~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors unanimously approved the temporary suspension of all music from the bell tower except quarterly chimes at their meeting on Jan 21.
Chair John Muir introduced the motion saying, “The art policy didn’t include everything it should have (in regard to the music at the Tower.)”
“This temporary move might prevent future interruption,” said county attorney Thomas Laehn.
Laehn spoke of “a lengthy set of requests” in the will of Floyd Mahanay, (1887-1947,) who gifted money to Greene County to construct the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. The tower was constructed several years after the death in 1962 of Dora Mahanay, Floyd’s wife.
According to Laehn, Mahanay asked that patriotic and sacred music be 50 percent of the music played on the bells.
“The county agreed it would endeavor to carry out the intent in the will to the best of our ability,” Laehn said. “However, a will is not binding on third parties.”
“What we’re legally allowed to do now affects that (music selection),” Laehn said.
“We’ll be in conversation with the Bell Tower Foundation,” Muir said. “We can’t answer questions now.”
Several interested parties attended the meeting in person. Larry Thomsen spoke of community pride in the bells. Thomsen said his wife is a descendant of the Mahanay family.
Muir assured him, “We will address this immediately.” He also noted area people have invested money in the tower over the years in support.
The board agreed they all want music from the bells, but they want governing policies to be “properly established.”
Paradoxes involving the application of the Public Art Policy to music selection for the bells were brought to the board’s attention by GreeneCountyNewsOnline at a previous meeting. The board had denied patriotic music be played for Inauguration Day, though the decision was later reversed and patriotic music was played in concert.
In other business, courthouse security through cameras and door access was discussed. Supervisor Tom Contner, board representative on the courthouse security committee, and attorney Laehn will present policy recommendations to the board at the meeting on Jan 28.
FY2022 funding requests from General Services, Emergency Management, and non-departmental funds were reviewed by the board. More information about insurance items is needed.
