The Greene County board of supervisors planned at their Nov. 25 meeting to discuss the future of the county compensation board at their next meeting, Dec. 2.
The county compensation board recommends salaries for county elected officials. Senate File 2442, approved during the last legislative session, allows the supervisors in each county to decide whether to have a compensation board, as has been done for many years, or take upon themselves the responsibility of researching and determining wages themselves.
The supervisors would need to pass a resolution to establish a compensation board; if they do nothing, there will be no compensation. The compensation board typically meets in November or December. County attorney Thomas Laehn reminded the supervisors on Monday they need to make a decision soon.
The supervisors also heard an update on Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon dioxide pipeline.
The board approved a pledge supporting Iowa’s 5-year Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) with the overall vision of decreasing traffic fatalities to zero by 2030 and serious injuries by 2050. In approving the resolution, the county committed to implementing strategies that will assist road users with staying safe while driving, walking or riding in the county.
The supervisors approved the required resolution to appoint UMB Bank based in Kansas City, MO, to handle the bonds sold last week to finance construction of the new jail. They next approved the required resolution to authorize issuing $10 million in general obligation capital loan notes and to levy a tax to pay the debt.
Greene County voters approved the bond issue in November 2023. The effective tax rate to pay off the bonds is 7.3 cents (per $1,000 of taxable valuation).
