Sheriff wants another jail bond election in September
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
At their meeting on Nov. 15, the Greene County board of supervisors acted as a board of canvass for the general election held Nov. 8. Each supervisor read results aloud from each precinct in the county.
According to the canvass, 3,671 ballots were cast in Greene County, which is 56.23 percent of the total voters registered in the county.
Dan Benitz won the District 3 supervisor seat currently held by Tom Contner who did not run for re-election. Results were Benitz, 2,243 to Mike Holden, 1,324. There were eight write-in votes.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph was re-elected to the supervisor seat from District 2 with 2,940 votes. She ran unopposed. There were 54 write-in votes.
County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen, county recorder Deb McDonald, and county attorney Thomas Laehn were all re-elected to their positions with no opposition. There were 29 write-in votes for treasurer, 56 write-in votes for recorder, and 59 write-in votes for attorney.
At the national level, current US Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican, was re-elected with 2,340 votes against Michael Franken, Democrat, with 1,218 votes in Greene County. There were 11 write-in votes.
In US Representative District 3, Zach Nunn, Republican, won election with 2,246 votes against incumbent Cindy Axne, Democrat, with 1,307 votes. There were seven write-in votes.
At the state level, incumbent governor Republican Kim Reynolds and lieutenant governor Adam Gregg won re-election with 2,473 votes against 1,307 votes for Deirdre DeJear and Eric Van Lancker, Democrats, with 1,078 votes. The Libertarian party candidates, Stewart and Battaglia, received 80 votes in the county. There was one write-in vote.
A full listing of all candidates and vote tallies on the ballot can be found in the minutes of the Nov 15 board of supervisors meeting.
An amendment to the Iowa Constitution about requiring “strict scrutiny” when legislation about gun laws is proposed, passed 2,582 votes to 830 in Greene County.
A second issue, Public Measure C, about the issuance of $12.6 million in bonds for building a new jail in Greene County, received a popular vote of 1,962 in favor and 1,454 against. This made an approval percentage of 57.44 percent, 2.56 percent shy of the 60 percent approval required for passing of public measures.
County sheriff Jack Williams told the board, “The vote was close. I’ve been told these are usually not passed on the first try.”
Williams suggested the board could hold a special election next September and more emphasis could be put on making voters aware of the need for a new jail.
Heidi Kuhl of Northland Securities discussed E911 essential purpose bonding for a radio tower and equipment. The supervisors approved the bonding in September after holding a public hearing. An election was not required for that project.
Kuhl gave a list of steps needing to be completed by the first weeks of February.
Kuhl showed the board figures and estimated tax impact for financing the $3.2 million in bonds over 8, 10, 12, and 15 year terms. The board discussed the information and seemed to agree a 10-year repayment schedule would be likely. No action was taken.
In other business, Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, told the board National Grid Renewables has sent a letter to landowners within 1000 feet of the company’s proposed boundary lines for its proposed solar farm project south of Grand Junction inviting them to an open house at the Grand Junction Community Center on Nov. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Other interested parties have also been invited to the open house. The project has taken the name Grand Junction Solar.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported he will meet with the Jefferson street committee to discuss funding repairs to the Grimmell Road bridge, also known as the Jackson bridge.
City of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer spoke to the board about the approaching completion of the new animal shelter and a formal open house when all is completed.
“This is something to be proud of,” he said.
Palmer also spoke of possible plans for a new library being a “six to ten-year project.”
The board unanimously approved a change in rank for sheriff’s deputy Shane Allen from sergeant to captain, with no change in pay.
Williams told the board this would match Allen’s rank with his responsibilities.
Board chair John Muir thanked Allen for his service.
