The majority of counties in the State of Minnesota favor the “Sentence to Serve” Program. “Sentence to Serve” is a program by which a county such as Watonwan County may utilize the services of inmates in their jail to perform work duties outside of the jail. Duties may include state, county or city jobs and may include highway trash pickup, painting projects, lawn mowing and so forth. Currently the program, including the salary of “Sentence to Serve”(STS) crew director, Greg Klingerman, is funded 50 percent by the county and 50 percent by the state.
The Watonwan Board of Commissioners continued their discussion from their last meeting about STS . At the present time Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants the program cut from the budget. State legislators will have to decide on its final fate. Legislators such as Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Bob Gunther of the 24th District are fighting to save the program from the governor’s “chopping block.” During fiscal year 2009-10 STS cost the state and county approximately $71,000 or $35,000 each. The $71,000 covered the cost of the entire program. Projected cost for 2010-11 are $76,000. This means, if the program is spared, Watonwan County would pick up $38,000 of the total cost. Auditor Don Kuhlman said that in the last quarter of 2009 the program yielded work valued at over $11,000.
One option for the county, if the program is slashed from the state’s budget is to do away with it all together. The cut would be effective July 1, 2010.
A second option is for the county to take STS totally under its jurisdiction and pay the entire projected cost of $76,000. Arguments heard by the commissioners that would support this option were having complete control over STS and work assignments that could represent potential savings for the county.
Arguments that could oppose such an option include the fact that there is no guarantee of the number of available prisoners to perform work tasks or the qualifications of a prisoner to perform a specific task. Another opposing argument would be the potential need of additional supervision and then there is the question of liability for prisoners, both for the prisoner and the public should there be an incident endangering an individual citizen or group of citizens.
A third option for STS would be partnering with a neighboring county and sharing costs and services.
These are all options the Watonwan Board of Commissioners will have to decide before July 1, 2010.
The Board of Commissioners approved the recommendation of the personnel committee to hire Shay Forstrom as the new secretary in the Sheriff’s Department. Forstrom is presently employed at the law firm of Sunde, Olson, Kircher and Zender. There were 70 applicants for the job and those commissioners on the personnel committee along with Personnel Director Lisa Schumann agreed Forstrom stood far above the other applicants in experience and presentation during interviews for the position.
County Commissioners gave Public Works Director, Roger Risser approval to solicit bids for Route and Seal Crack Filling and Bituminous Material for sealing roads needing repair during the 2010 year. Risser explained that with the severe winter we have experienced estimates are above those of 2009. Estimates of cost will be in the $50,000-$100,000 range with total pounds of material estimated at 116,000 for both products. Read more in the March 18 Plaindealer.
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The majority of counties in the State of Minnesota favor the “Sentence to Serve” Program. “Sentence to Serve” is a program by which a county such as Watonwan County may utilize the services of inmates in their jail to perform work duties outside of the jail. Duties may include state, county or city jobs and may include highway trash pickup, painting projects, lawn mowing and so forth. Currently the program, including the salary of “Sentence to Serve”(STS) crew director, Greg Klingerman, is funded 50 percent by the county and 50 percent by the state.
The Watonwan Board of Commissioners continued their discussion from their last meeting about STS . At the present time Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants the program cut from the budget. State legislators will have to decide on its final fate. Legislators such as Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Bob Gunther of the 24th District are fighting to save the program from the governor’s “chopping block.” During fiscal year 2009-10 STS cost the state and county approximately $71,000 or $35,000 each. The $71,000 covered the cost of the entire program. Projected cost for 2010-11 are $76,000. This means, if the program is spared, Watonwan County would pick up $38,000 of the total cost. Auditor Don Kuhlman said that in the last quarter of 2009 the program yielded work valued at over $11,000.
One option for the county, if the program is slashed from the state’s budget is to do away with it all together. The cut would be effective July 1, 2010.
A second option is for the county to take STS totally under its jurisdiction and pay the entire projected cost of $76,000. Arguments heard by the commissioners that would support this option were having complete control over STS and work assignments that could represent potential savings for the county.
Arguments that could oppose such an option include the fact that there is no guarantee of the number of available prisoners to perform work tasks or the qualifications of a prisoner to perform a specific task. Another opposing argument would be the potential need of additional supervision and then there is the question of liability for prisoners, both for the prisoner and the public should there be an incident endangering an individual citizen or group of citizens.
A third option for STS would be partnering with a neighboring county and sharing costs and services.
These are all options the Watonwan Board of Commissioners will have to decide before July 1, 2010.
The Board of Commissioners approved the recommendation of the personnel committee to hire Shay Forstrom as the new secretary in the Sheriff’s Department. Forstrom is presently employed at the law firm of Sunde, Olson, Kircher and Zender. There were 70 applicants for the job and those commissioners on the personnel committee along with Personnel Director Lisa Schumann agreed Forstrom stood far above the other applicants in experience and presentation during interviews for the position.
County Commissioners gave Public Works Director, Roger Risser approval to solicit bids for Route and Seal Crack Filling and Bituminous Material for sealing roads needing repair during the 2010 year. Risser explained that with the severe winter we have experienced estimates are above those of 2009. Estimates of cost will be in the $50,000-$100,000 range with total pounds of material estimated at 116,000 for both products. Read more in the March 18 Plaindealer.
