Greene County supervisors hear Green Commons restroom funding request; defer formal appropriation pending MOU, bids

Greene County Board of Supervisors members on Tuesday heard a detailed request from Green Commons representatives to construct permanent restroom and storage facilities at the county pavilion and to authorize county participation in a three‑party memorandum of understanding required by a matching grant.

Green Commons representatives asked the board to reaffirm earlier permission for a restroom facility, approve allocating $50,000 from tourism carryover (transient occupancy) funds toward construction, and sign an MOU between the county, the town, and the Green Commons group so a $37,000 matching grant from the Perry Foundation can be released. The board did not vote to appropriate funds at the meeting; members asked staff to confirm the available carryover and asked Green Commons to present a finalized MOU and construction documents at a later meeting.

Why it matters: Green Commons leaders say on‑site, accessible restrooms would make the pavilion and farmers market more usable for residents and visiting patrons, remove accessibility barriers to booking entertainment events, and reduce reliance on portable toilets. The project would be paid from tourism‑dedicated funds and private grants, not the county’s general fund, according to Green Commons presenters.

Roy Dye, speaking for Green Commons, outlined the timeline and grant conditions and said the Perry Foundation required a signed three‑party MOU and that the foundation’s $37,000 match must be documented by March 1 next year. "The Prairie [Perry] Foundation is very...they want that assurance through a three‑party MOU signed by...all three of you," Dye said. Dye asked the county to "reaffirm its previous approval," to allocate the $50,000 tourism carryover and to execute the MOU once finalized.

Bill Henry, a Green Commons board member, described how the pavilion opened without restroom construction because initial grant funds were insufficient and said vendors and patrons now use the administration building restrooms, which are distant and present accessibility challenges. "This is not money that Greene County taxpayers are—it's not coming out of taxpayer money from real estate taxes or personal property taxes," Henry said, describing the requested county contribution as tourism‑fund dollars.

Project details presented to the board included a contractor’s preliminary estimate of about $142,000, a $37,000 matching Perry Foundation grant contingent on the MOU and a March deadline, and a reported $40,000 private donation toward construction. Green Commons showed a concept of three accessible stalls and an adjacent storage room for tables and chairs for event rentals. Presenters said the $142,000 figure is a ballpark estimate and that final costs will require construction drawings and competitive bidding.

Supervisors raised several operational and procurement questions: how the facility would meet ADA requirements and whether the preliminary sketch matched ADA ramping needs; who would be responsible for regular maintenance and cleaning; whether the project would be bid locally; and whether tourism carryover funds are already appropriated and available to allocate. County staff said they would verify the carryover balance and return with more detailed legal and fiscal guidance. One supervisor said the funding item could be placed on a future consent agenda once the MOU and appropriation details are finalized.

The board also discussed maintenance concerns—locking and cleaning during non‑market days, and potential misuse if left unlocked—and several supervisors said those responsibilities should be spelled out in the MOU. Dye and other Green Commons members said they expect to return with working drawings, a finalized MOU that meets the Perry Foundation’s requirements, and a plan for competitively bidding the work and securing additional private contributions if needed.

Next steps: Greene County staff will verify tourism carryover balances and return a recommended appropriation path; Green Commons will work with county staff to finalize an MOU acceptable to the Perry Foundation and to produce construction documents for formal bidding. The board expressed general support and asked that the funding request and the MOU appear on a forthcoming meeting agenda for formal action.

Ending: Supervisors did not appropriate funds at the meeting and left the request pending completion of an MOU and staff confirmation of funds and procurement plans.