The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.
The Board had a lengthy discussion about a proposed plan for a county-wide housing program with Terry Lutes and Zach Mannheimer of McClure Engineering. They proposed a three-phase process to develop a self-sustaining, multi-million dollar program for housing projects in the county. The total cost of the plan, including policy development, financial models and implementation, ranges from $80,000 to $111,000. Lutes and Mannheimer said they are in negotiations with the Iowa Finance Authority to allow for a $100,000, three-year loan to help offset the cost of the program. The Board decided to look at additional options before making a decision on the proposal.
The Board then heard two funding requests for the 2019 fiscal year from Jefferson Congregate Meals for $12,000 and the Greene County Libraries Association for a three-percent increase in the base funding request, along with $1,000 per county library, a $50 increase in the movie license funding and a $650 increase for the association’s cooperative fund. Chair John Muir talks about the funding requests they get from organizations that don’t have a main source of funding for the year.
“Most of them have no other source of good funding. We’re under no obligation, but we look at the services they provide for the citizens, a lot of them. If there’s a void there that’s not filled by a governmental service, we appreciate the work that they do and think that it’s important to be provided.”
The Board took no action on either request.
During open forum, Assistant County Attorney Thomas Laehn addressed the Board. He said he reviewed the proposed 28E agreement for the cities in the county to financially participate in the operation of a new animal shelter. He recommended minor changes to the agreement, so it would line up with state code. He also mentioned that the defense attorney for James Exline has requested a continuation for the sexual abuse trial that is scheduled to start on January 22nd.
The Board also heard an update from Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer. He talked about the final steps of the Community Development Block Grant, with “punch list” items left before the project is completely finished. The City is also still waiting to hear back from Pizza Ranch Corporate, before the City decides to head in another direction with the former Pizza Ranch building on Wilson Avenue.
The Board then approved the County Recorder’s report of fees for December of $9,872 and the County Auditor’s quarterly passport report of $20,632 as presented.