The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.
During reports, County Attorney Thomas Laehn said he filed a resistance against the consolidation request made by Summit Carbon Solutions. He reminded the Board that Summit had filed a motion to bring the first phase of the underground carbon dioxide pipeline project from the district court, where a portion of it is being litigated, and requested the Iowa Utilities Commission to consolidate it with its second phase. Laehn mentioned that the county was not a party to the first phase, but is for the second phase and if the projects are consolidated, it could possibly bring unnecessary litigation.
Board Vice Chair Dawn Rudolph said that the Greene County High School industrial technology class is making a donation box that will be installed near the Freedom Rock for ongoing maintenance expenses.
Then, County Engineer Wade Weiss told the Board there is going to be shoulder rock installed on County Roads E-18 and P-46, as those projects continue to make progress. He is also looking to use leftover tax increment financing money to use toward patching portions of the county road that goes through the city of Dana.
Next, Jefferson City Administrator Scott Peterson gave an update. He said that the city hired Hannah Curtis as the new utility billing clerk and are still looking for new hires for the finance clerk and water superintendent. He mentioned that construction on building a new fuel farm station that includes jet fuel at the airport will begin next spring and water lines are being installed at the new restroom at Daubendiek Park.
Peterson also acknowledged a meeting with Greene County School District Superintendent and Weiss about extending a sidewalk from West Central Avenue to the high school. He noted that current plans with the city were updated to include a new total cost and that a grant would be applied for through Region XII Council of Governments. He added that another potential sidewalk project on Westwood was referred back to committee due to concerns over the design of the project.
The Board then approved two resolutions for funding transfers. The first was taking $25,939 from the American Rescue Plan Act fund to BBS Architects for designing and for advertising. The second transfer was for the Secondary Roads Department of $180,000 from Local Option Sales and Services Tax, $68,979 from rural basic and $60,847 from general basic. They also approved a resolution to hire Kyle DeMoss as an Equipment Operator III for $28.66 hourly wage to start October 20th.
Additionally, the Board approved a resolution to hire Brayton Crouse as a part-time driver for the Greene County Ambulance Department, with a $12 hourly wage when he stays in house when on-call, which was retroactive for September 1st. They also approved two resolutions to change Allison Downing’s position from a part-time Emergency Medical Technician to a part-time paramedic with the Ambulance Department with an hourly wage of $21 when she stays in-house when on-call, which retroactively started August 19th, and Ryan Moranville from a full time EMT to a full time paramedic with an annual salary of $44,000, which was also retroactive for September 8th.
The Board also approved the Sheriff’s quarterly report of fees for July through September as presented and a request for bids for the courthouse grounds and snow maintenance services. It was mentioned that the Board is exploring this option to help offset the responsibilities of trying to find a part-time custodian to handle those responsibilities.
Finally, the Board acted as the Drainage District Board of Trustees and approved $11,700 payment to AgriVia for engineering services for a project in Drainage District 20 and $600 for that company to provide County Drainage District Clerk responsibilities for September.