Greene County attorney Thomas Laehn told the county supervisors at their June 3 meeting that the county is “really ahead of the game” on courthouse security. That was the word following a meeting with Chief Judge Adria Kester last week.
He said Greene County stands out in Judicial District 5B as having good security in place.
He went on to explain that Court Administration is now asking counties to participate in annual surveys that include questions about courthouse security committees. Laehn advised the security committee meet to begin “an ongoing process of continually evaluating our security and making updates.”
Greene County engineer Wade Weiss reported that during removal of a tree on the courthouse grounds last week, an “avoidable accident” occurred. “No one got hurt, but we did damage the sidewalk. That has prompted him to do a “reset as to how our operation is going to work in the future.”
He said secondary roads employees haven’t worn short pants since 1994, “but we’re doing a reset as far as uniform, most importantly steel-toed boots.”
The sidewalk damage will not be repaired before the Bell Tower Festival, but Weiss said it will not be a safety issue.
Supervisor Dan Benitz reported attending a meeting of the New Opportunities board last week. He said he asked about the organization’s use of opioid funds. The program supervisor was at the meeting, and Benitz was satisfied that there is documentation of how funds are used. “Now he knows somebody’s watching,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said.
“He wasn’t very happy with me when I asked the question,” Benitz said, then added, “they try.”
The county approved a subcontract with the Greene County board of health for private well testing. The contract is needed because the board of health is the recipient of the state grant funding for well closure.
Going out of agenda order, Bryan Helmus spoke to the board about the “Barbie by the Bells” display at Sensibly Chic. He said he had low expectations and went to the display grudgingly, but found himself “gobsmacked by the professional quality of the display and the creativity of the people of Jefferson.”
He said he felt “magically transported into a world of beauty” when he walked into Sensibly Chic.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins mentioned needed maintenance on outside plantings surrounding the courthouse, noting that plantings have gotten overgrown. The supervisors, Weiss and Hoskins brainstormed what can be done easily and who might help.
