By Rick Morain
Jefferson Herald
Rod Frederick told the Greene County board of supervisors July 18 he was concerned about any extra charges to townships for fire calls by inquiring about an ordinance being considered by the city of Jefferson. Sheriff Jack Williams, who is also Jefferson fire chief, explained that the proposed ordinance is for unusual fires where insurance companies would not pay for the extra costs involved.
Williams pointed to a Scranton Manufacturing fire and a Landus grain bin fire in which man-hours and equipment costs were much higher than for a typical fire.
Townships already pay annually from tax dollars for fire coverage.
Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn told the Greene County Board of Supervisors on Monday that the county’s initial allocation from the nationwide opioid settlement was $9,577..42, a greater amount than he had anticipated.
Future payments are not yet known, but there will be a total of 18 settlement payments over the next nine years, Laehn said. The funds are to be specifically spent on pre-approved uses for opioid abatement.
County Engineer Wade Weiss told the board that Iowa Department of Transportation has made a detour route while the railroad tracks are closed at Highway 144 in Grand Junction. The detour is in lieu of having the Union Pacific supply flaggers at the crossing.
Weiss said he has also met with Unplugged Wireless to determine a site at the county’s secondary roads facility in Jefferson for placement of a proposed communications tower.
The board approved a recommendation from Attorney Laehn for Westlaw law subscription services. The three-year agreement will be $577.66 per month for the first year, with monthly rates to increase by four percent to $600.77 and $624.80 monthly respectively for the second and third years.
The board adjourned to a five-minute drainage trustees meeting before resuming the regular meeting.