NEW ULM – Brown County residents in chemical dependency treatment programs listed methamphetamines as their primary abuse substance at more than double the state average, according to a calendar year 2015 report.

The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Normative Evaluation System (DAANES) report showed 44 (41.5 percent) of Brown County residents in treatment programs listing meth as their primary abuse substance. The state average of residents in treatment programs listed meth as their primary abuse substance at an 18.5 percent rate.

“Meth is a very difficult drug to overcome,” said Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson. “You take it one time and you’re on it.”

Conversely, 27.4 percent (29) county residents in treatment listed alcohol as their primary abuse substance while the state average was 40.6 percent. Brown County residents in treatment listed heroin as their primary abuse substance at well below the state average. They were close to the state average for percentage of residents in treatment listing heroin, other opiates and synthetics as their primary abuse substance.

“Meth is back. There are significantly more females using opiates. We’ve got 31 people in Drug Court now, the most we’ve ever had. We usually have about 17 people in it,” Brown County Probation Director Les Schultz said. “Brown County is fortunate to have two chemical assessors that are very experienced at getting people in the right program.”

Schultz said many different, unique facilities available in rural Minnesota enable residents in treatment with many different addictions to achieve success.

Henderson said Brown County has more young people in treatment than most places.

“We’d like to think we’re catching people younger,” he added.

Brown County Family Services (BCFS) ranked among the top three Minnesota counties for child support collections on current cases and cases in arrears, according to recently released state reports.

Brown County collected and disbursed $3 million in current ongoing child support, 82.48 percent of the total support due, according to Federal Fiscal Year 2015 data. The Minnesota state average was 73.43 percent of total support due, ranking Minnesota fifth in the country.

Brown County collected on 85.09 percent of total support cases in arrears, ahead of Minnesota’s 72.11 percent state average, which was third-best in the country.

Cost effectiveness was another Brown County strong point with $6.61 collected for very $1 spent on child support programs. The Minnesota average was $3.54 for every $1 spent on child support programs.

“We continue to do well in this area,” BCFS Director Tom Henderson wrote in his notes to Brown County Commissioners. “Brown County is a great place to live if you need child support,” he added.

Commissioners approved:

Setting a public hearing date of 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, to consider dividing County Ditch 73 into two drainage systems. Minnesota Statute 103E.801 allows the Drainage Authority to divide drainage systems if it determines that the division is consistent with the re-determination of the benefited areas of the drainage system, would provide efficient administration of the drainage system; and would be fair and equitable.

An updated priority list of bridges that are structurally deficient or have been requested to be replaced by a township. Bridges on the priority list are eligible for bridge bond funds.

Bridges to be replaced next year are on 300th Street in Eden Township and on CSAH 8. A bridge on 250th Street in Prairieville Township would be replaced in 2018. A culvert on the KC Road in Milford Township would be replaced in 2019.

Giving preliminary approval for begin the state aid bonding process for $5 million for highway construction and direct the Brown County Highway Department to develop a plan for board consideration of the funds.

This is not a proposal to raise the local property tax levy or any tax. It will utilize a portion of the anticipated state aid funds to Brown County over the next 10 years for the annual repayment of the bond issue. Bonding would be paid back with existing future state aid construction funds so no new taxes would be required.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.