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

The Board held a public hearing in regards to the Greene County Beaver Creek Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan. It was mentioned that a consultation meeting was held earlier in the month with all taxing entities that were designated in the plan. The County’s Planning and Zoning Commission also approved it because it was in line with the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Next, county residents voiced their opinions in favor of the issue. Greene County Development Corporation President Sid Jones and Executive Director Ken Paxton talked about the benefits and the future ramifications that the career academy could have for the county. Greene County School District Superintendent Tim Christensen also thanked the Supervisors for their choice to help with the career academy. County resident Patti Naylor asked the Board if they did a fiscal impact study and Board Chair John Muir said they did and there was a public document about the study available. Muir also explained that the funds they are using to pay for the $5 million career academy are going to come from the first 41 wind turbines that are additional property taxes, and they are not taking existing property tax money from the County.

Supervisor Pete Bardole said his decision was about keeping the industries they currently have. He thought that if an industry were to move out of the county, his agricultural land would have to cover more of the tax base. Supervisor Vice-Chair Dawn Rudolph said they needed to focus on other industries and not just retail businesses, because that area is hard to be competitive in right now. Supervisor Tom Contner thought the career academy was a good idea and that they needed to have a way to keep young people living in Greene County.

Following the public hearing, the Board approved a resolution for the Urban Renewal Plan.

The Board then approved the first reading to create an ordinance for the division of revenues under Iowa Code 403.19 for a portion of the Greene County Beaver Creek Wind Farm Urban Renewal Area as presented. Finally, the Board heard an annual report and a 2020 fiscal year funding request of $2.90 per person over 60-years-old from Elderbridge Agency on Aging. The Board took no action on the request.