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

The Board heard an update from Genesis Development CEO Terry Johnson. He talked about funding changes that would impact clients with Genesis Development with a new tier system for Medicaid starting in December. A south central Iowa mental health region signed a contract with Genesis to utilize the Hope Wellness Center in Woodward.

The Board then had a lengthy discussion with Johnson about withdrawing from the Heart of Iowa Community Services Region. Supervisor Vice-Chair Dawn Rudolph sits on the governing board and Supervisor Chair John Muir said they weren’t getting questions answered by the regional board and there was a difference with similar issues being handled by other regions. He said the other Supervisors didn’t feel like any issues for Greene County were being addressed. Johnson said he felt offended and blind-sided by the Supervisors decision to withdraw from the region and asked for better communication in the future. He also told the Board that by Greene County pulling out of the region, it may be possible that the region wouldn’t be able to support the Hope Wellness Center in Woodward and that 17 Genesis staff members may lose their jobs if the center closes. Muir said the intention wasn’t to offend Genesis, but to take care of the residents of the county with the best possible option, which the Supervisors felt they weren’t getting with Heart of Iowa region.

The Board then approved the forgivable mortgage for down payment assistance program and changing the job classifications and wage rates for Scott Beaman and Mike Ostendorf to maintenance two positions in the secondary roads department as presented. Additionally, the Board approved transferring $552,500 from rural to secondary roads, $162,500 from local option sales and services tax (LOSST) to secondary roads, $15,000 from general basic to electronic election equipment and $5,000 from LOSST to the bike trail as budgeted transfers.

Finally, County Engineer Wade Weiss gave an update. He said he had 40 applications for three secondary road employee positions. They interviewed six and offered three the positions to start November 6th. He told the Board he thought asphalt overlay would be the best option following construction of the wind turbines in the northeastern part of the County. No formal action was taken by the Board on any of the topics.