~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors met Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 to hear reports, funding requests, and departmental budget requests from organizations and county departments.
On Jan. 10, Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported he is following developments with the proposed carbon pipeline in Greene County and information from the Iowa Utilities Board. He will report more specifics at a future supervisors’ meeting.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported the secondary roads crew will assist with damage to trees at Spring Lake from the December tornados and derecho as well as cutting trees in ditches.
City of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer gave a monthly update on projects.
Palmer said the city is selling residential properties “to get property back on the tax roll.”
He also spoke of a feasibility study for an indoor pool at the Greene County Community Center, work beginning on the new animal shelter, and the possibility of having an 8-month position available as golf course manager.
Supervisor Tom Contner asked about “the old barber shop,” and Palmer said the building has been sold.
Greene County ISU extension director Lori Mannel, regional director Rich Wrage, farm management specialist Alexis Stevens, and Extension council member Pam Olerich presented a stakeholder’s report for 2021 and spoke of a Career Readiness project for February.
“We’re trying to meet the needs of constituents,” Mannel said.
The project is a series of three two-hour sessions designed to “sharpen skills in interviewing for a job, writing a cover letter, building a resume, and doing mock interviews with actual employers.”
At the supervisor meeting on Jan. 13, supervisor Pete Bardole reported Greene County Development Corporation would like to schedule a time to meet with the board during February to discuss a proposed U.S. Highway 30 Corridor Economic Impact Study.
Sheriff Jack Williams reported the jail committee is recommending ISG for “professional pre-referendum planning for a new jail.” Williams would like the board to consider a written agreement with ISG sometime in the future.
“There were good comments about ISG,” Williams said.
Auditor Jane Heun asked about the need for bond counsel. No action was taken.
The board heard budget requests from the offices of recorder, sheriff, veteran services, general assistance, drain, information technology/data processing, human services, and the board of supervisors proposed budget.
Recorder Deb McDonald recommended the deputy recorder’s salary be increased one percent to be 77 percent of the recorder’s salary. McDonald estimated the revenues in her office to be about $79,500 for FY2023. She requested $136,712 from the general fund budget.
Williams reported a need to replace tasers, ammunition is hard to get and expensive. Williams also cited increased fuel costs as needing to be addressed in his budget.
Williams said union negotiations for salaries have not begun, though he expects a decrease in part-time wages due to changes in shifts from 8 hours to 12 hours.
Williams estimated revenues from dispatching services, sheriff fees, and other sources to be nearly $131,000.
Williams estimated non-salary expenditures in the sheriff’s to be an increase of $17,500 with $5,000 earmarked for new tasers and $10,000 for fuel increases.
Mike Bierl, veterans affairs, reported an estimated increase in expenditures for veteran services of $5,545 for a total of $52,175.
Bierl estimated general assistance expenditures at $21,050 which is a $400 decrease from FY2022.
Michelle Fields reported on the drainage department and information technology/data processing budgets. She said current year total expenditures are budgeted at about $33,000 for the drainage office and IT/data processing expenditures are estimated to be slightly higher for non-salary line items.
Fields said the current budget totals $224,600 and salary increases will be determined by the supervisors.
Auditor Jane Heun reported on the proposed budget for human services, estimating total expenditures at $3,764 which is $1,700 less than the current year. She estimated indirect cost recovery at $10,000.
Heun also reported on the clerk of court budget which is estimated at $88,000. This is $9,000 less than the current budget of $97,000.
Heun said the clerk of court budget includes the law library, local and other county sheriff service and mileage costs, juvenile detention, shelter care, and other legal costs.
The board of supervisors proposed a budget of $200,430. This is an increase of $12,530 over the current year. The board included the 8 percent increase to supervisors’ salaries as recommended by the compensation board.
