Red Willow to ask other counties to share in juvenile justice costs

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Red Willow County commissioners are asking that other counties share proportionately in the cost of juvenile justice services provided to them by Lutheran Family Services.

Chris Berry of Lutheran Family Services asked commissioners at their weekly meeting Monday for Red Willow County's annual contribution of $12,000 to help LFS fund its Southwest Nebraska juvenile diversion program.

Berry said the number of referrals and intakes for the first six months of the 2008-09 fiscal year indicates an increase over all of 2007-08. Referrals/intakes totaled 239 in July 2007-June 2008; referrals/intakes for July 2008-December 2008 totaled 243.

Commissioner Leigh Hoyt asked Berry to contact Hitchcock, Furnas, Hayes and Dundy county commissioners about paying more proportionately for LFS services provided to their counties' residents.

Fellow Commissioner Steve Downer said Region II Health Services charges on a per-capita basis, so much per each county resident.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt emphasized that commissioners are not questioning LFS. "The program has value," he said. "That's not in question here."

Hoyt made a motion, seconded by Downer, to deny Red Willow County's contribution of $12,000 until Berry can investigate the possibility of neighboring counties paying a more proportionate share. Hoyt said, "Everyone ought to pay their fair share."

In other action with Berry, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding regarding the collaboration between the county and LFS, in preparation of LFS's application for a $12,996 grant for 2009-10 from the Nebraska Crime Commission.

Berry said LFS is also applying for an enhancement grant of $19,948, from a fund of previously-unused grant money that is being redistributed. LFS and the county's match is 29 percent, which is equal to diversion program fees, law enforcement labor, volunteer hours and DARE costs.

Acting as a board of equalization, commissioners:

* Approved motor vehicle tax exemption applications/renewals for charitable and educational organizations.

* Set hearings for personal and real estate tax exemption applications from the Bartley Development Corp., the Norris Institute and the Congregational Church at 107 East N Monday, for March 2, at 9:15 a.m., and encouraged applicants to attend to support their applications. County Assessor Sandra Kotschwar told commissioners she needs more information on each application before she can make a recommendation to commissioners for denial or approval of the applications.

Reconvening as a regular board, commissioners accepted a change order of $1,704 on the new federal-aid bridge over the Driftwood Creek southwest of McCook. County roads superintendent Gary Dicenta explained that an erosion control blanket was inadvertently omitted from the original costs of the bridge construction, and had to be added. The county's share of the change is 20 percent, or $340.80.

Dicenta also told commissioners that the State of Nebraska will charge Simon Contracting for the full five days that it went beyond its contract on the bridge, rather than the three days upon which the county compromised. McNutt said, "The state supercedes any decision we may have made on this bridge."

In other action, commissioners:

* Approved an application from McCook Public Power to cross a county right-of-way with a buried power line.

* Approved the continuation of the bond for Frankie Lou Nicholson, clerk /treasurer for Lebanon.

* Approved a rider for a bond number change on the Historical Society's bond for Korey Burkert.

* Filed correspondence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the approval of Red Willow County's new flood plain ordinances. The new flood plain maps go into effect Feb. 4 and are available in the county clerk's office.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: