~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
At their meeting on Nov. 30, the Greene County board of supervisors began preliminary planning to make vaccinations against COVID-19 eventually available in the county.
Engineer Wade Weiss said more conversation with public health director Becky Wolf over the coming weeks will help in planning. It is unknown whether testing such as temperature checks will be necessary before vaccinations are given.
Possible sites for vaccinations were discussed. The county maintenance facilities were suggested but would require moving equipment. Weiss said a small trailer that could travel among towns could be a possibility, or one location in the county that everyone could access.
Supervisor Rudolph suggested the community centers as vaccination sites, and she asked about service to shut-ins.
Greene County is currently experiencing a high rate of coronavirus illness. County sheriff Jack Williams reported six employees in the sheriff’s office are down with the virus. Ambulance director Michele Madsen said numbers of ambulance calls are up. The county’s second death from COVID-19 occurred this past week, a person older than 80.
In other business, Don Orris spoke to the board about bids for a new animal facility being far above what had been estimated and he asked the board about assistance from the county.
“Removing soil and compacting the ground at the site given to us for the animal facility will cost up to $200,000,” Orris said. He said a soil test had revealed the removal and compacting to be necessary.
Chair John Muir said, “When the animal facility is finished, it will benefit the whole county.”
At the beginning of the animal facility project, the board had agreed to $5,000[VR1] in assistance. No action was taken as to further assistance.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reported 86 pending criminal cases with courts closed until February due to the pandemic.
Laehn also reported he and Diane Hinderaker of Boone and Greene County Probation have discussed a proposal to eventually be submitted to the board of supervisors that would set up supervision of an adult community services program in Greene County.
In a small ceremony, retiring deputy treasurer Denise Stofer was presented a plaque in recognition of 18 years of service to Greene County. Thirteen years were served as deputy treasurer. The board commended Stofer’s “dedication and commitment to Greene County and its residents.”
Stofer’s last day was Nov. 30.
Conservation director Dan Towers recommended Mark Kenan to the board to fill a vacancy on the county conservation board. The board of supervisors unanimously approved the appointment.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported representatives of the cities and school districts affected by a proposed amendment to the Beaver Creek Wind Farm Urban Renewal Project did not attend a consultation meeting scheduled for Nov. 25 in the county boardroom. The meeting was attended by Wenthold, board chair John Muir, and county auditor Jane Heun.
GCNO notes the board has been trying different ways to address the audio problems experienced by those attending the meetings electronically. Rudolph has been attending through Zoom. Connectivity through Zoom is crystal clear; the problem is in boardroom acoustics and microphone coverage, according to a source familiar with sound.
GCNO notes people speaking from the gallery are usually inaudible as are those supervisors who are not speaking directly into a microphone. Moving the table microphone helped during this meeting.
Supervisor Pete Bardole said, “We’re trying to make it work better.” Reportedly, a better microphone has been ordered.
