~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County supervisors asked hard questions when Jefferson city administrator Scott Peterson briefed them Jan. 8 on a proposed rental housing project.
Peterson told the supervisors KCG Development of Cincinnati has purchased the land south of Ace Hardware, planning a $14 million project of two buildings totaling 40-50 two- and three- bedroom apartment units for residents with low incomes.
“Rents will be set with two-thirds of the units renting at 60 percent of the set rent,” The city will need to rezone the property for the project to be started, Peterson said.
Peterson said KCG describes itself as the “eighth largest low-income developer in the nation.”
Board chair John Muir asked, “Do we have assets to address the needs, such as law enforcement?” and supervisor Dawn Rudolph said, “There is always an increase in budget requests for services (with increased population.)”
“Our office prosecutes (alleged criminal acts) and we can’t do much more without help,” assistant county attorney Laura Snider said.
Supervisor Dan Benitz expressed concern about “all the stuff that’s happening.”
“Can we manage it all?” he asked. “Will we have a surplus of housing?”
Muir added, “We have heard a lot of concerns about housing (from the public.) There are water problems south of Ace Hardware.”
Peterson also reported that property at 214 E. State Street, east of the theater, has been sold to Gregory Hacker who plans to operate the Courtyard on State Street Event Center. Peterson said Hacker has received a forgivable loan from the city.
Peterson said the former JC Penney store on the corner of Lincoln Way and Chestnut has been sold to Tim Heisterkamp who will renovate it and operate his Journey Financial business there.
He reported work will begin in early spring for the resurfacing of E. Lincoln Way from Locust Street to the cemetery. He said the highway could be widened by “a couple of feet.”
There will be an informational meeting about the project Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Milwaukee depot.
The board discussed a letter received from Mary Weaver, president of the Highway 144 Corridor Housing Initiative (144-CHI) reporting on accomplishments in 2023. Weaver wrote of donations received from Greene County, Greene County Development Corporation, Community State Bank, Home State Bank, Peoples Bank, Rolling Hills Bank, and the city councils from Paton, Grand Junction, and Rippey who donated 10 percent of their 2023 funding from Grow Greene County. Donations were also received from RAGBRAI riders during the ride in July.
Weaver reported total donations of $28,471.25 were received for 144-CHI to be used in granting money for individual renovation projects to housing exteriors along Highway 144. The purpose of the renovation projects is to make the corridor more inviting to prospective residents.
Weaver wrote 144-CHI board members will visit the four city councils along the corridor in January to request 10 percent of their Grow Greene County funding for 2024. Additionally, 144-CHI will be directly requesting funding from Grow Greene County for demolition of buildings.
Applications for projects will be available in city libraries.
Environmental health coordinator Chuck Wenthold reported receiving a letter from Marta Lasch, senior permitting specialist with National Grid Renewables who attended the meeting electronically, telling him Grand Junction Solar has been sold to Alliant Energy.
The board unanimously approved a Class B retail alcohol license for Paton Pit Stop effective Dec. 1, 2023, through Nov. 30, 2024.
The board also unanimously approved a construction manager at-risk request for qualifications by ISG for the construction of the Greene County jail.
Joey Wendinger from ISG attended the meeting electronically and outlined the process for selecting a manager through scored criteria for each applicant and a timeline for selection. Wendinger said six or seven people have already expressed interest in the job.
The quarterly reports from the recorder’s office and the auditor’s office were received by the board and unanimously approved. An ‘uptick’ in passport applications was noted.
The board discussed evaluation of county employees and noted employees can request closed sessions to discuss performance.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins told the board the budgets requested from outside entities have been heard and now budgets from the county departments should be submitted through the coming weeks.
Supervisor Pete Bardole commended the emergency response from Greene County to the tragedy at Perry High School last week in which a student was killed and others injured.
The supervisors began the meeting unanimously choosing Muir as board chair for 2024 and Rudolph as vice-chair/chair pro tem, continuing their positions from 2023.
Muir said he appreciated the trust placed in him as board chair.
Later in the meeting, the board passed a resolution setting courthouse office hours and designating holidays to be observed by county employees in 2024. Courthouse office hours will remain the same as in 2023: Mondays through Fridays, 8 am to 4:30 pm.
County holidays to be observed in 2024 will be: President’s Day (Monday, Feb. 19); Memorial Day (Monday, May 27); Independence Day (Thursday, July 4); Labor Day (Monday, Sept 2); Veteran’s Day (Monday, Nov. 11); Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29); Christmas (Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.)
