Six counties will iron out details on a proposed human services merger.

The county commissioners for the six counties still involved in the Southeastern Minnesota Redesign Project — Mower, Freeborn, Steele, Dodge, Houston and Waseca — will meet at the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss their visions for merging the human services departments of the six counties, particularly “best management practices,” or how the counties would balance mandated and preventative services.

Another key concern is savings. Under the 12-county model, Accenture, the firm hired to study the merger, estimated the counties could save about $60.6 million over the next five years — about $34.8 million in county dollars, $23.5 million in federal dollars and $2.5 million in state funds. Mower County’s cost avoidance was $1.77 million, and another model shows $4.7 million in cost avoidance for the county over the first 15 years.

However, the numbers are now in question after half the 12 counties involved in the original study dropped out.

After the meeting, commissioners from each county still involved will vote on whether to continue.

Penny updates board

The Southern Minn-esota Initiative Foun-dation is still giving back to area communities, according to President and CEO Tim Penny.

Penny updated the county board Tuesday on the projects and focuses of SMIF over the last year.

“We bring an awful lot of resources to all the counties in our region,” Penny said.

The foundation, which has a planned budget of about $4.8 million in 2013, has largely focused on early childhood development and entrepreneurship.

In the past, SMIF has given loans to businesses and groups like Akkerman Manufactur-ing, IBI Data, The Hormel Institute and the Style Lounge Salon.

Penny urged the county board to give to SMIF in coming years. Money from county and local governments makes up about 8 percent of the group’s budget, according to Penny.