Greene County commissioners approve road vacation, contracts and opioid-fund travel; resident urges state action on drainage

The Greene County Board of Commissioners voted on a series of routine and project-specific items at a regular meeting, approving a petition to vacate part of East Stacker Road, several contracts and a renovation addendum, and a request to use opioid-settlement funds for staff travel to a national treatment-court conference.

The board suspended its regular meeting for a public hearing on vacating a portion of East Stacker Road after petitioner Mark Lewismore asked the board to approve vacating the unused segment so he could farm across it. "It's just a road to nowhere, and it's been nowhere from for years," Lewismore said. Commissioners said the road and its bridge had not been used for years and raised safety concerns; after discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the vacation as presented.

The meeting included approval of an annual agreement with WTH to manage parcel splits and mapping for property transfers; auditors said the updated agreement allows an easier annual renewal. The board also approved a quoted HVAC control system for the county jail but recorded that final payment depends on the county council approving the appropriation. Chair stated the HVAC purchase would proceed "contingent on the council giving you the money for it."

The board granted authority to the county clerk (referred to in the meeting as Lehi) to remove stale-dated checks identified in the 2024 audit and any that arise for 2025, following the state board of accounts' review. Separately, the commissioners approved an addendum to the community corrections renovation agreement to add anti-slip treatment and sealer to restroom floors; staff reported one restroom complete and two of three in progress.

Richard Nichols, introduced at the meeting, announced a $5,000 grant from Geronimo Power to erect a permanent billboard on private property to help reach veterans and advertise the veterans office. Nichols said he would seek council approval to accept and spend the funds once the check is received.

Nicole Knoll requested use of restricted opioid-settlement funds to send the county's mental health court team — including the judge, court staff, the chief public defender, a prosecutor, probation/community corrections and two service providers — to the national All Rise conference in Nashville, Tennessee. "During our certification, it was strongly recommended that we attend All Rise," Knoll said. The board approved the request and associated estimated travel costs, while noting that exact accommodation and final costs remained to be confirmed.

Highway department staff presented three quotes for construction of a new truck storage shed and recommended awarding the work to the lowest bidder; the board authorized the county administrator to work with the recommended contractor on a contract and directed that the contract await county-council appropriation before signature. The board also approved resolution 2026-01 to authorize sale of the Armory building and release the county mortgage at closing after staff explained the hospital purchaser would be a cash buyer and the hospital no longer considered the property part of its operations.

During public comment, lifelong resident Larry Barrett urged the county to press the state agency referenced in the meeting (transcribed as "IDM") to address a backed-up water problem east of Brad Fields that Barrett said has damaged roads and poses a hazard to drivers. "It's a ridiculous matter and it needs to be addressed," Barrett said. County staff and the county attorney said the area appears to be a natural watershed and that the county lacks legal authority to act off the right of way without written permission from the landowner or direction from the state agency; staff said they have been communicating with the state but that those processes can be slow.

The board set its next regular meeting for March 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the same room and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: the board approved minutes, claims and payroll dockets; vacated the specified portion of East Stacker Road; approved the WTH partial-splits agreement; approved the jail HVAC control system contingent on council appropriation; authorized removal of stale-dated checks by the clerk; approved the community corrections renovation addendum; accepted the report of the AML inspection; authorized contract preparation for the highway truck shed pending council appropriation; approved resolution 2026-01 authorizing sale and mortgage release of the Armory building; and approved use of opioid-settlement funds for All Rise conference travel for the mental health court team.

The article is based on board discussion, public comment and motions recorded in the meeting transcript. The article attributes quotes and requests only to speakers identified in the meeting record.