~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors heard updates at their meeting on Oct. 9 from county attorney Thomas Laehn on progress with 28E agreements between the county and the City of Jefferson regarding the new animal shelter and with the Bell Tower Community Foundation.
Laehn said the county attorney also works for the townships and the recent number of 28E agreements being negotiated is due to “getting caught up from 50 years of not doing them.” Laehn has previously said these agreements are necessary for the county to be in relationship with organizations and governmental agencies before granting them money, and agreements can simply be renewed regularly after the initial agreement.
“The animal shelter is owned and operated by the city of Jefferson to accept animals from Jefferson and unincorporated areas,” Laehn said. “Cities (in the county) can also participate by having a 28E agreement.”
In discussing the writing of an agreement for the animal shelter, Laehn said the county would like “a guarantee our animals will always be accepted.”
Supervisor Dan Benitz asked about “length of stay” of animals at the shelter and the board discussed what would happen to animal shelter equipment jointly acquired by the city for the shelter and county such as equipment law enforcement might use to transport animals to the shelter.
It appeared shelter policy itself would clarify some questions, rather than including specifics in a 28E agreement.
Laehn said he and city administrator Scott Peterson have been working on the agreement and it will be on next week’s agenda for approval by the board of supervisors.
The supervisors had previously supported allocating the animal shelter $15,000 per year. Chair John Muir confirmed the board continues to be “comfortable with a $15,000 a year contribution.”
Laehn said he and David Morain, Bell Tower Community Foundation, have talked about a 28E agreement between the county and the Foundation. Laehn asked for this agreement to be placed on the agenda for discussion at the Oct. 16 board of supervisor meeting.
Laehn also spoke to the board about victim restitution in cases where a judge has ordered victims of crimes be paid by the perpetrator of the crime. He said assistant county attorney Laura Snider has started working with the clerk of court to identify situations where victims have not been paid.
“Perpetrators could be found in contempt of court,” Laehn said, but the focus will be on getting payments started rather than on legal punishment.
Anyone entitled to victim restitution who is not receiving it is asked to contact Laehn’s office.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported on secondary roads projects including E-57, and he discussed possible funding sources for the courthouse HVAC system.
Mike Bierl, general assistance and veterans affairs coordinator, gave his quarterly report and reports were also given by the county auditor for passport fees and the county recorder. All reports were unanimously approved by the board.
Scott Peterson, Jefferson city administrator, gave his monthly report. Peterson said the new dog park is open and there will be no fees or permits needed for the rest of the year. Policies are being written for the park. He said street projects currently include work on Grimmell Rd south of Lincoln Way and the parking lot east of the post office.
He also said a hangar is under construction at the airport, and the wastewater treatment plant “will be going another year.” Flood regulations and flood plain ordinances have been updated and work on a housing project near the water tower has begun.
The board unanimously approved hiring Kathy Booth as fulltime assistant secretary for the Greene County sheriff’s office at a salary of $42,000 a year beginning Oct. 25.
Ryan Berven, Assured Partners, reported insurance benefits renewal information for 2024 to the board. Berven explained the county’s insurance coverage at length and recommended the county increase the deductible amount to $70,000 (for the county), which would then mean premiums would not increase.
Berven said costs for prescription drugs and genetic therapies have sky-rocketed.
“Health care is uncontrollable with little transparency,” he said.
The supervisors unanimously approved increasing the deductible amount to $70,000.
Attorney Laehn told the supervisors about “old books in the attic of historical value” and wondered if the museum might be interested.
He also said his office will be moving to Judge Ostlund’s old office in the courthouse this week and the move could “help persuade a judge to set up chambers here” by using space more efficiently.
