~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors met on Feb. 13 and briefly discussed a recent meeting between chair John Muir, supervisor Pete Bardole, and Sid Jones, president of Greene County Development Corporation, about future “cultural changes” in Greene County.
The topic of diversity has been discussed from several angles over the past year with studies and planning done for employment, housing, recreation and other topics. Consultants were hired to help with the Nueva Vida en Greene County project, but outside funding for consulting and projects evaporated recently.
The most recent suggestion involved hiring an experienced multi-cultural resource person to actually live in the county and help with adjustment among cultures.
Muir and Bardole did not go into detail about the meeting with Jones, but both appeared to be satisfied with whatever was discussed.
“I liked what I heard,” Bardole said. “Conversation about being prepared (for cultural changes.)”
When city of Jefferson administrator Mike Palmer began his monthly update to the board about projects in Jefferson, Muir told him, “Things are moving fast. We need preparedness for cultural change. Things are changing, especially with the schools.”
Palmer then spoke about the new animal shelter being in operation and the city setting up an animal shelter board.
Palmer told the supervisors the city will not have to borrow money to re-do Lincoln Way from Highway 4 to Grimmell Road after changing the material and/or depth used for the overlay.
He said an update to the front entrancetof city hall was re-bid at $100,000 with work starting in early spring, and the city is currently doing budget workshops.
Palmer said an experienced club house manager has been hired for the city golf course for an 8-month position.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reported “a busy start to 2023” and the need to request an extra trial date from court administration. Laehn said he had been granted an additional date.
Laehn explained the county is allowed only a certain number of trial dates per year due to judge availability and this means a certain number of cases have to be resolved outside the courtroom through plea agreements.
Laehn also reported he has been working on 28E agreements with non-profits that request county funding for their programs. Laehn previously said these 28E agreements are now required by law.
He told the supervisors they could approve money in the budget for specific non-profits, but the money should not be disbursed until a valid 28E agreement is signed with the non-profit.
Laehn said he is drafting “something special” for the Bell Tower Community Foundation, a non-profit that raises money for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower.
“The Bell Tower Foundation has a more complex relationship (with the County) and is integral with the County,” he said.
The supervisors then spent 2.5 hours reviewing the proposed FY2024 budgets for county departments.
