Cass Board hears report on child support

In 2016, the child support division of Cass County Health, Human and Veterans Services (HHVS) handled 1,748 child support cases and served 1,897 children, compared to 245,000 statewide.

Child Support Supervisor Michael Barone presented the 2016 report, with state and county figures, to commissioners Nov. 7.

In 2016 $600 million in child support was collected statewide; in Cass County, $2.6 million. That was double the $1.3 millionCass collected in 1996.

Statewide, 79 percent of child support was collected by income withholding from an employee's paycheck. By contrast, 67.3 percent of Cass County child support was collected through paycheck withholding. Barone said some reasons for the lower percentage could be higher unemployment, a seasonal work force and no large employers in Cass County.

Statewide, for every $1 spent on child support programs, $3.31 is collected; in Cass, for every $1 spent, $2.35 is collected, making it one of the most cost-effective government programs.

Barone gave credit to the entire child support staff for doing "a really great job."

Nationwide 15.6 million children (one in every five) are served by child support programs. Child support accounts for about half the average income of low-income parents who receive it, which helped lift more than 1 million people out of poverty in 2015.

Compared to other state programs, it ranks second in the number of children served with 245,000, compared to No. 1 Medicaid with 513,000. Other programs that serve children are the SNAP/Food Stamps, 216,000; Women, Infants and Children, 61,000; and Social Security, 40,000; TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), 35,000; Child Care Development Fund, 23,000 and Supplemental Security income, 14,000.

Under consent agenda personnel matters, the Board approved the appointment of Tom Burke as HHVS Deputy Director.

Burke served as director of Aitkin County Health and Human Services from 1997 to 2016. He also worked as a Social Worker with the Veterans Administration from 1992-1997 and as a Social Worker with the Iowa Department of Human Services from 1984-1992.

He holds a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, and a master's degree in social work from the University of Iowa at Iowa City.

It approve an out of class payment for Assistant County Attorney Barbara Harrington, effective Oct. 7, while acting as County Attorney until an appointment is made.

A contract for one load of rock to repair a washout on a trail in Poplar Township was awarded to Enberg Logging for $300.

A separate contract for clean-out of a plugged culvert on the same trail went to Sawyer Timber for $100.

The Land Department timber auction from Oct. 26 showed 5,191 cords plus 11 mbf saw timber selling for $161,998.70; all seven tract offered were sold.

On the regular agenda, County Administrator Josh Stevenson informed the board that the citizen budget committee has reduced the preliminary levy by $292,991 by identifying savings in various areas (most through salary savings created by open positions and recruitment timing). This means that $170,000 can be designated for capital improvements in 2018 (up from $75,000).

The committee also recommended $5,000 go toward premiums paid for 4-H members who exhibit at the state fair.

The recommended final 2018 county levy will be $22,307,860 for taxpayers who live in the Longville Ambulance Subordinate Service District, and $21,804,860 for all others.

A public hearing will be held Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse to discuss the 2018 levy and budget.

The board also approved appointment of Stevenson to a four-year term as county administrator.

Annual performance evaluations were conducted Oct. 10 by the board for Stevenson, Assessor Mark Peterson, Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson, CFO Sandra Norikane, ESD Director John Ringle, HHVS Director Michelle Piprude, Highway Engineer Darrick Anderson, Land Commissioner Kirk Titus and MIS Director Tim Richardson. All achieved the requirements of their positions.

The board approved the Highway Department request for final payment of the contract for bridge replacement on the Sioux Camp road in Wabedo Township.

It adopted a resolution requesting that the Minnesota Department of Transportation move 2019 monies to 2018 to fund road projects programmed for that year. Engineer Anderson noted that Cass is gradually scaling back from advancing funds, except when large projects arise.