Also learn of $100,000 in federal funds for county
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
At the March 6 meeting, county attorney Thomas Laehn told the county board of supervisors there is a state-wide ban on specialty courts. Laehn said the ban in Iowa prevents the establishment of a drug court in Greene County that could have used opioid settlement money to operate.
Board chair John Muir asked the reason for the ban and Laehn said there are financial reasons.
The court system in Iowa is administered by the Department of Court Administration, which makes state-wide rules and policies.
However, Laehn said Webster County already has a drug court in operation and he will meet with other county attorneys on Mar. 31 to talk about joining that program.
“Joining the drug court program in Webster County would mean travelling there for hearings,” Laehn said.
In other court news, Laehn said his office had two convictions recently, one resulting in three consecutive 5-year prison sentences. “The State’s case was strong because law enforcement gathered evidence carefully,” Laehn said.
Muir said he remembered when Greene County was considered a “target for crimes,” referring to a past perception the county was tolerant of some types of law-breaking.
“You’re doing what citizens expect to be done,” Muir told Laehn and sheriff Jack Williams.
“Offenses by the same offenders have dropped significantly, by 75 percent,” Williams said.
Laehn said this recidivism rate is the “best measure of success.” He credited lawbreakers taking the “threat of sentences” seriously in Greene County for the decrease in crime.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph noted there has also been more information about the court process in local media.
Laehn also reported Congressman Zach Nunn had requested a tour of the courthouse for March 6 and would be available to meet with county officials to hear concerns and questions.
Nunn is currently serving in the US House of Representatives from the 3rd Congressional District in Iowa, which now includes Greene County.
Treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen reported the county received $50,000 in Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) money earlier this fiscal year and will receive another $50,000 before June.
Mechaelsen said the LATCF money can be combined with ARPA funds and used for HVAC and restroom renovation in the courthouse.
These projects have been planned for years and have repeatedly been put on the back burner as other projects seemed more pressing.
Mechaelsen strongly recommended the supervisors move forward with the HVAC projects.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported the Board of Adjustment will meet in the boardroom March 16 to consider a conditional use permit for Alliant Energy to relocate its current facility inside the Grand Junction city limits to an area outside of town.
The supervisors unanimously approved the appointment of supervisor Dan Benitz as alternate supervisor representative to the Emergency Management Commission. At the previous board meeting, Sheriff Williams had requested an alternate be appointed.
Billie Hoskins, auditor’s office, reported the dental insurance rates for county employees would increase by 3 percent but vision insurance rates would not increase.
The board unanimously approved dental and vision insurance rate agreements for FY2024.
