The Greene County Board of Supervisors met yesterday in regular session.
Vice-Chair Guy Richardson reported to the Board that the meeting of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Board on Thursday went well. He told the Board that Greene County’s application for a license must be in by January 6th but that the Commission won’t look at their application until some time in the spring.
County Conservation Director Dan Towers reported to the Board that Federal Emergency Management Agency money has come in to help their with projects from the Memorial Day floods. He said that FEMA approved $93,860 to rebuild parts of the bridge on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and $14,800 for a wetland and dike wash out in Willow Township.
The Supervisors approved the County Recorder’s report of fees for September of $10,201.46 and $2,230 came from real estate mortgages.
Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer gave his quarterly update. He talked Hy-Vee. He said that demolition of all the properties is wrapping up and water main improvement projects are set to begin soon. He also reported that some foundation from the Pink School Building was left in the ground and so that will be removed and white rock will be put down and settled before construction of the facility begins in the spring.
He discussed with the Board about a new housing program they are starting up. The first house they bought as a test run house for the program is at 507 South Locust Street. Palmer said the City has been working with Region XII Council of Governments for the financing side of the program and once the asbestos is removed, then demolition can begin.
He then reported that the Clark Street project has been pushed back until next year and there is a zoning change to allow parts of what the casino will have to be zoned as light industrial and not commercial.
The other main topic was about the animal shelter. Palmer said the floor plans have been made and a conceptual drawing has been done by Tri-County Lumber and now it’s up to getting regulations passed through with the Federal Aviation Administration before bids can go out for the construction process of the new facility.
Greene County Chamber and Development Executive Director Ken Paxton gave an economic development report to the Board. He said his focus for his job will be on economic development for the county. Along with making site selector trips to try and get national companies to expand their businesses to Greene County, he said that Western Iowa Advantage will be at Homestead Coffee and Bakery in Jefferson in the next couple of weeks finalizing their business class restaurant which he would like to see open by Christmas time.
Chris Henning with the Greene County Chamber gave her quarterly update. She said that there was 18 events that the Chamber assisted with during this past summer and that her responsibility will be focused on the chamber on an interim basis. She also announced that she will be past-president of Jefferson Matters: Main Street Board and that Jamie Dubendiek will be the new president.
During the public hearing, there were two properties for sale through the county with one in Grand Junction and one in Scranton. The Board approved to sale the Grand Junction property to a private citizen for $200 and the City of Scranton was awarded the other property.
The Supervisors then approved its part as an applicant for the Watershed Improvement Project grant with Midwest Partnership for help with funding for Scranton Manufacturing’s retention pond project. Executive Director Chad Schreck said the City of Scranton was going to pay $15,500 to help clear out the ditches for the project. After the approval, the Supervisors agreed that they would give $10,000 toward the $290,000 project with a projected $170,000 to be covered by the grant which the application is due today.