~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
A project at the courthouse that supervisors have looked at for many years may be closer to being accomplished thanks to the pandemic.
County engineer Wade Weiss told the supervisors at their June 7 meeting that he’ll ask BBS (formerly Brooks Borg Skiles) if updating the HVAC system at the courthouse would be an allowed use for the up to $1.7 million the county will receive in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.
Interim guidelines state the money is to be used for public health, infrastructure, extra pay for certain groups, and other things impacted negatively by the pandemic. Other entities, including Greene County Schools, are using pandemic-related funding for HVAC projects, as air quality is a public health issue.
BBS did design work on the courthouse project in 2018. The supervisors had agreed to pay $134,850 for labor and reimbursable expenses for a completed design, and bidding and construction administration costs.
However, the project was suspended half-way into the process, and the county paid BBS $64,424 for work done at that time.
Ironically, it was a public health matter that derailed the HVAC project. It was at that time that the supervisors determined the county needed to assume ambulance service. The supervisors ended up budgeting $581,000 for a county ambulance service. When it became apparent the county would not be in a position to receive bids and complete a HVAC project, BBS suspended the contract.
Also at the June 7 meeting, the board heard from Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, that notification has been received from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources of a construction permit application received from Kent Scheib, new owner of Franklin Pork, a swine confinement feeding operation located in Section 5 of Franklin Township.
Wenthold said Franklin Pork, originally owned by Eric Chrystal, was sold to Kent Scheib and is now proposing to amend the master matrix.
“Four hundred forty points are necessary to pass,” Wenthold said. “Franklin Pork had a score of 460.”
Wenthold said some points on the original matrix were added for trees to be planted. Those trees are now dead.
“There will be no new construction or expansion at the existing site,” Wenthold said.
Scheib is requesting a review and amendment of the master matrix scoring to reflect the current state of the site.
Wenthold scheduled a review of the amended master matrix with the board for June 21 at 9 am and a public hearing on June 28 at 9 am.
In other business, supervisor Tom Contner reported he has received feedback from the public on the proposed solar panel project described by National Grid Renewals of Minneapolis at the board meeting on May 17. The project was described as 700 acres of energy-producing solar panels to be located south of Grand Junction.
Contner did not share specific comments from the public, but suggested comments were negative toward the project.
“I would be more for this than for more windmills,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said. “There’s less noise and interference.”
Wenthold said the project would need approval from the county board of adjustment.
“There will be public notice of the board of adjustment meeting and written notice for neighbors 500 feet or closer to the project,” Wenthold said. “National Grid Renewal will be holding informational meetings for the public, also.”
The board unanimously approved a letter of support and recommendation on behalf of the Paton Park committee to Aureon as part of an application for a grant to improve a playground and park in Paton. The group hopes to add grant funds from Aureon to a Grow Greene County grant already received.
Aureon assists businesses with technology and operates call centers in various communities, including Jefferson, to provide businesses with customer care services.
Mahanay music coordinator Peg Raney presented the nomination of Jana Taylor to the board as a musician who meets the requirements to become a Mahanay Maestro.
The board unanimously approved Taylor’s nomination for life, subject to the music policy which allows the board to remove a Maestro for any reason prior to the expiration of his or her term by a majority vote of the supervisors.
Ambulance director Michele Madsen asked the board if Greene County could provide a crew to cover for Carroll County ambulance personnel during the funeral services for Carroll County’s ambulance director this week.
Madsen said Greene County will still have emergency services coverage during this time.
The board gave consent.
