departments for FY21, starting July 1, 2020.
The board went into drainage district trustee meeting to discuss DD191 located south of Cooper. The board authorized a second payment of $28,519.38 for work being done and noted a change order reducing the cost by $14,644.35 due to fewer field connections needed than estimated.
A completion hearing was set for Aug. 10 at 9 am in the boardroom at the courthouse.
A tour of the Midland Cooperative building west of the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery was scheduled later in the day for the board to look at the possible new location for the law enforcement center.
