Greene County commissioners approve grant work on Burnett Road, courthouse security upgrades and join opioid settlements

The Greene County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to accept additional grant funding for due diligence at the Burnett Road site, approve a courthouse security change order, and adopt two resolutions joining opioid-related settlements during a regular meeting that included a brief public comment and several announcements.

County staff presented a revised Golden Leaf grant acknowledgement for additional due-diligence work on the Burnett Road site. Mr. Cash, a county staff member, said the county previously received about $119,000 from Golden Leaf for environmental, geotechnical and wetlands work and requested an additional $77,600 to fund reconnaissance surveys, including on-the-ground archaeological walkovers and further research on buffer zones for two family cemeteries on the property. Commissioners approved acceptance of the additional funds. County staff estimated field work would begin after harvest season, likely in late December, with major work completed by early March, subject to weather and crop conditions.

County Manager (unnamed) brought a change order for the Greene County Courthouse courtroom to the board. The change order would add a door-locking and camera system to connect the jail to the courtroom as part of the AIA contract with Ferrier and Son, with work performed by Johnson Controls; the manager described the system as a paired-door, flight-prevention measure. The manager said the change order is roughly in the $25,000 range and warned that additional change orders may follow as remaining work is finalized. The board approved the change order.

The board also passed two resolutions to participate in national opioid settlement processes. One resolution authorizes participation in the Purdue Pharma settlement; a second resolution authorizes participation in settlements with nine additional manufacturers. County staff said the settlement documents include acceptance deadlines (staff indicated a date around Oct. 8 but the transcript was not definitive). Commissioners approved both resolutions to preserve the county's ability to receive any funds tied to those settlements.

A budget amendment for the Department of Social Services (DSS) was approved to reappropriate revenues that were recorded in the prior fiscal year for use in the current fiscal year. The county manager said the amendment is needed because funds recorded as revenue last year must be reappropriated to the same program in the current fiscal year; he said the amendment reflects active program use by DSS and confirmed the amendment relates to adoption-promotion activities. The board voted to approve the budget amendment.

In public comment, Sharon Harrison invited the commissioners to an open house and fundraiser at the senior center on Saturday, Sept. 27, and said, "Our open house is on Saturday, September 27. It starts at 12, and we're having our fundraiser." No other members of the public registered to speak.

The board moved into a closed session later in the meeting for economic development and attorney-client privilege and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: - Golden Leaf additional funding for Burnett Road due diligence ($77,600): approved. Motion to accept additional grant funding; mover/second not stated on the record; vote recorded as carried. - Courthouse change order (door-locking/camera system; ~ $25,000): approved. Motion to approve change order to AIA contract with Ferrier and Son; mover/second not stated on the record; vote recorded as carried. - Resolution approving participation in the Purdue Pharma settlement: approved. Motion/second present; vote recorded as carried. Transcript referenced the national settlement and the related participation resolution. - Resolution authorizing participation in settlements with nine additional manufacturers: approved. Motion/second present; vote recorded as carried. Transcript noted staff intent to preserve eligibility for any future funds; a deadline for acceptance was mentioned but not definitively specified. - DSS budget amendment to reappropriate prior-year revenue to the current fiscal year (adoption-promotion related): approved. Motion/second present; vote recorded as carried.

The meeting included routine announcements from commissioners, recognition of Amanda Smith, director of the Department of Social Services, for a leadership award, and several community event notices. The board subsequently convened in closed session for economic-development and attorney-client matters and then adjourned.