NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners on Tuesday approved needed purchases to support a Sentence to Service program.

The program allows individuals convicted of certain crimes, typically non-violent or first-time offenders, to serve their sentences through community service instead of incarceration.

On April 22, commissioners authorized county probation staff to develop an adult county work service program contingent on the State dissolving the program.

“Brown County highly supports the program,” said Brown County Probation Director Evonne Westcott. “It has been a very positive program throughout the county. Crews do a lot of work for non-profits and other work with the county.”

STS projects include litter pickup, river cleanup, trail development, flood control and storm damage cleanup.

The legislature voted to discontinue the state-run STS program May 16. Brown County had a contract with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) for two crew leaders. The state provided each crew with a van, wood splitters, trailers and smaller items including chain saws and tools.

The DOC will allow counties with a locally-run STS program the option to purchase larger-valued STS equipment. Smaller items including chain and pole saws, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, washers, pressure washers, a compound metering saw, scaffolding and hand tools will be given to the county and inventoried.

Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase Tuesday of a 2015 Chevrolet Express 3500 1-ton van, dump trailer, car trailer, enclosed trailer and wood splitters, some of which need repairs, for $16,725.

Approval came on a motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert, seconded by Scott Windschitl. Borchert suggested the board offer the DOC $16,725, 75% of the estimated value of the STS equipment.

Westcott told commissioners she and STS crew leaders estimated the value of STS equipment at $22,300.

“I hear the DOC will entertain any fair price of pick up the equipment,” she said.

“I think the DOC will take a lot less than that,” said Commissioner Windschitl said regarding the $22,300 expense.