~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
During the April 29 Greene County board of supervisors meeting, Supervisor Dan Benitz revealed conditions at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention facility located at Eldora. Both male and female youthful offenders are sent to that program through court order for rehabilitation. CIJD is described on their website as a social services agency that contracts with the State of Iowa.
Benitz sits on the CIJD board as a representative of the Greene County board of supervisors and attends regular meetings, reporting to the supervisors. He said Greene County pays over $34,000 per year for detention services for juvenile delinquents in that program and there are currently two youth from the county living there.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph asked Benitz about whether the program seemed “staffed appropriately.”
“There’s a high turn-over in staff because (youth) throw urine and feces at staff daily. It’s crazy,” Benitz answered.
County auditor Billie Jo Hoskins said the county pays $150 per day per youth in the program.
Benitz said youth were, in general, staying in the program “for longer times for more serious crimes.”
The supervisors also heard a report from Phil Heisterkamp about the Bell Tower Festival to be held in June.
Heisterkamp said the courthouse plaza has been reserved with county auditor Hoskins and there will be bands Friday and Saturday nights. He said Thursday night will be a free family fun night with a movie on the Square.
Rudolph asked about licensing for the movie and Heisterkamp said the (Jefferson public) library would transfer their license. Rudolph cautioned about proper licensure.
Heisterkamp asked if the sound system around the Square could be set to play during non-concert hours only and chair John Muir said he thought a schedule could be worked out.
Heisterkamp described a new activity for the Festival called the Tower Toss, designed to bring the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower into the celebration.
“People can enter with a receipt from a purchase made in Greene County,” Heisterkamp said. “Then they can throw something at a target in the street (after being lifted to a height by a scaffold.)”
The supervisors discussed the liability involved in lifting people up to throw things. Heisterkamp said there had been some discussion in committee of people tossing things off the top of the tower, but that idea had been rejected.
Engineer Wade Weiss reported on road repairs and construction in the county. He also updated the supervisors on the Bell Tower door repairs to make the Tower accessible to people with handicaps.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reported a jury trial is scheduled for May 14.
Doug Hawn, representing the Greene County Fair Association, requested $5,000 in Louis Dreyfus funding to help construct additional sheep pens in the sheep and goat barn at the county fairgrounds.
“There are 11-12 new sheep families,” said Hawn, referring to families showing sheep at the county fair.
He described planned help from the Greene County High School shop classes to build parts of the pens and assistance from John Deere and Bauer Manufacturing in Paton with painting. Hawn said the total cost of the project would be about $12,000.
Auditor Hoskins advised the supervisors there is $8,300 left in this fiscal year for Dreyfus funding. The board was in general agreement sheep pens would be a worthy project and the request will be added to the agenda for next Monday’s meeting.
All supervisors were present except Pete Bardole, who was reportedly out of town on county business.
