~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County Diversity Project, a three-year project under the Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC), was introduced to the Greene County board of supervisors at the regular meeting on Nov. 8.
Sid Jones, GCDC board president, said the project’s goal is to provide a Latino workforce to fill jobs throughout the county.
Jones said economic development here is dependent on finding workers to fill vacant jobs, especially in agriculture and the medical field.
He described a previously faltering dairy economy in Sioux County which is now thriving because of Latino workers.
“Sioux County dairy might have closed without Latino workers,” he said.
Jones said the diversity project will be assisted by Latino IQ, led by Carlos Arguello.
“Carlos will help us understand the Latino culture,” Jones said. “Our (career) academy and Iowa Central also will be resources.”
Arguello emigrated from Nicaragua as a child and graduated from Carroll high school. He is recognized as an innovative entrepreneur in helping-related projects.
Jones said Iowa Central could be receiving funds for workforce development. He said GCDC is working on a grant and on local matching funds for the three-year project.
“We want to have town hall meetings on diversity and welcoming people,” Jones said.
Jones said GCDC plans to discuss the need and operating plan for the project during the board of supervisors meeting on Nov. 22. Arguello will also be present for discussion and questions.
In other business, county attorney Thomas Laehn presented an impassioned objection to the recent federal vaccine mandate to be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) A separate GCNO news article details this objection.
The board unanimously passed a resolution establishing a Greene County jail advisory committee. The committee will “gather information about the current condition of the Greene County jail and make recommendations to the Greene County board of supervisors concerning the future of the jail and inform the public about the actions taken (concerning the jail) by the board of supervisors.”
The resolution appoints Jack Williams (sheriff), Dawn Rudolph (board of supervisors), Scott Weber, Anthony Minnehan, Johnathan Marshall, Tom Heater, and Laehn to the committee.
The committee will disband Dec. 31, 2022 or earlier depending on when it has fulfilled its information-gathering and recommendation-making purposes.
According to the resolution, the chief jail inspector for the Iowa Department of Corrections inspected the jail in July 2021 and “found the admission, classification, and separation of inmates as required by Iowa Jail Standards is nearly impossible due to the structural design of the existing Greene County jail.”
County engineer Wade Weiss reported on progress for a new maintenance shop in Scranton and told the board about plans for an historical marker near Squirrel Hollow.
Conservation director Tanner Scheuermann reported recreation areas have been winterized. He gave an update on plans to build a garage at Spring Lake.
Scheuermann introduced Peg Gannon to the supervisors and recommended she be appointed to the conservation board. The supervisors unanimously approved the appointment.
City of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer reported the animal shelter could be open by the fall of 2022. He said progress continues for a sewer plant upgrade, airport, the east entryway to Jefferson, and various downtown buildings. He said asbestos is being removed from the former AirTemp building on the east side of the downtown square.
Veteran services director Mike Bierl reported a photo dedication for WWII veteran Edward J. English in the courthouse rotunda Nov. 4 was well-attended.
The board unanimously approved a Class C native wine permit for Deal’s Orchard.
