Supervisors approve use of G.O. capital loan for new comm tower

By Rick Morain
Jefferson Herald

The Greene County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 12 authorized the issuance of up to $3.8 million in general obligation (G.O.) capital loan notes to fund the acquisition and installation of E911 communication equipment, including a new tower.

Northland Securities, the county’s consulting financial firm, will work with the county’s E911 board and Motorola to pin down the final costs of the equipment and tower.
The bond action followed a public hearing on the project, with no oral or written objections received.

Because the communication project is defined as an essential public purpose, a bond issue public referendum vote is not required. The only requirement was the public hearing that preceded the board’s vote to proceed with issuing the bonds and authorizing a loan agreement to facilitate the project.

NOTABLE ACTION

• In other action, the board placed on first reading a proposed amendment to the ordinance that had established Sept. 26 at noon as the deadline to end the county’s moratorium on the construction of utility-scale solar panel fields. The amendment would extend the deadline date to noon on Monday, Oct. 24, in order to give the board more time to consider requirements for permits for the solar fields.
The first reading of the amendment followed a public hearing, at which no oral or written objections to the date extension were received. However, a question was asked about the definition of what is to be included within the 1,000-acre total area maximum for a solar field that the board is considering.

At present, the proposed ordinance limits the combined surface of the solar panels themselves to 1,000 acres. That maximum does not include inverters, battery energy storage systems, ancillary building, collection lines, accessory equipment or any other components.

• The board approved the hiring of Bret Kersey as a full-time Equipment III operator in the secondary roads department at a wage of $24.44 per hour ($24.94 after the six-month probationary period), effective Sept. 16.

• County engineer Wade Weiss reported he had been told by Summit Carbon Solutions that the carbon dioxide pipeline firm would like to begin its permitting process. Summit’s proposed route for its pipeline runs through northeast Greene County. Weiss also said he has been contacted by Boone County for some temporary engineering help since the Boone County engineer has resigned.