The Greene County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday.
The meeting began with a discussion regarding a request from a religious group that wanted to conduct an ecumenical service Sunday following the Bell Tower Festival. Supervisor Chair John Muir said there was an informal meeting last week that included himself, along with Supervisor Pete Bardole, local Pastor Issac Wrangler, County Auditor Jane Heun, Sean Sebourn, Assistant County Attorney Laura Snider, County Attorney Thomas Laehn and Josh Monthei. The meeting was to clarify the policy the county has when someone wants to request to reserve a space on the courthouse grounds.
Laehn clarified at Tuesday’s meeting that an application must be submitted to the county auditor for consideration of reserving a space on the courthouse grounds, however, no such application has been made for the ecumenical service. He added that the Supervisors didn’t act on the request that was made at last week’s meeting, as it was just a discussion. Philip Heisterkamp, who originally asked about the Sunday service, said that no application will be submitted at all.
Laehn also addressed concerns about consuming alcohol as part of a request from Heisterkamp last week for the Bell Tower Festival on the northwest corner of the courthouse grounds. Laehn said their reservation policy does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol on courthouse grounds, as long as permits and licenses were obtained to sell it. Heisterkamp said they have the proper permits needed and that there is only pre-sale online tickets for the wine tasting and no tickets will be sold during the event at the festival. No action was taken by the board following the discussion.
The Board also held a public hearing for the current fiscal year budget amendment, which was approved following the hearing where no public comments were made. They also approved a resolution affirming the support of the Supervisors for the Freedom of Religion. Additionally, the Board held a public hearing for a new hog confinement in Section 21 of Greenbrier Township for Oakview Pork, LLC. During the hearing, three letters were submitted and reviewed by the Board. One was in favor of the new structure, the other two were not against it, but strongly urged the company to have the landowner keep the existing trees and plant more as a good will gesture of being a good neighbor. Muir also echoed those comments about landscaping. One other resident spoke and also urged for landscaping to happen. Following the hearing, the Board will recommend to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approval of the confinement.
The Supervisors then acted as the Drainage District Trustees and approved the drainage district assessment schedule and a waiver rate of six-percent as presented. Finally, the Supervisors approved a letter of support for Region XII Council of Governments to apply for a US Department of Agriculture housing preservation grant.