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

The Board approved its notice to award the contract for the HVAC project at the Greene County Courthouse. After reviewing the bidders, Graphite Construction in Des Moines, was the apparent low bidder with a total of $2,624,000, along with the one alternate option of replacing the roof for $360,000. It was mentioned that once the contracts are finalized, then the company will start around October 1st, with a one year completion date. 

During reports, County Attorney Thomas Laehn talked about a new opioid settlement notice from nine of the secondary manufacturers. He said the county was requested to sign onto the settlement and in exchange for some of the payment, the county would be willing to give up its right to sue. The Board agreed with the request and will consider taking formal action at next week’s meeting.

Then, the Board heard a request for an extension on funding that was allocated from the first opioid settlement money that the county received was from Christy Jenkins with New Opportunities. She said that due to the timing of their Mentoring Program and Peer Recovering, they needed more time to spend all of their allotted funds. The Board agreed with the request and may amend its 28E agreement with New Opportunities to reflect that change.

Next, the Board approved appointing Tyler Wathen to the County Conservation Board, an underground electric line easement to Interstate Power and Light Company for the new county jail project, and revising its open meeting policy to reflect a change in state law to allow for any of the Supervisors to vote if they are participating in a meeting electronically. 

Additionally, the Board approved to send a notice of payment to Union Pacific Railroad and its agencies to pay its share of a Drainage District tile that was reported several years ago of $41,000. Laehn said if they fail to comply within 30 days of receiving the notice, then the matter would be taken to court, where UP would pay for the county’s legal fees. The Board then decided to table abating taxes for Region XII Council of Governments for a property in the Churdan area for the 2024 taxing year. The Board wanted additional information, including when Region XII purchased the property. They also approved transferring $3,500 from the American Rescue Plan Act to the general fund for payment for architectural services by BBS Architects and Engineers for the HVAC designs.