08-30-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes, Special Meeting--August 30, 1993 1087 Sheriff Rudnick said he is not opposed to the budget being reduced in some areas but he doesn't want line items eliminated. Mr. Ness asked the Sheriff if he is comfortable with the bottom number in the preliminary budget, and he said he is. Mr. Wieland suggested putting $2,000 back in each of the two funds--drug investigation and crime prevention, and he asked the Sheriff to cut $4,000 in another area. In the Emergency Management budget, Mr. Wieland asked about the communications line item. Mr. Montplaisir said it was a contingency fund to pay for unexpected things involving towers, etc. Mr. Ness said there is a contingency fund in the commission budget for such items. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, Equipment for staff additions omitted Temporary staffing requests were left in the budget at this time because they can be placed in other offices in the courthouse. Equipment requested for temporary help was eliminated because they can use equipment in other county offices. SOCIAL SERVICES, Preliminary budget reviewed by Social Services Board No additional time was spent on this budget at this time because it was reviewed by all five commissioners in their capacity as the County Social Services Board. Kathy Hogan said the projected staff increase is five instead of nine full-time equivalents. WEED CONTROL Mr. Montplaisir said it appears the City of Fargo plans to levy for weed control in the city budget, which means that Cass County's weed control levy will not include the City of Fargo. VECTOR CONTROL It was the consensus that the total budget request for travel for Vector Control be left at $1,300 because it includes day-to-day travel throughout Cass County. EXTENSION SERVICES County Extension Agent Brad Cogdill presented a written response to the budget recommendations regarding his department. He suggested that the budget be reinstated at $206,000 as requested by the Extension Service; and that the Commission appoint a study task force to review the Cass County Extension Service program and funding relationships, with the group making recommendations for county programs and funding support for the 1995 budget year. Mr. Ness expressed concern about duplication of services and paying for services no longer affordable. He said the consensus seems to be that the Finance Committee recommendation may be too low, but that $200,00 is too high. He said the Commission may be comfortable with an amount somewhere in the middle. Mr. Eckert believes there is some misconception as far as services provided by the Extension Service and suggested re-instating the full amount in the preliminary budget, with further investigation by a study committee.