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County Board begins fielding budget requests
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
We are now more than halfway through the seventh month of the year, and the annual budgeting process is right around the corner. That was certainly evident July 14 when the Houston County Board listened to a 30-minute request to be included in the 2010 budget by representatives of Semcac.
Semcac representatives requested $9,700 in funding for four different programs that are offered to Houston County residents. The four programs and the amounts requested included:
• The Volunteer Driver Program- $3,000. In 2008 a total of 32 volunteer drivers provided Houston County residents with 1,600 rides that covered 47,000 miles. The rides are offered to persons needing transportation to La Crosse and Rochester for medical appointments. All drivers are volunteers, but they are reimbursed 55.5 cents per mile, as they use their own vehicles to provide the rides.
• The Senior Dining Program- $2,700. In 2008 Semcac Senior Dining provided 8,960 meals through the Meals on Wheels Program to Houston County residents. In addition to that the program served the following number of meals at on-site facilities in the county: Caledonia- 9,531; Eitzen- 623; Houston- 3,298; La Crescent- 5,772; and Spring Grove- 4,789. Semcac has over 80 volunteer drivers who deliver meals on wheels at no charge to the program. They don’t even receive mileage.
• The Senior Volunteer Program- $2,000. This program organizes over 160 RSVP volunteers who logged over 5,300 hours working at 24 different stations throughout the county in 2008, which include public libraries and the Houston County Historical Society’s museum. They provide rides for foster children and also help organize intergenerational programs, which bring many generations together.
• The Senior Advocate Program- $2,000. This program helps senior citizens deal with complicated Medicare and Medicade forms and issues. Trained personnel, well versed in the ever-changing government forms, help Houston County seniors receive the government assistance they are eligible for. This program serves about 200 county residents per year.
The commissioners thanked the representatives from Semcac for their input and said they would consider the requests and information provided during the upcoming budgeting process.
In other board action:
Board says no to two trucks
The county board approved the purchase of one new pick-up for the County Highway Department, although County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski requested two.
Pogodzinski explained that there was $60,000 in a fund to purchase the two trucks, that had a price tag of $24,983 each. Radios and tool boxes were not included in that price.
Commissioner Jack Miller said he was against the purchase of the two trucks, since they were not part of the 2009 budget, but had been included in a special operating bond the county had approved.
“We’re looking at cutting services in some departments and considering purchasing new pick-ups in another. That just doesn’t make sense. The $60,000 was not included in the 2009 budget, but part of the special bond. There are lots of people driving around in older pick-ups right now.”
The other commissioners agreed with Miller. A motion was made by Commissioner Dave Corcoran and seconded by Commissioner Bob Augedahl to purchase one truck. The motion was unanimously approved.
Soil borings approved
Pogodzinski asked the county to move forward with site preparation of the proposed public works facility. A total of 31 soil borings would be done at a cost of $6,670. The work would be done by Chosen Valley Testing, Inc. of Rochester.
Pogodzinski explained that the county is at a point where the borings are required so the county will be ready in the event state bonding money or federal stimulus funding is approved.
The board unanimously approved the request.
Joint powers agreement
The board approved a joint powers agreement for a child sexual predator program, which is being sponsored through the state.
According to Lindsay Pierce, computer forensic investigator with the Sheriff’s Department, the program pays for the training, any equipment needed and overtime hours logged while working on Internet predator cases.
The program will provide laptop computers and a dedicated line, which will help in the battle against Internet child pornography and predators.
Boetcher Park fence
Highway Superintendent Tom Molling informed the board the property owner adjacent to Boetcher Park In Sheldon Township requested a fence be constructed along 2,000 feet of the west property line to keep four-wheelers and other motorized vehicles off his property.
Molling said the property owner would be willing to put up the fence if the county would pay for the materials. The cost of the materials was $1,351.75, according to Molling. He added the property owner was also interested in an additional 500 feet of fencing on the north property line. Molling estimated that would cost an additional $300 to $400. The property owners would pay to have this fence installed as well.
A motion to approve the purchase of the fencing materials was unanimously approved.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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