3. Social Services request to display ribbons for Foster Care Month

• CASS COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAIM MEMO County TO: Cass County Board of Commissioners Administrator FROM: Keith Berndt "7.5 Keith Berndt Cass County Administrator DATE: April 28, 2014 SUBJECT: Ribbons for National Foster Care Month For the past several years the Social Services Department has tied blue ribbons on the trees lining 10th Street during the month of May to commemorate Foster Care Month. I suggested some time ago to Chip Ammerman that if he wished to do it again, it should have Commission approval because I could not support it for the reasons listed below. My opinion was that the ribbons gave the appearance that we had experienced vandalism to our campus and it went without being cleaned up for a month. There was no sign or indication that the ribbons were there to signify the foster care program, so I expect very few people passing by had any idea what the ribbons signified. I've heard from other employees who also felt the ribbons were a significant visual eyesore to the County grounds. I believe it is completely appropriate to recognize the important contribution that foster parents contribute to our society. I'm of the opinion that we don't need to desecrate the courthouse campus to do it, and I would recommend another method be considered. For instance, a professionally made all- weather banner could be attached to the County sign on Tenth Street, or a professionally made sign could be placed in the skyway window. Box 2806 211 Ninth Street South Fargo,North Dakota 58108 701-241-5720 MY DOCUMENTS\KEITH\MEMO-FOSTER CARE MONTH RIBBONS 4-28-14.DOCX Fax 701-297-6020 www.casscountynd.gov berndtk @casscountynd.gov