~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County supervisors at their Aug. 15 meeting set the stage to make two important financial decisions in the near future.
The county’s E911 service board took the first step in a $3.7 million communications project with a formal request that the supervisors raise the funds as an essential county purpose. The project includes a communications tower, equipment and structure, generator, and mobile radios to complete the needs of fire departments, ambulance services and conservation.
Heidi Kuhl of Northland Securities, attending the meeting over Zoom, told the board the next step is to set a date for a public hearing and provide notice to the public that the board intends to take action on the issuance of essential county purpose bonds. No referendum would be required.
Kuhl said she will provide information to the board at the next meeting Aug. 22 on repayment of the proposed $3.7 million debt.
Problems with emergency communications and connection with state-wide communications has been discussed at several meetings over the past months. Sheriff Jack Williams again summarized the communications needs of the county.
Williams said Greene County depends on neighboring counties for communications services because there are gaps in service due to an inadequate tower in the county.
Williams said service is adequate in vehicles, but not outside of them.
“I regret we didn’t do this 10 years ago. It would have been less costly,” board chair John Muir said.
Also to be considered at the meeting on Aug. 22 is a resolution to call a special county election to approve or deny a bond issue for the construction of a new jail.
Muir told the board alternate roof cost estimates for a new jail have been requested from ISG. He said the original estimate was for a flat roof and the board was interested in what a pitched roof of steel would cost.
Muir said a pitched roof would likely raise the total cost. At a previous meeting, ISG estimated the total cost to be at least $12 million.
Conservation director Tanner Scheuermann reported a 60-acre parcel of land east of Spring Lake was willed to Greene County by the late Wallace Teagarden. The land is to be managed by the county conservation board as the Teagarden Wildlife Refuge and no hunting or fishing would be permitted.
Scheuermann said there is currently no road access to the property. Access from the pavement or from a lane and possible fencing were discussed.
County attorney Thomas Laehn said the county is legally entitled to an easement, but he advised the matter be negotiated with the law firm handling Teagarden’s estate.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported on the condition of roads damaged from wind turbine construction. Weiss said the roads had been temporarily patched but will need permanent improvements in the future.
Muir asked to eventually discuss the Dana road in connection with this.
Weiss suggested the possible use of tax increment financing (TIF) for road repair.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a resolution requesting Greene County be included in the state-wide SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) grant which will develop an action plan for each county in the state.
Weiss had been consulted prior to the approval of the resolution.
The grant is part of a $1 billion roadway safety fund under the Federal Transportation Bill. Action plans for Iowa developed by the Iowa County Engineers Association will have the goals of “dramatic decrease in roadway fatalities and serious injuries.”
The ultimate goal stated in the resolution will be zero roadway fatalities by 2030, and zero serious roadway injuries by 2050.
County attorney Laehn reported progress on the proposed Code of Ordinances and recognized the work of auditor Jane Heun in reviewing the drafts.
The board discussed utility-grade solar ordinances in effect in Adair and Webster Counties.
Muir asked, “Which one should we model after?” and the board generally agreed on the Webster County ordinance and a limit of 1000 acres per solar farm.
The board discussed differences in set-back distances from occupied structures used for storage and residential structures used for human habitation should be included in the new ordinance.
After discussion, Muir asked Laehn to “put together an ordinance” regarding solar farms.
In news from the county attorney’s office, Laehn told the board he had filled in for the Guthrie County attorney last Friday and assisted with district associate court services and juvenile court hearings.
Laehn said he declined payment and noted county attorneys across the state help each other out when needed.
Treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen gave the board a certificate of adjustment for property purchased by the county to be used as the law enforcement administration building.
The former Midland Power building at 1005 East Lincoln Way had been classified as commercial and taxable until purchased by the county.
The board unanimously abated $28,602 in taxes.
Ryan Berven of Group Benefit Partners gave the board a mid-year update of the county’s health plan.
Berven described a “phenomenal year” for the county with claims much less than expected. Bervyn predicted a small increase in rates for the next year if claims continue as they have. He will report to the supervisors in a few months with recommendations for next year’s health insurance plan for the county.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported the Iowa Utilities Board will hold a state-wide public hearing on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions proposed carbon pipeline at the Webster County Fairgrounds. The date has not yet been set.
Wenthold also told the board the National Association of Counties would like counties to participate in Operation Green Light for Veterans Nov. 7 – 13 by lighting the courthouse with green lights.
Attorney Laehn suggested a resolution would need to be passed under the Public Arts policy.
The board agreed to support Operation Green Light.
At the end of the meeting, the board again discussed an unincorporated area at the east edge of Grand Junction.
Supervisor Mick Burkett said city officials have talked to him several times about the area sometimes called “a junkyard” or “environmental junk.”
“The city (Grand Junction) has been complaining about the county ordinance on junk,” Burkett said.
The issue is apparently complicated by the city owning property beyond the city limits.
“We need a definition of junk,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said. “Tires are a DNR thing.”
Wenthold said he thinks the area is under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Transportation because it is located near a state highway.
