~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County supervisors exercised their control of the courthouse grounds at their regular meeting May 22 when Bell Tower Festival steering committee chair Phil Heisterkamp requested use of the grounds for a pair of events.
Heisterkamp told the board the Reunion Rendezvous will be held under the sun shades on Lincoln Way this year instead of under the trees on the courthouse lawn.
He then asked the board if the lawn and shade trees could be used for a wine-tasting event.
The board discussed the policy regarding alcohol on courthouse grounds and whether the wine-tasting would involve sales. Sales appeared to be a grey area as advance ticket sales to the event were planned.
Auditor Jane Heun said wine served off the courthouse grounds can be consumed on the grounds without the county needing a permit.
Board chair Muir finally said the county attorney and assistant county attorney would review the issues.
Heisterkamp also asked if a religious service could be held on the stage located on the Bell Tower plaza.
Assistant county attorney Laura Snider answered, “No. You’ll have to find another location,” and explained the board specifically wants to “avoid use of grounds by non-secular organizations and groups.”
Also at the meeting, the board learned National Grid Renewables is pursuing the permit for Grand Junction Solar. The permit was denied by the county board of adjustment on the basis of there being inadequate emergency response planning.
Chuck Wenthold, environment and zoning officer, told the board he, Doug Hawn, and Dan Benitz met with a representative of National Grid Renewables to discuss a revised emergency response plan for the proposed solar energy farm at Grand Junction.
The supervisors reviewed the master matrix scoring for a proposed new Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO).
Oakview Pork LLC Site 2, located in Section 21 of Greenbrier Township, scored 520 points with 440 being the minimum score required for approval of a conditional building permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, reported he and Supervisor Dan Benitz had participated in the site visit by the IDNR.
“It’s a beautiful set-up. It meets all the metrics,” Benitz said. “I do have issues with the master matrix.”
“It is what it is,” Muir told Benitz, referring to the matrix. “It’s not perfect.”
The board discussed the proposed site’s manure plan and the possibility of encouraging the owner of trees on the adjacent property to maintain them. The impact on waterways was discussed.
The new site reportedly will have two buildings and 4,960 head of hogs. The closest neighbor is located twice the distance away as is required.
Nick Miller and Andy Carman attended the board meeting to represent Oakview Pork and Becky Sexton attended from Twin Lakes Environmental Services.
The board set a public hearing for Tuesday, May 30, at 9 am.
County assessor Adam Smith explained new Iowa legislation adds an exemption to the existing homestead credit for homeowners aged 65 and older. Beginning January 2023, the extra exemption is $3,250 of taxable value. Beginning January 2024, the extra exemption increases to $6,500.
These amounts plus the original homestead credit are subtracted from the assessed taxable value of the property.
Homeowners must fill out new homestead tax credit and exemption forms by July 1. These are available in the office of the assessor.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported the installation of new Bell Tower lighting went well and he recognized Chris Durlam of Durlam Electric as having a close relationship with the Tower through the years.
Durlam Electric recently closed after 75 years of electrical service to residents of Greene County. Durlam told the board he helped his father during high school, working on the tower when it was built in 1966 and through the following years. He recounted different lighting configurations for the tower through the years.
“I am donating my time and labor to this last lighting project,” Durlam said, adding he is proud of working with Weiss and the secondary roads department.
Muir called Durlam “a good friend of the County,” and said the secondary roads staff are problem-solvers.
Michelle Fields reported the Raccoon River Valley Trail (bike trail) signage project paperwork for the art work pillars and lighted town names at Jefferson, Winkleman Switch, and Cooper is nearly completed. The pillars and names were completed in September 2020, but Fields said the paperwork to Iowa Department of Transportation “has not been easy.”
Fields credited the engineer’s office personnel in helping with paperwork to receive final payment from the Transportation Alternatives Program grant.
The board unanimously approved hiring Mike Danley as part-time courthouse custodian at a rate of $16 per hour.
The board also unanimously approved a cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permit application by Paton Pitstop.
