~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
At their meeting on Feb. 1, the Greene County board of supervisors continued discussion of FY2025 funding requests received from Greene County Development Corporation. At previous meetings, board members discussed concern over how GCDC has spent money allocated to it in the past and whether current proposed projects are the best use of county money.
Controversy surrounds GCDC proposals to give land to a developer for the construction of low-income housing in Jefferson and a proposed Multi-Cultural Family Resource Center, in collaboration with the Greene County Community Schools, to help assist families of other cultures coming into the county.
The board received a letter from Greene County Gaming Corporation supporting GCDC and encouraging the supervisors to fund GCDC for FY2025 in the amounts requested.
The letter unleashed a brisk discussion among board members.
“Over the years, people have come in like conmen and taken (GCDC) money and run,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said. “There hasn’t been much of a return (on the investment.)”
Rudolph was referring to GCDC paying consultants in past years for programs and services that did not materialize or were not successful.
“How much land are they giving away?” she asked. “The biggest complaint I’ve heard from the public is this is being funded by tax dollars (if supervisors fund GCDC.)”
“I don’t agree with the location,” chair John Muir said, referring to the housing development proposal.
Supervisor Dan Benitz said, “It will end up a ghetto.”
Supervisor Pete Bardole, board representative for GCDC, cautioned everyone to “be realistic.”
“Grow Greene gives GCDC money,” Rudolph said, possibly suggesting GCDC could receive money from other sources.
“The economic development world needs optimism,” Muir said in defense of GCDC spending money in hope of finding projects that might work.
Discussion turned to the Multi-Cultural Family Resource Center.
“I’m not for it,” said Benitz. “I’m upset about the whole immigration thing.”
Bardole explained the project would help people “from anywhere to assimilate into Jefferson.”
“Perry said a center would have helped,” Bardole said. “They (new residents) are coming and will be coming.”
“I’m upset about the whole thing down South,” Benitz said, referring to people crossing the southern US border illegally.
Supervisor Mick Burkett asked what percentage of children in school would use a multi-cultural center. There was no information available.
Bardole said, “Teachers could stop spending 25 percent of their time dealing with things instead of teaching (if there was a center.)”
Muir said, “it could be proactive in some way if managed right.”
Rudolph, Benitz, and Burkett stated they were not in favor of funding a multi-cultural center.
“I’d like to see a program working before we fund it,” Burkett said.
A decision on county funding for GCDC for FY2025 will not be made until the budget is finalized by the board.
County attorney Thomas Laehn updated the board on an alleged abduction of a child last week by a non-custodial parent from school. Laehn said the child is safe, the parent is in custody and will be charged with kidnapping in the second degree.
Laehn commended law enforcement for a speedy response to the school’s report and he named Jefferson police chief Mark Clouse, Jefferson police captain Jason Kroeger, and Jefferson police officer Mark Wolterman for special recognition.
“Things worked the way they were supposed to (in the emergency.)” Laehn said. “The DCI and State Patrol set up a command center, also.”
Environmental health coordinator Chuck Wenthold gave the board a press release describing a new carbon-capture partnership between POET and Summit Carbon Solutions. The board discussed the status of eminent domain pertaining to Greene County land and the path of the proposed carbon capture pipeline.
“This board is opposed to the use of eminent domain,” Laehn said, “and we will need an agreement (with the new partnership) to protect drainage.”
In other business, the board heard FY2025 budget requests from environmental health and zoning, drainage and data processing, human services, and non-departmental budgets including the Law Enforcement Center and general fund items.
Chuck Wenthold requested $91,153 for FY2025, an increase of almost $10,000 over FY2024. He said costs of well-closing and well-testing have increased and the total increase includes 4 percent increase in wages. Wenthold said total revenues could increase from $30,000 to $40,000.
Wenthold said he has processed 18 septic permits, 14 well permits, seven well pluggings, and 92 water tests over the past 18 months.
Drainage clerk Michelle Fields presented a FY2025 budget for drainage of $44,498. The FY2024 budget was $43,618. The data budget (IT) decreased due to less expense for information technology services, office equipment, and telephone. The total budget decreased from $254,422 in FY2024 to $235,256 for FY2025.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins requested $3,664 for FY2025 for human services, the same as FY2024.
The board discussed non-departmental budgets, requests, and the complicated nature of parts of the Law Enforcement Center budget with its reimbursements and various funding sources.
The board agreed to have further discussion of Dreyfus finding and other sources of funding for non-profits in the county before deciding on funding requests.
The board took no action on any budget requests.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported two back-ordered maintainers have been delivered.
The board held a short meeting on Monday, Feb. 5, and discussed FY2025 budget funding requests from the Greene County librarians. The original request was for an 8 percent increase in the base amount.
After discussion of how much towns might be contributing to the library programs, the board informally agreed to a 4 percent increase.
Bardole said, “We’ve never gotten a good answer to what the towns are contributing. They should be able to come up with a number about what the towns are contributing.”
Final approval will be given when the complete county budget is approved.
The board unanimously accepted the retirement of Maralie Ruth effective July 2, 2024.
Chair Muir expressed thanks for her 25 years of service and said a recognition will be held nearer to her last day.
