~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
Open forum at the beginning of the Greene County board of supervisors meeting on Dec. 5 brought people of the community out to speak on issues discussed by the board at the meeting on Nov. 28.
Carole Custer, president of the Community Bell Tower Foundation, told the board, “I have been reading reports in the media and I’m here to answer any questions.”
Custer told the board the foundation’s goal is to “get as many tourists here as possible” and she said the foundation is concerned about possible changes in the courthouse buildings and grounds policy, especially the tower’s observation deck and the collection of money from rentals.
Despite several board members occasionally commenting on the need for better communication with the foundation over the past year, board chair John Muir told Custer the board “doesn’t have communication problems with the foundation.”
He said, “The nuts and bolts (of the relationship between the county and the foundation) are not written down. Everybody needs to know what rules we have to live by. This is no time to panic.”
Muir spoke of “grey areas” and later said, “We don’t want media to ask the questions. It’s (the relationship) is working. There are good people at the foundation and a lot of positive things.”
County attorney Thomas Laehn said the state auditor has advised counties to have 28 E agreements in place to partner with groups such as the foundation. Laehn said money collected by the county for rental fees (for the observation deck) could be donated to the foundation.
Both Muir and Laehn said a 28E agreement is necessary to make the relationship between county and foundation clear and to protect both the county and the foundation.
In a second issue from last week’s board meeting, several people spoke supporting animals being allowed on courthouse grounds. At the previous meeting, the board had upheld an unenforced 2007 policy of banning animals from the grounds.
The board had discussed some owners not cleaning up after their pets as a reason to ban animals or put up signage and somehow monitor people and their animals using the security cameras already in place.
The proposed changes to the policy would allow service animals, as required by federal law, and law enforcement dogs.
An underlying issue is the city’s encouragement of downtown upper story apartments in the historical buildings and those residents’ enjoyment of life with pets.
Peg Raney of Jefferson said, “We’re proud that people are moving into the community. We want to encourage a welcoming atmosphere.”
Clancy Clawson told the board he lives downtown and believes “responsible dog owners have to pick up after pets.”
“But will banning dogs get at the root of the problem?” he asked. “We don’t want to make life hard for responsible dog owners. Use your powers to help people pick up waste.”
Kristin Lang, owner of Warm Wishes located on the square, suggested the board “reframe and focus” on wanting people to feel welcome. She suggested signage with waste bags for animal owners to use.
Karen Lawton suggested the board use their power to be as welcoming as possible while enforcing policy.
Muir spoke of possible problems with vicious animals and county liability. He noted “irresponsible owners are not here,” and the policy has to address them.
Later in the meeting, Laehn gave the board an updated draft of the proposed Courthouse Building and Grounds Policy. He told the board he had made changes according to their suggestions at the previous meeting.
“This is policy, not ordinances,” he said.
“Can we make amendments to the policies at any time?” Muir asked.
“Yes,” Laehn said.
Laehn said this version is a “more thorough version” of the 2007 policies and includes legally required changes such as “guide dogs” being broadened to “service animals and police dogs,” and “wheeled devices” being identified specifically as “roller skates and skateboards.”
In regard to the bell tower, Laehn repeated the need for a 28E agreement between the county and the Bell Tower Community Foundation.
“Any outside group generating revenue off of county property can cause criminal and ethical issues,” Laehn said. “We can’t let outside groups generate revenue off county property.”
Custer interrupted the board’s discussion with Laehn to say, “We’ve raised revenue to operate for you!”
She continued, “I’ve wondered for years about this. It isn’t a money-maker. Staff is hired.”
“There is concern about letting an outside agency profit from the county’s tower,” he said.
Muir told Custer, “We’re happy and want to stay happy. We’re fine because we know each other.”
Muir explained the relationship needs to be written, not just informal.
Laehn said, “Policy needs to be enforced. We are ultimately exposed to liability. (It’s our responsibility) to exercise oversight (of the foundation.)”
Among other things, Laehn said the agreement would clarify rental of the observation deck and collection of money is the responsibility of the county auditor.
“The county auditor could appoint a designee (to collect rental applications and money) but that designee would only be an agent of the auditor,” Laehn said. “They would not be acting as a foundation employee.”
The board discussed fees and deposits for the various spaces on county property that could be reserved by the public.
In the end, the board seemed to agree there should be a non-refundable rental fee for the bell tower observation deck but not for other reservable spaces.
The board also seemed to agree that spaces must be reserved if a person or group wants exclusive use of the space. If others are not excluded from the event or activity, no reservation is needed.
The board gave examples of several people meeting at the tables on the courthouse grounds. No reservation would be needed as long as others are not excluded from the area.
Turning to discussion of pets on the courthouse grounds, the board agreed only service animals and law enforcement dogs should be allowed inside the courthouse.
Muir said, “We want to support downtown development, but it’s (the courthouse grounds) not a park. It’s (the courthouse) a place of business.”
The board discussed requiring owners to be in control of pets and clean up their waste. The board agreed only domesticated animals could be considered for possible lawn privileges.
Attorney Laehn spoke about county liability and limiting it as much as possible by requiring animals to be on leashes at all times. He said he would like to look at other outdoor public space policies for guidance.
The board tabled consideration of the policy draft until Laehn could make updates, but the board did direct Laehn to revise the draft to allow pets on the courthouse grounds, but not in the courthouse.
In other business, Diane Hinderaker from Boone/Greene County Probation, presented the board with a revised contract for probation and community services.
Hinderaker said the original 2019 agreement for probation services had been for $8,515 to cover 20 clients from Greene County. She said many more clients were served since that time and she proposed a new agreement to cover 100 clients at a cost of $21,134 with an allowable expense increase of 5 percent.
Hinderaker discussed the new community services program budget which could serve 55 clients through 2023. She said there could be 25 youth and 30 adults served at a cost estimate of $14,057.
“People working community service are paying back and have pride in the work done,” she said.
Hinderaker said the community services program would be court-ordered for specific people and community services would be done for non-profit businesses in the county. Work would be supervised by people at the non-profits and a coordinator will be responsible for the program.
Laehn announced last week Kelley McCane of Jefferson had been hired as coordinator.
“Kelley McCane hit the ground running,” Hinderaker told the board. “She has already talked with many agencies and started locating places for community service.”
Laehn told the board, “This is really beneficial for the county. Recidivism rates fall (with community services programs.)
He said the county’s partnership with Boone County Probation has been successful in the past and the new community services program “would not be possible without them.”
Supervisor Tom Contner said, “This will be good for young people.”
Three groups presented summaries of their work and requested funding from the board for the next fiscal year: 144 Community Housing Initiative Corporation, Greene County Fair Association, and the Greene County Library Association.
Mary Weaver of Rippey, Kate Neese, and Alan Robinson, both of Grand Junction, requested a total of $15,000 from Louis Dreyfus funds over a three-year period on behalf of 144 CHI, a group formed to improve at attractiveness and availability of housing in communities along Highway 144.
The group recently spoke with the board to describe their goals. Communities included in their program are Dana, Grand Junction, Paton, and Rippey.
The board unanimously approved the request for $5,000 per year for the next three years.
Doug Hawn, Greene County Fair Association secretary/treasurer, gave the board the association’s annual report and estimated budget for FY24.
Hawn said their funding request will be for the same amount as in the past, $24,000.
No action was taken by the board.
The Greene County Librarian Association was represented by Jane Millard, president of the Greene County Library Association and Jefferson library director; Marsha Subbert, Churdan library trustee; Kimberly Bohnet, Paton Library director; Kathryn Whitver and Bailey Mount, Jefferson library; Tammy Ross, Scranton library director; Cara McCoy, Rippey library director; Diane Kafer, Grand Junction library director; and Shari Minnehan, Churdan library director.
Millard said, “Libraries have been busy and have been providing great service.”
She said there had been 63,000 check-outs of books and materials, 3,000 uses of computers, and 700 programs for all ages over the past year in the libraries of the county.
Millard said the county libraries are open 150 hours per week and provide community meeting spaces, wi-fi access, access to digitized newspapers back to the Civil War, and 88,000 items for patrons’ use.
Millard said total funding for the current fiscal year is $89,540 and is allocated among the six libraries of the county according to a formula. The group requested an 8.7 percent increase in county funding for a total request of $95,940.
Muir asked about support from the cities of the county and Millard said Jefferson contributes $20,000 to their library.
She said the total budget of all the libraries is $350,000.
No action was taken by the board.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported Brooks, Borg, Skiles is planning to visit with the ARPA group next week about renovation of the courthouse HVAC and restrooms.
The board unanimously approved an engagement letter for S&P Global to provide a credit rating for the county related to borrowing $3.3 M for a new communications tower and equipment.
The fee for obtaining the credit rating is $13,750.
