~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County board of supervisors during the regular board meeting Sept. 5 again spent considerable time hashing out policy for lighting of the courthouse façade and the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. The issues had been previously discussed and a decision tabled at the Aug. 28 meeting.
LED colored lighting has been installed which illuminates the full height of the tower and can be computer-controlled to light the tower with constantly changing random colors, a single color, or any combination of colors. The supervisors have been concerned over the perception that certain colors could be interpreted as messages or support for various ideas or organizations.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reminded the supervisors that light on the courthouse and tower must be chosen to “enhance the beauty of the courthouse square and enhance tourism.” Laehn also reminded the supervisors requests from outside groups for special lighting cannot be honored unless all requests from all groups are honored.
Representatives from the Bell Tower Community Foundation attended the meeting and spoke about the beauty of the randomly changing lights as observed by the public this past weekend. During open forum, Guy Richardson and Chris Durlam suggested daily colored lighting to attract tourism.
Chair John Muir said he had received an equal number of emails from the public either liking the decorative lighting or questioning whether the lighting would be compatible with the original intention of Floyd Mahanay.
Supervisor Pete Bardole, a member of the tower foundation, said, “The Mahanays left the tower to the County. New technology can add to it.”
“It’s to honor God and County,” supervisor Dan Benitz said.
The board discussed having white lights through the week and random lights on the weekends or having random lights all the time. One suggestion was to forget about using the multicolored lights that have just been installed and use only a green light to symbolize Greene County.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph said she has also received comments from the public asking about lighting requests for special days. Rudolph said the board should not be interested in or support lighting for special events as requested by the public.
Controversy erupted among board members with Bardole saying the board “should listen to the people we represent,” and Rudolph maintaining “we won’t do special requests.”
Muir said “the board can’t appear as weak” by changing a previously agreed upon policy.
Representatives of the tower foundation expressed irritation with the board of supervisors for not consulting the foundation or letting the foundation know when lighting issues were going to be discussed at meetings in the past.
Peg Raney, a tower foundation member, asked Benitz directly for his opinion.
Benitz said, “Stick with the policy.”
The policy Muir and Benitz referenced was a resolution first passed Dec. 2, 2019, that allows the display of holiday lights on the courthouse façade during the Christmas season. Subsequent resolutions were passed in 2021 and 2023 which expanded on this by allowing colored lights to be displayed on the tower “on all officially recognized county holidays.”
A resolution was presented to the board on Sept. 5 that would expand the previous resolutions: “That on all nights when holiday lights are not on display, the front façade of the Courthouse shall be illuminated with plain white lights and the exterior walls of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower shall be illuminated with randomly selected colored lights.”
Bardole moved to adopt the resolution but there was no second to his motion and the motion died. It appears the original lighting resolutions of 2019, 2021, and 2023 remain in effect.
In other business, a public hearing was held for the proposed sale of property at 907 N. Cedar St in Jefferson. No objections or additional offers were heard from the public and the board unanimously passed a resolution to sell the property for $100.00 plus unpaid taxes and assessments to Charles F. Heimer.
Heimer told the board he plans improvements to the property.
The board unanimously approved changing Jamie Brenner from full-time EMT to part-time EMT at a rate of $13.55 per hour effective Aug. 1, 2023.
Laehn reported a lull in criminal cases is allowing him to turn to other issues such as 28 E agreements with some townships for fire protection services through nearby communities.
Laehn also reported working with Mike Bierl on the General Assistance Policy concerning a revised appeal process.
Assistant county attorney Laura Snider is working on a victim restitution project, researching the past 10 years to see if crime victims have been paid their full court-ordered restitution by the perpetrators. Laehn urged the public to contact his office if anyone has restitution owed to them.
Engineer Wade Weiss updated the board on the E-57 road project and discussed concrete overlay compared to asphalt overlay. Weiss also said there could be one or two trees on the courthouse lawn that may need to be removed by secondary road crews.
IT/Drainage clerk Michelle Fields reported attending a tabletop exercise for election security which was also attended by sheriff Jack Williams and Tori Gettler from the auditor’s office.
Chuck Wenthold, environmental health coordinator, reported clean-up of a manure spill east of Cooper is almost finished and the property owner is working with DNR and an engineer to fix the leak.
