NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners will consider a recommendation to end the Teen Court program as of Dec. 31, 2019 at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 5. The board meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Brown County Courthouse second-floor commissioner’s room

The number of adolescents in the program has dropped significantly in recent years, according to Brown County Probation Director Les Schultz. Last year, there were 30 teens in the program. This year, there are 13.

“This is a ‘good problem,’ however, we cannot justify the grant funding and use of tax dollars to sustain the program,” Schultz wrote in his board request. “We keep about 40 jurors trained to hear cases. The recruitment, paperwork, processing, and court involvement is just too much for the few cases we are addressing.”

Brown County Teen Court, one of the longest-running programs in Southern Minnesota, began in 1998 with assistance from the American Probation and Parole Association. Judge Terri Stoneburner directed probation to put the program together after hearing about its success in other states.

The jury-based program trained jurors not to determine guilt or innocence, but to determine a fair sentence for admission to a low level offense such as underage consumption or theft.

In 2002, there were 109 juveniles in the program.

“A big thank you to Mary Ann Wonn who coordinated the program for the past 15 years,” Schultz said. “Thank you is also important to go out to former Judge John Rodenberg and Judge Robert Docherty who strongly supported the program, along with court administrator Carol Weikle and her staff.”

Over the past 21 years, more than 1,100 Brown County students were trained to become Teen Court jurors, hear real cases and come up with fair, appropriate sentences.

“This was an excellent program. We believe it has had some effect in the overall reduction of juvenile crime in the county,” Schultz said.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A Brown County Probation Department truancy program update from Probation Director Les Schultz.

Last year, Judge Robert Docherty requested Brown County Probation take over truancy cases from Brown County Human Services. A grant was written and received from the Office of Justice Programs to get the program up and running.

Brown County hired probation-truancy officer Andy Braulick who began work Oct. 10. Human Services transferred its cases to probation on Oct. 16. The new program will be explained at the county board meeting.

Braulick is replacing a retiring probation officer this fall. Her caseload will be divided up when she departs. This is not a new position and probation has grant money for the first two years of the new program.

• Brown County Career Probation Officer Jane Schmid’s receipt of the 2019 Minnesota Corrections Agent Outstanding Achievement Award. The award is given to those who have demonstrated achievement over time.

Schmid was nominated for the status as Minnesota Corrections Agent Chairperson since 2015, coordinating the first annual Juvenile Justice Conference in January 2019, as a youth risk assessment instructor and for coordinating Brown County Juvenile Specialty Court for high-risk offenders.

“Jane received so many emails of support for this nomination, it was clear she earned this award and has many professionals who support the work she does every day,” Schultz said. “We are very proud of Jane and the work she does every day.”

• A two-year, $9,084 Minnesota DNR Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. Eligible grant activities include snowmobile training, snowmobile purchases, enforcement, maintenance, fuel, trailers, helmets and other protective gear.

• Brown County acting as sponsor and fiscal agent on behalf of the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club and Springfield Ridge Runners and allow the Brown County Auditor-Treasurer to sign on behalf of the county. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requires the resolution be approved every five years.

• A project agreement for Brown and Cottonwood Counties to cooperate to construct a surface rehabilitation project on Cottonwood CSAH 11 from TH 71 to Brown County CSAH 21 (West County Line) and Brown County CSAH 21 from Cottonwood CSAH 11 to Brown County CSAH 3.

The Cottonwood segment is one mile long. The Brown segment is five miles long. All six miles will be cold in-place recycles with a three-inch overlay.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).