Wednesday, November 24, 1999

It’s only a week to go until the Mower County Board of Commissioners will hold its annual Truth in Taxation hearing.

At that time, citizens will learn what the county board’s proposed budget entails for 2000 as well as what the property tax levy will fund.

Just getting in under the wire Tuesday was the Mower County Humane Society, which is seeking an additional $15,000 from the county.

Jane Roden, president of the MCHS board of directors, led the delegation which petitioned the county board for more funding.

The MCHS wants the money to complete its new headquarters along 10th Drive SE in Austin and ensure the building’s habitability for seized pets.

The new facility was welcomed by the MCHS after they were forced to leave the old location, a livestock barn with a dirt floor at the fairgrounds.

The request was forwarded to the county board’s finance committee for review and a recommendation.

One commissioner, Ray Tucker, 2nd District, questioned the MCHS policy of not euthanizing pets.

That policy has been in place for a long time. While the city of Austin euthanizes seized cats and dogs after a number of days, the county organization does not.

In fact, it was revealed Tuesday that the Humane Society still has two pets taken from Dixie Kennedy, who two years ago was prosecuted for cruel and inhuman treatment of animals after a large number of animals were found in a rural LeRoy Township home she claimed as her residence.

On Tuesday, Roden admitted that the MCHS does euthanize "some pets" for health issues or because of their temperament.

Tucker said keeping unwanted pets in captivity forever is not a desirable situation.

The county’s TNT hearing begins 5 p.m. Dec. 2, in the commmissioners’ meeting room at the courthouse.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners sealed an agreement with the Mower County Correctional Services to provide transportation services for youths participating in the United South Central Safe and Sober School at Freeborn.

A week ago, Gary Nyquist, an MCCS probation officer, brought the program to the attention of the commissioners and the Heartland Express public transit system in Mower County was chosen as the likely transportation service for the youths.

The board did not protest using the state- and county-subsidized transportation agency for transporting students to the Freeborn school, but expecting the county to pick up costs not funded by the program caused concern among commissioners.

At Tuesday’s meeting all parties to the program agreed on the role Heartland Express will play in the program and the costs were deemed insignificant, so Neilon and Nyquist were given the commissioners ‘go ahead’ to proceed in implementing the program.

In other action Tuesday, the county commissioners:

– Approved a request from Terese Amazi, chief deputy in the Mower County Sheriff’s Department, to attend the Blandin Community Leadership Training program in January 2000. Previous county employees, who have participated in the program include Bruce Sorensen, Craig Oscarson, Barry J. Simonson and Daryl W. Franklin.

– Approved a one-time payment of $119,986 for the new telephone system and equipment installed in county offices.

– Approved health and life insurance renewals for 2000. The life insurance rates remain the same, but the health insurance rates will increase. By combining the programs, the commissioners saved $28,000 to reduce the anticipated 24.4 percent rate hikes.

– Authorized the advertising for replacements on the Mower County Planning Commission and Mower County Extension Service and Community Health Services committees.