The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.

During reports, County Attorney Thomas Laehn addressed the Board. He said he was in favor of the eminent domain bill that passed the Iowa Legislature, House File 639. He talked about some of the details of the bill and how companies like Summit Carbon Solutions could not use eminent domain for their proposed underground carbon dioxide pipeline project. Laehn stressed that the legislation would apply to both Summit’s first and second phases. He also said that his office has 56 indictable cases pending, which he credits to the work of law enforcement and sending repeat offenders to prison. 

Supervisor Vice Chair Dawn Rudolph brought up the thoughts from the Paton-Churdan Early Learning Center Board and conveyed to the Supervisors about trying to get a dollar figure commitment for their renovation project that they can include on a grant application for a Community Development Block Grant through Region XII Council of Governments. The Board hesitated because their next fiscal year budget was already certified. 

The Board then approved the third and final reading of a new public sex act ordinance, and held the second public hearing to discuss a loan agreement for capital loan notes not to exceed $2 million from the general fund to be used toward the HVAC project for the Greene County Courthouse. It was mentioned that no petition was submitted to hold a special election on the topic. Then, the Board explained after they exhausted the $1.7 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds on the estimated $3.2 million project, then the loan through the general fund would be used. That fund would be reimbursed through the county’s $2 million surplus. 

Following no public comments, the Board closed the hearing and approved a resolution to institute proceedings to take additional action to authorize a long agreement not to exceed $2 million through the general fund for the HVAC project. The vote was 4-1 with Supervisor Joe Gannon voting no. Finally, the Board approved a resolution to set regular working hours for a part-time custodian position at the courthouse from 7am-3pm starting June 2nd, with an upcoming resignation for the position to happen by the end of the month.