Sheriff says county is not a sanctuary county for undocumented immigrants
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The proposed Multi-Cultural Family Resource Center was again discussed by the Greene County board of supervisors at the meeting on Jan. 18. Details about the Center, to be located in the Greene County Community High School building, and a director position for the program had been presented to the board by Greene County Development Corporation at the previous meeting.
During open forum, Margaret Saddoris, property owner in Greene County, asked the board not to use county tax dollars to help fund the project.
“The funding for this is being driven by the banks,” Saddoris said. “They’re being pushed by the Federal Reserve to support immigration.”
Supervisor Pete Bardole, board representative to GCDC, told the board the school system needs this program to help students be successful.
Bardole spoke about the original need for workers to come to Greene County to fill open jobs resulting in need for housing. He said the Multicultural Center would give language and academic support for children of new residents.
As GCDC’s plans for economic development of the county have unfolded, public opinion has been divided, especially on whether housing is needed, how much housing should be built, and the type of housing. Increase in the need for county services as the population is estimated to increase has also been of concern to the board.
Board chair John Muir said, “We’re aware this is a controversial topic. Some of it isn’t in our wheelhouse. (Things like) housing are not our responsibility except as we represent the taxpayers. We don’t have a lot of homelessness here.”
“The school system is what I’m concerned about, if they need it,” Muir said. “But if it’s a school need, it’s not the county.”
In a related concern, sheriff Jack Williams told the board he has seen or heard of comments on social media identifying Greene County as a sanctuary county, meaning a county that does not cooperate with the federal government to enforce immigration laws.
Williams told the board Greene County is not a sanctuary county.
County attorney Thomas Laehn updated the board on a third person convicted of stealing an ATM at Wild Rose Casino. The first two were sent to prison but the third was given probation. When the State revoked probation, the person fled to California.
“This person is now in custody in Greene County. We do bring people back, even though it’s expensive,” Laehn said. “Otherwise (fleeing) is a get-out-of-jail card.”
Laehn also said his office appreciates the renovations to his office and the magistrate’s courtroom.
“We have the nicest magistrate’s courtroom in the state,” he said.
In presenting his budget request for FY2025, Laehn estimated expenses at $412,777.79 and revenue at $42,000 compared with $403,939.92 and $42,000 for the previous year. He said the 2.19 percent increase in expenditures is due to salary and benefits increase which is beyond his control.
“If those are excluded,” he said, “I’m actually requesting a $5,200 reduction in my budget.”
He noted a “gradual decrease in expenses where justified” by dropping a fax and a phone line, but also an increase in need for expert witnesses and translators for testimony.
Williams presented supervisors the FY2025 Joint Entity Board budget with a request for $168,000, up from $162,000. He said the increase is due to drain tile repairs needed in the basement of the Law Enforcement Center.
Michelle Madsen, ambulance director, presented a FY2025 budget request for $821,933. Madsen said the increase over the previous year is due to increased cost of medications and to salary increases. Review of Madsen’s salary was tabled until after a performance review.
The board discussed a tuition program for potential employees who would like to become EMTs or paramedics.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins presented FY2025 budgets for the auditor’s office and the elections. She discussed the allocations of salaries to each office and the division of equipment use. She estimated total FY2025 expenditures at $313,138, a decrease from $380,713 in FY2024.
The board briefly reviewed the general services budget for FY2025 but needed more information on a performance review and on expenses for the HVAC system. Expense for maintenance and repair of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower was estimated at $10,000.
Bardole complimented Engineer Wade Weiss and the roads department on quick response to recent snowstorms.
