~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County board of supervisors unanimously approved the temporary suspension of all music from the bell tower except quarterly chimes at their meeting on Jan 21. Chair John Muir introduced the motion saying, “The art policy didn’t include everything it should have (in regard to the music at the Tower.)” “This temporary move might…
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State treasurer provides snapshot of counties’, cities’, and schools’ debt
State treasurer Michael Fitzgerald reported Jan. 20 that Iowa outstanding debt obligations for state and local governments totaled $17.9 billion as of June 30, 2020, a 4.77 percent increase from fiscal year 2019. “This is similar to the increase we saw last year,” said Fitzgerald. “With interest rates this low, public units are borrowing money to pay for capital projects…
Read More2021 Bell Tower of Fame Award nomination deadline nears
When the Bell Tower of Fame Award began, “There were those in our community who thought we would surely run out of people to honor. Surprise! Thanks to the efforts of many nominators, the honorees’ accomplishments have spanned the globe,” says Carole Custer, past chair of the Bell Tower Festival and chair of the selection committee. The award has honored…
Read MoreSupes to discuss silencing the bell tower until policies are put in place
The Greene County board of supervisors’ agenda for the Thursday meeting, posted Tuesday, was amended at 8:30 Wednesday morning. Added to the agenda is consideration of temporary suspension of all music from the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower (except the quarterly chimes) until policies governing the playing of music are established.
Read MorePatriotic bell music will mark presidential inauguration
Patriotic music will play from the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower Wednesday, Inauguration Day, at 12:15 pm. Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain’s playlist will include “The National Anthem,” “America, the Beautiful,” “America,” “This Land Is Your Land,” and “God Bless America”. The Greene County Democrat central committee was told Tuesday mid-day that their request for patriotic music would be granted after initially…
Read More‘People’s Inauguration’ set for Thursday
All interested persons are invited to participate in a “People’s Inauguration” Thursday, Jan. 21, at 12:15 pm on the south side of the courthouse in Jefferson. The event, which will be mirrored across the nation, will be an opportunity “to renew our spirits and recommit to our core values,” wrote Sikh activist, author and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project…
Read MoreSupes change their tune on bell tower music
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County supervisors changed their tune about music from the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower at their regular meeting Monday. In a sudden and complete reversal from what they said just four days earlier, the supervisors and county attorney Thomas Laehn decided at their meeting on Jan 18 that the Public Art policy is in…
Read MoreApplications for Community Foundation grants being accepted now
Grant deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 10 Applications for the 2021 grant cycle of the Greene County Community Foundation are now available from the Foundation’s new website. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, gaming revenues were lessened this year and the amount allotted for grants by the Foundation will be reduced. Funds to be distributed are allocated by Grow Greene County Gaming…
Read MoreJeff council to continue recording, live streaming meetings
Jefferson city council members by a unanimous vote at their Jan. 12 regular meeting committed the council to transparency for the coming year. The public will not only have the access to meetings mandate in Iowa’s open meetings law, but access will be provided to remote attendees. The council accepted a proposal from local business Sebourn Video Services (SVS) to…
Read MoreMask mandate extended; supes nix patriotic bell tower music on Inauguration Day
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline Greene County residents and others who are in the county are being asked to continue wearing face masks through March 31. The board of supervisors at its Jan. 14 meeting unanimously approved a resolution to extend the mandated wearing of face coverings in Greene County from Jan 15 through March 31, 2021 due to the…
Read MoreCounty set to repair river bridge on bike trail
Discussion of extending mask mandate set for Thursday ~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline At their regular meeting Jan. 11, the Greene County board of supervisors approved final plans and specifications for the Raccoon River Valley Trail bridge repair project which has been in the works since the bridge, located 2.5 miles south of the Jefferson depot, was damaged in March…
Read MoreJeff council ready to pay a share of the animal shelter
Public support, a planned expansion of the Jefferson wastewater treatment plant, and an upcoming bond issue are lining up to make a new animal shelter a reality. Although it wasn’t on the agenda for the Jefferson city council’s Jan. 12 meeting, the council by consensus agreed to move forward with a bond issue of approximately $500,000 for a new animal…
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