03-08-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--March 8, 1993 1004 14. 15. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, Social Services impact Kathy Hogan, Social Services Director, provided a written overview of the North Dakota Department of Human Services budget that was passed by the House of Representatives. She said legislators are making efforts to reinstate some programs to lessen the impact on elderly and poor but increased taxation will be unavoidable. She estimates that most of the increase will be mandates and will be in the range of 6 to 8 mills, and that does not include any additional staff that will likely be needed. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Grant requests postponed Sheriff Don Rudnick said matching funds were approved in his department's 1993 budget for grants for the D.A.R.E. Officer and for the drug grant position. He said the department was unsuccessful, at first, in their grant application for an automatic fingerprint system but he has learned that those funds are now available. Since local matching funds were not budgeted for 1993 for the fingerprint system, Sheriff Rudnick said his department could eliminate the purchase of one vehicle during the year to provide those matching funds. Mr. Ness said he has written letters to the Sheriff requesting information on these grants, and he said some inaccurate figures were given to him. He talked to the Sheriff about this today, he said. Mr. Ness expressed concern that last October, it was the understanding of the Board of Commissioners that the drug enforcement officer, Tony Krogh, would return to the county work force so that the Sheriff would not have to hire additional staff. Sheriff Rudnick said his department revised some schedules, using other staff so that Mr. Krogh can continue drug enforcement work. Before making a recommendation on accepting any of the grants for the Sheriff's Department, Mr. Ness said he wants to know exactly how much these programs are costing Cass County Government. He said it is difficult to justify a grant request for $34,000 when the previous year's expenses were in excess of $55,000, according to figures from the County Auditor's Office. Sheriff Rudnick said last year's grant included one vehicle that is not included this year. MOTfON, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to table the Sheriff's Department requests for grant approval until Commissioner Ness has received and reviewed accurate information in regard to these grants, and that they be placed on the agenda for the next Commission meeting. Discussion followed on salary discrepancies because the salary of a lower paid deputy was used in the grant application. Mr. Wieland asked if Mr. Ness thinks he will have adequate information provided to him by the next meeting, and Mr. Risher asked about the time line. Sheriff Rudnick was agreeable to tabling the request for two weeks. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.