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

During open forum, it was announced that the Greene County Treasurer’s Office would be closed this Tuesday (today) for training.

Sheriff Jack Williams re-addressed the Board about a social host ordinance. He said in the past two weekends, there have been parties where kids as young as middle school-age were at and there was alcohol consumed. Williams said the state social host ordinance only pertains to individuals younger than 18 from consuming alcohol, but it doesn’t cover those who are 18-20 years old. The Board last addressed a county social host ordinance in 2020 that would punish the property owner with a fine if they knowingly knew about an event where alcohol was being served to underage individuals. Board Chair John Muir said they will look into the matter again at a future meeting and directed County Attorney Thomas Laehn to draft the ordinance.

Laehn then gave a report to the Board. He said he has had as few as 54 pending criminal cases, which was a reduction from the height of the pandemic, with as much as 110 cases. However, in the past two weeks, 20 new criminal cases have been filed. He then reported on two proposals concerning a pipeline project from Summit Carbon Solutions. Following the discussion, the Board agreed to submit a letter of objection to the Iowa Utilities Board for eminent domain for private use. They would also act as drainage district trustees to form an agreement with the company to have requirements met before permits would be issued.

The Supervisors then signed a proclamation designating this week as National Public Health Week and appointed Clayton Dudley to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission. A lengthy discussion was then held concerning an issue with a neighboring farmer allegedly disturbing some of the gravesites at a Pioneer Cemetery in Kendrick Township. The Board decided to allow the township to handle the issue as the responsibility currently lies with them. The commission is also an advisory entity with no authoritative powers.

Next, the Board approved the county recorder’s quarterly report of fees for January through March of $93,117 and the county auditor quarterly passport report for January through March of issuing 49 passports. They also approved the ag land and family farm credit disallowances as presented, and a budget transfer resolution for $615,807 from rural services and $162,500 from local option sales and services tax to the county secondary roads department.