The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.
During reports, County Environmental Administrator Chuck Wenthold gave an update on phase one of the underground pipeline with Summit Carbon Solutions. He said the Iowa Utilities Commission failed to respond to a request to reconsider from the entities that were against the first phase of building an underground pipeline that would capture carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants and pipe it to an underground storage facility. Wenthold noted that entities can now sue Carbon Solutions.
Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams reported that Summit Carbon Solutions has requested deputies to be on hand for their informational meeting on August 28th, as well as additional deputies for an event that Channel Seed is having in Grand Junction on the same day. He added that both entities are paying his deputies for their work and are not using taxpayer money.
County Attorney Thomas Laehn mentioned that he was going to represent the county and the county assessor against Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson to the Property and Assessment Appeal Board. He said the county assessor’s office reported Wild Rose’s property to be $21 million and that Wild Rose thought the assessment was lower, between $15 million and $16 million. The County Board of Review reaffirmed the county assessor’s office claim. Wild Rose chose to appeal that decision to the state, with a hearing in November.
Laehn also requested that the Board take steps to hire a possible replacement for current Assistant County Attorney Laura Snider. He said she is running for the Iowa House of Representatives and if she wins, she would no longer serve as the assistant county attorney. He also announced that he is not intending to seek re-election to a third term as county attorney, when his term ends in two years. The Board agreed to move forward with the steps to seek a replacement as assistant county attorney, but with guidance and advice from Laehn.
County Engineer Wade Weiss gave a report. He said the bridge on South Grimmell Road in Jefferson has been closed for replacement and is expected to stay closed for one year, pending weather issues. He also talked about the roof leaking on the courthouse. He told the Board the elevator company will not install a switch until the leaking roof is repaired. The Board heard from Gary Goodwin of Goodwin and Sons Painting about the issue. Goodwin has done maintenance work on the courthouse roof for several years and said he could get a proposal to the Board to repair the issue. Weiss said it would be better to do maintenance now in case the courthouse is able to have an HVAC system installed. The Board agreed to move forward with an estimate from Goodwin.
Next, the Board approved a bid of $24,375 from KC Nielsen of John Deere Harcourt for a new tractor/loader/blower, a change of title and wage increase for Tressa Hatfield to be the assistant jail administrator for a $2,000 annual increase that is effective September 1st, and the 2024 fiscal year cash report as presented.