NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to add a social worker specializing in child and adult autism disorders to the 2013 budget.
Adult Social Service Supervisor Barb Dietz said current staff cannot keep up with increasing services demand for children and young adults with autism. Thirteen new referrals were received in the past three years, doubling the department case load.
The addition would be cost neutral for the county tax levy, according to the Request for Board Action (RBA).
Commissioners also:
Learned of a special state funded Parent Support Outreach Program begun by Child Welfare Social Worker Lori Thom, who created the program on Jan. 1, 2012 as part of her master's degree studies in social work at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Thom said the program reduces stress on parents with young children including pregnant women, parents of children under age 10, and people facing domestic violence. Poverty, unemployment, underemployment, eviction, utility disconnects, and inadequate housing are also situations addressed by the program. Persons needing assistance will be voluntarily offered community resources they may not be aware of.
Approved a Conditional Use Permit application by Cory Huiras, Leavenworth Township, to continue to allow up to a 600 animal units (2,000 head) hog-finishing operation for a 10-year period.
Approved hiring an additional $45,000, .75 full time equivalent (FTE) staff position to the county attorney's office to cover increasing and expanding workload and responsibilities. The Brown County attorney staffing would remain the area's lowest per capita after the staffing addition.
Approved hiring a new Planning and Zoning office field technician position to the 2013 draft budget. The office has been short of staff since December 2003 when the agriculture inspector/wetlands coordinator position was not replaced.
Approved a TH 258 turn back project submittal to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to bring the highway up to acceptable standards.
Brown County proposed the entire segment be 14-foot lanes as was done on CSAH 27 between CSAH 11 and New Ulm and what is planned for CSAH 30 between TH 4 and the west county line.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com)