The Greene County supervisors opened their Dec. 30 meeting with Tori Gettler of the auditor’s office administering the oath of office to supervisors John Muir, Pete Bardole and Joe Gannon, auditor Billie Jo Hoskins, and sheriff Jack Williams.
It was Gannon’s first time to take the oath, as he was elected in November to take the seat vacated by the retirement of Mick Burkett. He will join the board at the large, vintage desk at the Jan. 2 meeting.
It was Muir’s sixth time to take the oath, with the first being when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2006. Bardole took the oath for the third time, as did Williams. This is the first full term for Hoskins, as she was appointed following the resignation of longtime auditor Jane Heun in 2023, and then elected to the office in November.
Sheriff Jack Williams (pictured below) arrived after the meeting was called to order and took his oath of office during the meeting.
The supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding with the county auditor’s office obligating $1,761,000 in ARPA funds for use on the HVAC system at the courthouse. The funds needed to be obligated before Jan. 1, 2025, or be forfeited. County attorney Thomas Laehn told the supervisors it’s likely many counties and cities missed that deadline, as incorrect information was provided when the funds were first made available.
The supervisors listened to budget requests from two groups. Greene County public health director Shelby Cooklin made her first presentation to the board, having been promoted to that post with the retirement of longtime director Becky Wolf. The request was for $300,000, the same amount as the current fiscal year.
Rippey librarian Cara McCoy presented a request on behalf of the Greene County Librarians for an 8 percent increase for FY26, from $76,481 to $82,599. Each library would still receive $1,000, and the Library Association would receive $10,000. The total request is $98,599.
“The programs you put on are excellent. They’re well-designed and kids engage and have fun,” Muir told the librarians.
Hoskins presented a request from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services for $3,164.
The supervisors also approved a resolution commending Burkett for his 12 years as county supervisor.
County engineer Wade Weiss said he first worked with Burkett in 1993. Burkett was transportation director at East Greene at the time. After Burkett retired from East Greene he worked for the county secondary road department for a time. “It was a very pleasurable experience. Secondary roads appreciated Mick’s contributions, not only to our department, but more importantly for me … he was a great liaison for us (as a supervisor),” Weiss said.
