~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The federal government wants to know if the Greene County board of supervisors supports naming an officially unnamed tributary of Cedar Creek. County attorney Thomas Laehn presented the question to the board at the regular meeting on Oct. 25.
Laehn said a Churdan area resident had submitted an application to the federal government to have the tributary named on maps as Wolf Hollow Creek. The tributary is in the northwest corner of the county.
The name has reportedly been used by local residents for a long time.
Board chair John Muir said, “It looks like it’s solely in Greene County.” He wondered about the cost of updating maps and whether it should be verified that it is actually a creek.
The board agreed to investigate the situation before replying to the federal government.
In other business, sheriff Jack Williams reported his office needs a new 200-foot communications tower to enable communications to be “consistent throughout the county.” Williams said the current tower in use is 150 feet tall.
The tower would be connected to the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communication System (ISICS.)
Engineer Wade Weiss reported he had participated in an Iowa Utilities Board on-line seminar about county involvement in the CO2 pipeline permit process.
Weiss said the pipeline will have separate agreements with each landowner.
Muir asked, “Who is responsible for paying Bolton and Menk (engineering consulting firm often consulted by the county)?”
Supervisor Pete Bardole also asked questions about responsibility for aspects of the inspections.
“The Utility Board has rules (that cover situations,)” Weiss answered.
The board unanimously approved a resolution adopting a proposed amended and substituted county electronic services system 28E agreement.
This resolution states the Iowa General Assembly in 2005 required every county in the state to enter into a 28E agreement to implement a county land record information system. Greene County did that in 2005. The agreement is now being amended to improve service and access to land information online.
Attorney Laehn said he had reviewed the document and has no legal objection to it.
The board also unanimously approved Resolution 2021-36: Resolution to Support the Referendum to Continue the Operation of the Casino and Events Center in Greene County.
The resolution outlines the financial benefits to the county of supporting the continued operation of Wild Rose Casino in Greene County. The resolution cites the casino’s distribution of nearly $9 million through Grow Greene County to municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and community projects, and nearly $5 million gained in property taxes and gaming fees.
The resolution states the establishment of the Wild Rose gaming, convention, and entertainment facility has increased the tax base of Greene County, provided new jobs, and “has helped the Board accomplish its mission of providing the necessities and amenities desired by county residents.”
Early in-person public voting on this referendum is now being held in the east lobby of the courthouse. Election Day voting is Nov 2, with polls open until 8 pm.
Ambulance director Michele Madsen reported the ambulance garage roof needs repair from a water leak.
The board unanimously approved an increase of hours from part-time to fulltime for Beth DeMoss as custodian in the courthouse and law enforcement center.
Discussion about the change was positive, with Weiss saying, “It will be wonderful to have her fulltime. She’s an outstanding employee.”
Muir said the priority hours will be the courthouse, that hours at the LEC wouldn’t be every day.
