TJG board requests to move farmers market back to courthouse grounds
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
Recodifying county ordinances was once again under discussion at the regular meeting of the Greene County board of supervisors on Aug. 8.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reminded the supervisors language covering utility-scale solar energy systems could be included in the county’s zoning ordinance if the supervisors would like to do that.
Laehn said any proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance regarding solar energy should be drafted by the end of August so they can be in effect when the current moratorium on utility scale solar systems expires at noon on Sept. 26.
At the end of the board meeting, the board discussed set-back distances for solar farms accepted in other counties and whether there should be a limit on total acres in a solar farm.
Chair John Muir said, “A thousand acres is a lot of ground.”
Also discussed were acceptable distances required between solar farms and whether the land used for a solar fam had to be in contiguous acres.
Auditor Jane Heun asked about the effect of solar farms on taxable land values as well as clean-up issues.
Laehn reminded the supervisors a public hearing is needed to adopt a zoning ordinance for solar farms as well as three readings of the proposed ordinance. He said some readings could be waived.
The board generally agreed a resolution on solar farm zoning ordinances should be presented at the Aug. 15 meeting.
Laehn also told the board the county’s flood plain management ordinance will need to be approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources because Iowa law requires it if there are proposed changes to the language of the ordinance.
In other business, Laehn told the board the courthouse security committee has recommended the supervisors adopt three policies covering courthouse security.
Laehn said a courthouse access policy would allow anyone to apply for a key fob which can be programmed to allow access to the courthouse at specific times. The auditor is identified as the “keeper of the Courthouse.”
Laehn said the committee’s recommendation is that the courthouse be automatically locked from 4:30 pm until 8 am. Approved people can carry physical keys.
The board unanimously adopted the courthouse access policy.
Laehn then described the recommended security camera policy. He said security cameras located at key places in the building would record video but not sound.
“Sound recording takes more storage capacity and limits recording time,” Laehn said. “Sound also could violate client-attorney privilege if conversations were overheard and recorded.”
Laehn said recorded video could be reviewed by the county sheriff, the county auditor, or their designees.
The board unanimously adopted the security camera policy.
Laehn recommended the board go into closed session before reviewing the third recommended policy titled heightened courthouse security.
The board was in closed session for 10 minutes. Upon returning to open session, the board unanimously approved the policy.
In her report to the board, IT director Michelle Fields said a new firewall was installed for computer security and recommendations made by ICAP (Iowa Communities Assurance Pool) for password policy, disaster recovery, employee training, and other security issues will be implemented.
City of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer gave his monthly report on projects in Jefferson.
Palmer spoke of the city façade program and changes to the front of the Rasmussen Law firm; a sewer plant upgrade estimated at $15 million; exploring various concepts for improvements to the library; and the floor being poured last week at the animal shelter.
Palmer said the feasibility of an indoor swimming pool at the community center and ongoing maintenance costs are being explored.
Palmer also said pavers in the crossing areas around the square are being replaced.
Engineer Wade Weiss told the board of work to be done on part of County Road E-57.
The board unanimously approved bid letting for HMA pavement widening and HMA resurfacing on County Road E-57 from P-14 east 4.4 miles to Iowa Highway 4.
Muir told the supervisors he received an email from Jean Walker, the president of the board at Thomas Jefferson Gardens in Jefferson, asking if the farmers market could move back to the courthouse grounds for the 2023 season.
Farmers market was held weekly on courthouse grounds for several years prior to being adopted by Thomas Jefferson Gardens and moving to Chestnut St, just off the square, for the 2022 summer season.
Supervisor Mick Burkett asked the reason for the request.
Muir said he thought “things were going well over there” and the email did not give a reason for the requested change.
“We’ll need input from Thomas (Laehn) because of security,” Muir said. “Shade might be the reason for the change.”
Laehn reminded the supervisors allowing one group to use the courthouse grounds means all groups must be allowed to use the courthouse grounds.
“We need a policy for the use of the courthouse grounds,” he said.
The supervisors briefly discussed alternative places for the farmers market such as the city parks.
“We will have to meet and discuss this,” Muir said.
Chuck Wenthold reminded the supervisors Cruisin’ to the Square is scheduled this Thursday in Jefferson.
