The Greene County Board of Supervisors met on Monday in regular session.
The majority of the meeting was discussing calling for a special election for a new county jail. Heidi Kuhl with Northland Securities said the cost estimate for the second attempt to pass a jail bond referendum would be just under $10 million. She said if the bond vote were to be successful, the county would add about $10 million to its debt service levy, which is about $8 million of its maximum $62 million capacity. Kuhl said currently, the debt service levy is $0.59 per $1,000 of taxable valuation for making the last installments of the $5 million for the career academy and the law enforcement center administration building, and the communication tower project for E-911 bonds.
The potential issuance of $10 million in general obligation bonds over a 19 year period, would add another $0.89 to the existing levy. Kuhl noted last time the bond vote was for $12 million and captured 57-percent approval, but to pass the approval needed to be 60-percent. The main changes to the jail facility were eliminating five cells and using a flat roof instead of a peaked roof. Following the discussion, the Board wanted to move forward with a resolution calling for the election on their August 28th meeting agenda for the election to be in November.
The Board also approved a Louis Dreyfus funding request for $2,500 for new filters for the Grand Junction Municipal Pool. Paula Hoskinson, with the Grand Junction Park and Recreation Committee told the Board the total amount that was needed was $8,200 and they requested $5,000 from Louis Dreyfus. The Board settled on $2,500 and wanted to be notified about the result of the other fundraising opportunities the committee was pursuing to possibly increase the amount from Louis Dreyfus.
The Board heard an update from Jefferson City Administrator Scott Peterson. He said Andy Rowland of Rowland Real Estate received workforce housing tax credits to pursue a proposed housing project at the Water Tower Subdivision. He pointed out there will be a pre-construction meeting this Friday for the airport hangar project. Peterson mentioned the dog park is close to opening at the animal shelter. The walking paths need to be installed and a fee will be established, with pet owners getting access if they have proof of their pet’s updated rabies vaccinations.
Finally, County Zoning and Environmental Administrator Chuck Wenthold said he followed up with the out of state vendor for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) that didn’t get setup in the county and was requesting a reimbursement of a vendor fee. Wenthold said the vendor was coming from Carroll the night before RAGBRAI went through Jefferson and didn’t make it in time to set up in Greene County. The Board decided not to reimburse the vendor.