A new 28E agreement between Greene County and the City of Jefferson was recently approved by the Greene County Board of Supervisors and the Jefferson City Council for the new law enforcement center. 

The new agreement will replace the current agreement between the entities that has been in place since 1972. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says the 1972 agreement was outdated and wasn’t being completely held in practice with how the law enforcement center is operating today. Since the Supervisors purchased the former Midland Power building in Jefferson, Laehn saw that as an opportunity to redraft the agreement.

One of the new aspects to the agreement is the responsibility of both entities when it comes to maintaining the building and grounds, as well as any improvements or repairs. The agreement stipulates that the County is responsible for daily maintenance of the new building, while the amenities surrounding the building, including the grounds, sidewalks, drives and parking lots would be maintained by the City. However, any improvements or repairs to the grounds or the building would be handled by the Joint Entity Board.  

Laehn says another portion of the agreement outlines that there is a 60/40 split for operating costs, where the County will pay 60-percent and the City will pay 40-percent.

“I think the parties are in agreement that that’s a fair allocation of costs. That is also reflected in the composition of the Joint Entity Board. The County will have four representatives on the Board and the City will have three representatives. We are covering the majority of the cost of the operation of the building, and we’re providing the building itself.”

Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer describes being able to address any anticipated expenses for maintenance early in the fiscal year with the Entity Board.

“That’s put into a budget up front. So both sides have the opportunity to say, ‘Here’s what the expenses are that we’re budgeting for. So it’s not as kind of as we go type of thing. The Board’s been very effective, they meet a couple times every year, but they’ve been very effective in keeping the facility, the maintenance on track.”

The new 28E agreement will be in effect as the transition to the Midland Power building is underway and the current 1972 agreement will remain in effect as long as the County continues to operate the current facility on Chestnut Street.