'State of the County': Three takeaways from Greene County commissioner Bob Dixon's address

In his annual “State of the County” address, Presiding Greene County Commissioner Bob Dixon said the last year has been marked by "quiet, careful consideration" while the Commission "thinks regionally."

"The State of the County is not only strong but still improving," Dixon told members of the Springfield-Area Chamber of Commerce. "Area population growth is continuing upward at about 3% a year. We are an attractive region and stand on the forefront of something big, particularly if we think and act regionally."

In his remarks Dixon highlighted Greene County's continued efforts to distribute federal coronavirus aid, plans to create a new county campus, and workforce challenges facing the county as hiring has slowed.

COVID aid

Between the CARES Act, ARPA, and other federal funds Greene County has distributed a total of $113.8 million of coronavirus aid. For most of the last year, a majority of the funds come from the $57 million allocated to the county from the American Rescue Plan Act passed last year.

Notable projects funded through county ARPA funds include a youth behavioral crisis center in partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health, a 11,600 square foot production facility at Jordan Valley Innovation Center in concert with Missouri State University and a center for excellence for airframe and powerplant maintenance training at the Springfield Branson National Airport in partnership with Ozarks Technical Community College.

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According to Dixon, the Commission distributed $3.1 million in grants with an average grant size of just over $11,000. More than 300 small businesses were recipients with 104 being minority owned, he said. With small business assistance awarded the county is now working through more than 100 applications from nonprofits seeking assistance.

Dixon also praised the county's distribution of rental assistance funds, which have been subject to much mismanagement in many other communities across the country.

"When finalized, we expect over $22.3 million in rental assistance funds will be dispersed into the economy. As I mentioned last year, this is not happening everywhere else. In fact in many communities across the country, the program has been an abject failure and the subject of congressional hearings. But in Greene County, it has been a shining example of how success is possible when we roll up our sleeves and work together," Dixon said.

County campus overhaul

Construction on the new Greene County Sheriff’s Office and jail was completed in April, relocating all GCSO staff into one building and opening up space at five existing county facilities. The campus plan proposes to renovate the Greene County Judicial Center and the Justice Center, and construct new courtrooms in both facilities. An expanded single-entry secure lobby would be built for citizens to gain access to both buildings.

The campus renovations are estimated to cost approximately $19 million and paid for with bonds issued from the 2017 county sales tax.

Once the plans are finalized, renovations are expected to be completed in two to three years.

Under the plan, sections of the former jail would be made into new courtrooms and the staff from the Greene Juvenile Office and Youth Academy would move into the renovated Justice Center.

The campus plan also proposes to renovate areas of the Greene County Historic Courthouse. Once completed, the commission and public administrator would relocate to the historic courthouse and judicial center.

According to Dixon, the move will allow county government to be more accessible to the public and save money in rental costs at their current location at the Cox Medical Tower.

"We are crafting an updated campus master plan that will creatively renovate the old jail downtown into much needed courtroom space on the second floor, relocate the juvenile administration and Green County Youth Academy to the first floor, see construction of a spacious new courts lobby connected in both buildings in the current judicial facility parking lot and relocated numerous functions currently housed in rented space," Dixon said in his speech.

"This means that the county commission will be housed in the courthouse and even more accessible to citizens for the first time in decades."

Workforce struggle

Citing a nationwide workforce shortage, Dixon said one of the biggest challanges faced by Greene County in the past year is maintaining adequate numbers of employees to keep government running smoothly.

Dixon specifically cited highway workers where full-time staff is down 20% and part-time seasonal employees are down approximately 90%.

"This makes some tasks like mowing our 8,000 acres of rights-of-away and clearing brush almost impossible to manage. But they continue to work hard and get the job done where it makes the most impact," Dixon said.

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He also noted highway workers for the county recently disbanded their union — citing it as a vote of confidence in their leadership for the workers that remain.

"In what might be a surprise to some but to us is just another validation of our team-minded county family approach, and a major endorsement of our highway leadership team and the care that they take, the collective bargaining employees at the (highway) department recently voted to end their affiliation with the Service Employees International Union and to disband. Of course we will continue to work closely with them to make sure that they have the tools they need to deliver important services," Dixon said.

Andrew Sullender is the local government reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow him on Twitter @andrewsullender. Email tips and story ideas to asullender@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Three takeaways from Greene County commissioner Bob Dixon's address