Approve raises for county elected officials
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County supervisors discussed a six-month moratorium on solar farms at its Feb. 10 meeting after hearing there have been more inquiries from solar companies about constructing solar farms in Greene County.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported he has received inquiries.
“Two counties in Iowa have moratoriums on solar farms,” Wenthold said. “A moratorium would give us time to write a solar farm policy. We need rules about distances from other solar farms.”
County attorney Thomas Laehn said there’s no legal reason for not imposing a moratorium.
Laehn cautioned a moratorium would need to be written in a legally enforceable form and might need a supporting ordinance.
The topic came up again at the supervisors Feb. 14 meeting, when Shelly Fouch and Mary Ellen Holz of rural Grand Junction spoke to the board about proposed legislation (Senate File 2127) concerning commercially-owned solar panel installation on agricultural land in Iowa.
Fouch and Holz supported a moratorium on solar farms until “there is more guidance from the state.”
They noted tax credits and other incentives for solar companies make the business attractive to those companies.
“We chose to live in the country, but didn’t choose to live next to industrial,” Fouch told the supervisors.
“Landowners should have rights,” Muir said. “We hear your voices.”
“Let the state do its work before deciding,” Fouch said.
Muir told Fouch and Holz the board is working with Laehn to establish a six-month moratorium while the state establishes solar panel legislation or guidelines.
In other business on Feb. 10, the board voted 4 to 1 to reduce the compensation board’s recommendation for supervisor salaries from 8 percent to 7 percent. Supervisor Tom Contner was the dissenting vote.
From board discussion of the compensation board’s recommendations, Contner’s objection appeared to be based on a belief that elected officials should not set their own salaries.
Contner said, “I’d be glad to pay it back (any increase) at the end of the year.”
The board voted to accept the compensation board’s other recommendations of 15 percent increase in salary for sheriff and county attorney, 10 percent increase for auditor and treasurer, and 8 percent increase for recorder. Again, Contner was a dissenting vote.
Prior to the vote, the board discussed the compensation board’s recommendations.
“Some recommendations I like and some I don’t,” said supervisor Dawn Rudolph. “Certain positions, elected or not, are in dire need due to the market. Some areas can still function even if short. Some can’t be worked out.”
“It’s about position and not the person,” Muir said. “Is it (an increase in salary) sustainable?”
Rudolph said, “Some position raises are not sustainable.”
“We’re trying to make (county) jobs comparable to other (similar) positions,” supervisor Pete Bardole said.
The board also discussed a proposed notice of public hearing for property tax levy rates and money generated for general and rural service areas. Auditor Jane Heun told the board the proposed amount of increase in money for services is greater than 2 percent of the current figures.
Heun said the proposed notice included adjustment for union-related salaries and wages, library funding modifications, insurance coverage, and other adjustments.
Rudolph said, “If there are any questions about the budget, we need to discuss them now, not on the day we vote.”
The board set the date of the public hearing for Monday, Feb. 28, at 9 am.
Also on Feb. 10, sheriff Jack Williams reported the governor’s public health disaster proclamation ends on Feb 15. Williams said the remaining stock of personal protection equipment (PPE) available from the state will be distributed.
During a short board meeting on Feb 14, city of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer gave a monthly update on city projects.
County engineer Wade Weiss reported “the Scranton facility is coming together” and secondary roads employees are working in Squirrel Hollow to clean up derecho damage.
The next meeting of the board of supervisors will be Tuesday, Feb. 22 due to the Presidents Day holiday Monday, Feb. 21.
