~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
During the regular meeting on Mar. 27, the Greene County board of supervisors opened a public hearing for the proposed FY2024 County budget. There were no written or oral objections received by the board.
After closing the hearing, the board unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the compensation board’s recommendations for the salaries of elected officials for FY2024, beginning July 1, 2023. The compensation board met in January.
The county attorney, auditor, recorder, supervisors, and treasurer received increases in salary of 6.5 percent. The county sheriff received an increase of 13.5 percent.
County attorney salary was increased to $131,101; auditor salary increased to $77,895; recorder salary increased to $74,076; supervisors increased to $34,652 each; treasurer increased to $75,297. County sheriff’s salary increased to $110,171.
A public hearing was held on Mar. 13 establishing the maximum property tax dollars for general county services and rural county services for FY2024 and a resolution was adopted setting these figures.
On Mar. 27, no written or oral objections to the FY2024 county budget had been received by the board, and the board passed a resolution adopting a FY2024 budget and Certificate of Taxes for Greene County.
The board directed the auditor to certify and file the budget and Certificate of Taxes as adopted.
The general services levy – the levy paid by all county property owners, will be $6.61 (per $1,000 of assessed value). Rural property owners will pay an additional $3.15 (per $1,000 of assessed value). Total county revenue coming from property taxes will be $7,322,657.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph was absent for this meeting.
In other business, engineer Wade Weiss reported receiving an estimate from Carroll Glass to replace the front door of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. Weiss said a larger door and push button opener would give better accessibility and prevent the door blowing open, letting in rain.
Weiss said the estimate will be shared with the Bell Tower Foundation.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reminded the board a 28E agreement with the Bell Tower Foundation needs to be in place before the board can authorize expenditures.
Weiss discussed a plan by the Iowa Department of Transportation to put an overlay on Highway 30 from Jefferson to Scranton. This involves a worksite plant at the Beazor Pit.
Weiss said gravel road approaches connecting with the road overlay should be funded by local option sales tax money from the County.
Weiss reported the cost of calcium chloride used by Secondary Roads for dust control has increased by 21 percent. The increase in cost will be paid by those who sign up for dust control.
Weiss also discussed the county’s participation in some city projects.
“We have the option to participate in projects within a city that involve farm-to-market roads or bridges,” he said. “Where there’s a market route through the smaller towns, the county is often responsible.”
In presenting the FY2024 Secondary Roads budget to the board, Weiss said this budget was the same as the budget proposed to them in January.
Weiss reviewed the five-year road construction program and proposed funding sources.
Weiss described road budgets being affected by unusual conditions such as “mussels (at the river bridge) on the S-curve on the way to Grand Junction.” Weiss said the mussels moved downstream and work could continue, but delays often cost extra money.
The board unanimously approved the adoption of the Secondary Roads budget and Five-Year Program.
The board approved the hiring of Jamie Brenner, current part-time EMT, as a full-time EMT at $34,000 per year, retroactive to Mar. 6.
They also approved hiring Rick Hamilton as part-time, as-needed, EMT at $12 per hour, retroactive to Mar. 12, and Shelby Lietz as part-time, as needed, RN at $20 per hour, also retroactive to Mar. 12.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported a letter from Hudson Law Firm to Bolton and Menk stated their legal opinion that the “Iowa drainage code allows a drainage district establish their own watershed project.”
Bolton and Menk is the engineering company often engaged by Greene County for drainage work.
Billie Hoskins and Michelle Fields, members of the County HIPAA committee, discussed joining the Iowa State Association of County (ISAC) HIPAA Program. They reported the County has been part of The Guard, a Compliancy Group, since 2015, but wondering if a change to ISAC’s program would be a good move.
Hoskins and Fields said the ISAC program would cost less and provide yearly training and tracking for employees.
HIPPA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed.
The board took no action.
Supervisor Dan Benitz reported attending meetings at New Opportunities and the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention commission.
“The level of delinquency at Eldora (state facility) is sad,” Benitz said. “The staff has to put up with a lot.”
Benitz said the per day cost is $320 but each county is charged less than that per resident court-ordered to be placed at the facility.
The Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center oversees juveniles sent to their program, located in Eldora, by Iowa courts.
