~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors at the Dec. 19 meeting adopted a finance plan presented by Heidi Kuhl representing Northland Securities to finance the acquisition and installation of peace officer communication equipment and other emergency services communication equipment and systems, including towers and radios for essential county purposes, and to pay associated costs.
The finance plan calls for the issuance of $3.3 million in general obligation capital loan notes, Series 2023A.
Kuhl gave the supervisors copies of the county’s preliminary official statement regarding the offering of the notes for sale.
“Things are going along just as planned,” Kuhl said. She said the County has an AA- credit rating which is very good.
The supervisors approved a resolution approving the distribution of the preliminary statement, the next step in issuing the bonds.
All supervisors present voted in favor of the resolution. Supervisor Dawn Rudolph was absent.
The supervisors also approved a general service agreement with Boone/Greene County Probation to begin a community services program in Greene County.
Diane Hinderaker, director of the program, attended the meeting by Zoom. She said Greene County will be charged $21,134 for the adult probation service program and $14,477 for the adult/youth community service program.
Kelley McCane of Jefferson was hired as the coordinator for community service in Greene County.
“We already have sites interested (in having probationers work,)” Hinderaker said. “We appreciate the courthouse sharing office space.”
Hinderaker said McCane’s office will be on the main floor of the courthouse. County attorney Thomas Laehn assured the supervisors there will be no clients in the courthouse outside of regular business hours.
County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen presented her updated treasurer investment policy to the board. She said her plan is to continue to invest in certificates of deposit “to earn the highest possible rates for county funds.”
The board approved a resolution adopting the 2022 Greene County Investment Policy. The resolution gives investment authority to the county treasurer and recognizes Mechaelsen has made revisions to the investment policy “to ensure the policy is consistent with contemporary best practices.”
Five agencies presented reports to the supervisors and made funding requests for FY24: Region XII Transit; Greene County Development Corp; Greene County public health; Elderserve II; and The Children’s Center, formerly Greene County Early Learning Center.
Rick Hunsaker, executive director, and Matt Cleveland, transit director, represented Region XII Council of Governments and told the board membership fees for FY24 will be $.94 per capita, which totals $8,244.74 for Greene County.
Funding for transit services will be $.57 per capita, for a total of $4,999.47. Capital match remains at $.03 per mile using a Region XII vehicle and is estimated at a total of $150.
Hunsaker requested the county match $10,000 from the Local Housing Trust Fund to help very low-income people with housing.
Region XII also requested the second half of a $50,000 match for the new revolving loan fund. This would be $25,000.
Sid Jones and Ken Paxton represented GCDC and requested $50,000 for FY24.
“We were misled on the USDA grant applications to fund Nueva Vida, the Diversity Project,” Jones said. “There were lessons learned.”
Jones said the USDA management of the grants did not handle applications well and 180 applicants of 183 did not receive funding. GCDC did not receive a grant.
Paxton and Jones said Nueva Vida began as a way to provide employers with employees and it still remains a goal.
They said housing is a priority since “30 percent of the workforce is living outside the county.”
The concept of 3D housing was presented as being more economical to design, build, and afford with maintenance and utilities being less and an emphasis on safety in disasters. Designs for multi-generational families are affordable.
There are developers interested in possible Greene County housing projects, Jones and Paxton said.
They reported the Aureon building in Jefferson is vacant and there are “cubicles available.”
“Everyone is working from home,” Paxton said.
He said a ministry firm in Springfield, IL, is interested in the Aureon building. He said they represent a variety of denominations and are looking for a warehouse.
Becky Wolf, Greene County public health director, presented an annual report to the board and requested $300,000 for FY24, the same amount as FY23.
Wolf said the county is moving into “some form of normalcy” after the pandemic but Covid, influenza, and RSV are causing continued problems. She reported a total of 27 county residents have died from Covid.
She described public health programs for prevention of dementia, community health assessment, and the Healthy Rides transportation program.
Bill Allen and Linda Ross of Elderserve II, congregate meals, updated the board on programs and requested $11,000 funding for FY24.
Allen and Ross said the total meals served per month has increased by 200 meals. They said there is definite need in the communities for the service and gifts and donations have increased as people became aware of the need.
They said meals are taken to Churdan, Grand Junction, and Scranton as well as four routes in Jefferson. Meals are also served at the Greenewood Community Center.
Allen spoke of a possible “adopt a senior” program in which donations of $25 a week would cover the cost of meals for one person. Additionally, Grow Greene County has awarded $5,000 to the group.
“This is saving lives,” board chair John Muir said.
“You’re doing a wonderful job,” added supervisor Tom Contner.
Muir told Allen and Ross a 28E agreement will be necessary for all non-profits.
Cherie Cerveny, director of The Children’s Center, and board co-chair Bill Monroe updated the board about the program and building and requested $5,000 funding for FY24.
Cerveny reported capacity in the new building is at 60 percent. She said total capacity is 148 children, beginning at age 2 weeks and continuing into school-aged children.
“We want to be called the Children’s Center now,” Cerveny said, explaining that after 17 years as the Early Learning Center and with a new building, the change in name is desired.
Muir said he has toured the facility and he praised the program and facility as an exceptional asset to the county and children.
No action on the funding requests was taken by the board
In other business, engineer Wade Weiss reported Chris Durlam would like to order lights for the exterior of the Bell Tower. The cost is estimated at $15,000.
Supervisor Pete Bardole, board representative to the Bell Tower Community Foundation, said the foundation would like the colored light upgrade and is willing to pay for it.
Weiss also discussed the county opting into a new all-system overweight permit for county bridges in the state backed by Gov Kim Reynolds.
