The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.
During a budget review workshop, the Board decided to increase Jefferson Congregate Meals funding from $8,000 to $9,000. They also decided to give $2,000 to Jefferson Matters: Main Street, $4,000 to the Bell Tower Festival and increase Assistant County Attorney Thomas Laehne’s salary to $70,000, due to the amount of work he’s done since passing the Iowa Bar Exam this past September. All decisions will impact the start of the 2019 fiscal year on July 1st.
The Board then approved two letters of support and one grant application to the Greene County Community Foundation. One application and letter of support was for $35,000 for a county records preservation project. The other letter of support was for the Greene County Conservation Department for $16,000 to install a pit loutern at Spring Lake Park. Additionally, the Board approved the County Treasurer’s investment report for January of $5,391,629 and issuing 253 driver’s licenses last month.
The Board also held a discussion with Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) CEO Jody Eaton and Financial Officer Jill Eaton. CICS is comprised of ten-county members, and Greene County will officially be a member starting July 1st. CICS has quarterly meetings with the advisory committee. Greene County will also be expected to follow the tax levy rate of $22.20 per capita of funding. Ellen Ritter will move from an administrative position in the Heart of the Iowa Community Services region to a service coordinator role with CICS.
The Board heard an update from Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer. He said that the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) Advisory Committee is meeting on a weekly basis at City Hall. Palmer then pointed out that they have gone under their contingency plan of 12.5-percent and only used nine-percent for the Community Development Block Grant. The City is also working with the Region XII Council of Governments to apply for two grants to start the east entryway project on Lincoln Way.