The Bell Tower Community Foundation, unfortunately, was not immune to the turmoil of 2020.

According to their annual report, the Bell Tower Community Foundation’s income from tours was $3,582 in 2020, compared to $8,671 in 2019. President Carole Custer told the Greene County Supervisors in December that COVID-19 played a major role in the decline in over tourism dollars at the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower in Jefferson.

However, those 17 and younger were able to visit the tower for free last year, due to the sponsorship by the Greene County School Foundation, which ended up being $2,750. Another $7,237 was through a special pandemic grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. 

The Supervisors, in conjunction with County Engineer Wade Weiss and his consultants, purchased a new air conditioning system for the Paul Nally Observation Deck.