Work on the new bridge on Grimmell Rd over the Raccoon River west of Jefferson has stopped for the year. Greene County engineer Wade Weiss told the county supervisors at their Dec. 16 meeting that work will begin again in late February or early March, weather permitting. Completion is expected during the fall of 2025. The bridge is a joint project of the county and the city of Jefferson.
In other bridge-related business, the supervisors approved the final plans for a joint bridge replacement project with Carroll County on Apple Ave in Kendrick Township. Weiss said the existing bridge was constructed in 1964 using wood pilings expected to last 25-30 years.
Cost of the bridge is $886,000, with Carroll and Greene County sharing the cost. Federal bridge funds will also be used.
During the open forum Mary Weaver, Alan Robinson and Derrick Kennedy reported on the activities of the 144 Corridor Housing Initiative (CHI). Kennedy reported that during the past year CHI funds have been used for 21 projects in Grand Junction, three in Rippey, and two in Paton. He said CHI information is included with utility bills in Grand Junction, and credited that with the increased participation there.
The 144 CHI has received $5,000 from the county’s Louis Dreyfus fund the past two years and will receive that amount in FY26 as well. The city councils in Paton, Dana, Grand Junction and Rippey have pledged to give the CHI 10 percent of the funds received from Grow Greene County.
Supervisor Pete Bardole, who serves ex officio on the Bell Tower Community Foundation board, reported that Pat Richards is retiring as bell tower tour guide supervisor.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins reported bids for construction of the new jail will go out this week, with bids due Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 2 pm. The supervisors must meet that day to accept the bids.
The supervisors heard four budget requests for Fiscal Year 2026.
Doug Hawn, Greene County Fair board secretary, said that board’s request is for $24,000, the same as the current year. He said Clover Hall continues to see good, year-round usage, and that between now and September there are only three weekends Clover Hall isn’t reserved.
He digressed to his role on the E911 Service board to report that the new communications tower at Seven Hills Park will be online within a week and that the state system should be fully functional in the next two weeks. Once the number of radios needed for the various fire departments are determined, radios will go into all emergency vehicles. Hawn also reported the Greene County and Paton-Churdan schools are already using the tower for their radio communications.
Rick Hunsaker presented the budget request for Region XII Council of Governments. Dues for counties are set by the Region XII executive board. Membership dues for FY26 will be 96 cents per capita, up 1 cent, totaling $8,400. The county also pays Region XII for transit service; that cost will also go up 1 cent to 59 cents per capita, with $150 toward a new vehicle. The county is asked to pay $10,000 into the Local Housing Trust Fund. Total budget ask for Region XII is $23,595.
Scott Weber, president of Greene County Development Corporation, requested $50,000 for that organization. The county had provided GCDC that amount for several years prior to the current year. The allocation was decreased to $40,000 for the current year as some supervisors expressed skepticism about how the money was being used. “We promised last year we would do better, and I can stand up here and say we have,” Weber said.
Ann Vogelbacher, director of Central Iowa Tourism Region, requested $400 for advertising expense on behalf of the county. The request has not changed the last several years.
No action was taken. The requests are informational as the supervisors work to formulate next year’s budget.
