09-11-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--September 11, 2002 2505 Social Services ~athy Hogan and Jerry Skjonsby were present, and Mm. Hogan said the Social Service Board, which includes all five county commissioners, recommended budget reductions based on option #1, a plan approved by that board on September 3rd, for a reduction of $370,857. This includes delayed staff hiring of two social workers and two eligibility workers until July '1, 2003 and eliminates a half-time support position for the legal unit. She is concerned about liability issues in under-staffing and said some programs might be cut. Mr. Wagner is interested in building up the reserve fund and suggested levying 21 mills for Social Services, but removing all five of the full-time employee requests. Mrs. Hogan said the Social Service Board already eliminated one new employee request, and the other four new positions were delayed for hiring until July 1st. Mrs. Schneider suggested removing one of the two new eligibility worker positions, but not cutting the request for two family services staff for July 1 hidng. Mrs. Hogan agreed to the reduction of one new eligibility worker in economic assistance and said she would not fill new staff positions without coming back to the board first to explain the need at that time. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Wagner seconded to decrease the number of new full-time employees for economic assistance from two to one in the Social Service budget request. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Road and Bridqe Mr. Wagner suggested removing $200,000 from special projects. Keith Berndt said these are projects requested throughout the year that are not necessarily in the highway plan as being essential to the function of the Highway Department. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to remove $200,000 for special projects. Discussion: If this motion is approved, Mrs. Schneider said commissioners will need to tell citizens there is no money in the budget for projects that are not part of the highway plan. Mr. Wieland said some people moving to the country want special services, however, they are not paying for them like they would in a city. With the reduction in gas tax money, Mr. Wagner said the county will need to concentrate its resources on core county business under the tight circumstances. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously, Veterans Service Office Mrs. Schneider said she was satisfied that one line item was decreased when she met with the department head, as part of her portfolio. Mr. Wieland said Jim Brent is ready to make the move within his own office space, which has not been supported by Commissioner Meyer. Mr. Wieland said his only concern is that a window be installed in the door to the new office space; and other than that, he does not intend to micro-manage any office. He asked if other commissioners disagreed, and no one did. Mr. Brent addressed the Board and said he budgeted for a new filing system, and that amount was adjusted to $3,631 for files. He will work with Bonnie Johnson on the window aspect and will proceed with the move ineide the confines of his office space.