Supervisors approve a number of items on short agenda

By Rick Morain
Jefferson Herald

The Greene County Board of Supervisors held a brief meeting March 6 morning which lasted only half an hour.

The abbreviated agenda included only two items. In one of them, the board approved employee dental and vision rate agreements for fiscal year 2023-24, which begins July 1. The dental premium will rise by three percent above this year’s rate, and the vision rate will remain the same as this year’s.

The other agenda item was to appoint supervisor Dan Benitz as alternate for the supervisor representative to the emergency management commission.

Chuck Wenthold told the board that the county board of adjustment will meet March 16 to consider a conditional use permit for an Alliant Energy upgrade to relocate the present power facility within the Grand Junction city limits to an area outside of town.
County attorney Thomas Laehn reported that a number of several area county attorneys will meet to discuss forming a drug court, using opioid settlement monies for funding. The Webster County existing drug court may be expanded to include Greene and other counties.
Laehn updated the board on jury trials held this year in the county, indicating that his office has had two successful convictions. He credited law enforcement personnel for their work in providing strong evidence in cases. Sheriff Jack Williams said that cases involving repeat offenders have declined by nearly 75 percent.

County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen reported that the county had received $50,000 in Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund money, with another $50,000 expected before June 30. The funds may be used together with other federal funds already received for courthouse heating and cooling and restroom renovation. The supervisors would need to move forward with the project.

The supervisors meet every Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the board room on second floor of the courthouse.