NEW ULM - After extended discussion Tuesday, the Brown County Board unanimously tabled a request by the City of Springfield for the county to participate in a tax abatement to help pay for MAT Industries expansion required improvements.
Commissioner Andy Lochner said after the meeting the request is likely to be approved with added details to protect the county.
If complete, the request would be considered at the Tuesday, Sept. 7 board meeting.
The amount of taxes proposed to be abated by the county will be determined annually based on the property value created by MAT Industries facility expansion and the expected county property tax rate for the coming year.
The total abatement estimated over a period not to exceed 15 years was estimated at $113,525.
Commissioners approved:
A $593,000 Brown County Heartland Express 2011 budget plus $66,000 capital expense for a replacement bus; plus a 2011 State Department of Transportation Contract.
A school truancy residential consequence program, average cost $500 a weekend plus a sliding fee based on the current scale for parental contributions.
Most likely weekend space is available in Elmore at $140 a day for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"We hope kids will determine (in the program) they want to stay in school," said Brown County Child/Family Social Service Supervisor Tom Sandberg. "It's expensive to send them away for 30, 60 or 90 days at a time."
"Give it a shot, see if we can save a few kids," said Lochner.
$13,716.17 in Energy Assistance Program (EAP) donations from 88 individuals and organizations for the 2010 Reach Out For Warmth Program year.
"We already have 50 applications," said EAP Coordinator Nancy Braam. "We'll have at least 500 by Oct. 1. We took 1,200 last year. If we do this early, we'll get extra money."
2010-2011 Targeted Case Management Greater Minnesota Family Services Contract at $642 per month for children's mental health and $318 per month for child welfare services, the same as 2009-2010 rates.
Learned from Family Services that cocaine-related and meth treatment admissions declined markedly in 2009; but heroin and other opiate-related indicators continued significant upward trends in the Twin Cities.
Posting a full-time social worker/CD position, currently Grade XIV, with an entry to mid-range salary, $40,279-$47,400 to replace a person who resigned.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).