Greene County Development Corporation will work to build a western Iowa tourism mecca, the Greene County Schools board is considering an April 4 bond referendum, and the Chamber board is viable and looking for help. Those were the messages delivered to about 35 persons who attended a town hall meeting hosted by GCDC at the Greene County Community Center Monday.
GCDC director Ken Paxton spoke first. He recapped the workforce housing study completed last summer and announced that a housing committee will hold its first meeting this Wednesday with specific goals of formulating incentives for housing developers, formulating incentives for home buyers, and determining how best to publicize those incentives regionally.
Paxton then shared his plan to make Greene County “the tourist destination of western Iowa.” According to Paxton, a waterpark, a youth sports complex and a covered arena at the fairgrounds, added to the tourism assets already in the county, would draw people from all over western Iowa.
In talking about the Jefferson downtown business district, Paxton said the New Hope Bargain Shoppe opening in the former Ben Franklin store will be “a wonderful addition to our retail community.” He said that GCDC is moving forward in an effort to put “co-op retailing” in the vacant Hy-Vee Drugstore location across from the bell tower. A non-profit corporation would be formed to own the building and small retailers would rent space in the building.
Greene County school superintendent Tim Christensen told the audience that after much discussion, the school board is “strongly considering” a bond referendum on April 4.
Christensen said the board hopes to have community meetings to ask what additional information voters need in order to vote ‘yes’, and what adjustments to the project could be made to encourage people to vote ‘yes’. He stressed that the board cannot decide to hold an election; that must be done via a petition signed by voters.
He also explained the budget issues the board is facing since the certified enrollment was determined Oct. 15. Enrollment has declined by 50 students compared to the last school year, which will decrease state funding by $360,000. He said that since 1992, Jefferson-Scranton, East Greene, and now Greene County schools have lost 500 students. “That is rural Iowa… when we have conversations about bringing people to Greene County, the need is real,” he said.
Christensen has recommended to the school board that the Intermediate School in Grand Junction be closed at the end of this school year; that the board move forward with an addition to the elementary building so that building has space for grades pre-kindergarten through fourth; and grades 5-6 be moved to the middle school. That move could require a portable building. Annual savings would be $300,000-plus, he said.
The board will have a special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 pm at the Intermediate School music room. Public comments will be heard and a decision will be made.
Tori Riley, Greene County Chamber of Commerce board secretary, updated the audience on upcoming promotions – Trick-or-Treat Around the Square on Oct. 27; the annual Browse Days Nov. 10, 11 and 12; Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26; and the Christmas Certificate give-away.
The business improvement committee is hosting “A Quick Look at QuickBooks” in two sessions on Nov. 10. The committee plans to use the Small Business Development Center of Fort Dodge as a resource for other educational seminars.
Riley then spoke of concerns about the Chamber’s viability that were raised by Chamber director Roccie Hill. Hill assumed the position Sept. 1 and resigned Oct 12, saying the board is not viable and was unable to pay her.
According to Riley, Hill had seen the annual budget but not cash flow statements before arriving in Jefferson. The Chamber’s cash flow in early October was “admittedly scary,” Riley said. The majority of the Chamber’s income is from membership dues paid early in the year, and the Chamber operates like a seasonal business. The Chamber relies on reimbursements of tourism-related expenses from the hotel/motel tax fund to get through the end of the year, she explained. That reimbursement was held up as the Chamber worked through implementation of the city council’s new three-tiered distribution policy.
A committee of city staff, city council members, and Chamber members worked through documentation on Friday and reimbursements were approved. “The Chamber board appreciates the city’s willingness to work through the process,” Riley said.
With those reimbursements, the Chamber will meet all expenses, Riley said.
In light of Hill’s resignations and her comments, the board is looking at the direction of the Chamber, discussing how to foster thriving relationships, how to support tourism-related businesses and others that don’t directly benefit from tourism, and finances.
“Our Chamber has been around for eight decades. During that time, there have no doubt been easy times and more challenging times, but the Chamber has continued and will continue to serve members by building the community in which we do business,” Riley said.
She invited all current members, past members, and anyone who would like to join as an individual member “to be on the team that tackles the challenges we’re facing.”
Other speakers shared little information that has not been previously reported.
Matt Ott of MidAmerican Energy described the Beaver Creek Windpark, slated for construction in the eastern portion of the county, north of Highway 30, next summer. Work on securing easements is going well and at this time the 85-turbine project is a “go.” Information on the windpark has been reported previously.
Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer provided an update on the downtown façade restoration project funded by a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant, $250,000 from the city of Jefferson, and another $250,000 to be paid by the building owners. He showed renderings of what some of the buildings will look like when they’re finished. Construction will take place next summer.
