Larry Walden didn’t mince words Tuesday morning when he came before Allen County commissioners.
Walden, Iola, questioned the wisdom of commissioners providing $100,000 to support the Bowlus Fine Arts Center for each of the next three fiscal years, saying it should be the responsibility of the local school district.
Walden also said commissioners should pay off the remaining $1.5 million due for the construction of the Allen County Law Enforcement Center as well as divert $1 million for the construction of a medical arts building on the grounds of Allen County Regional Hospital.
Walden said the county has $5 million in cash, including $2.5 million in Enbridge Pipeline taxes sequestered in the current calendar year budget. “You’re supposed to have 7 percent in reserve, which is about $1 million of your $16 million budget,” he said. “You could save $160,000 in interest for the next seven years on the jail bonds,” if those were paid off.
Commissioner Tom Williams said they had considered both paying off the jail and contributing to a medical arts building when they learned of the Enbridge windfall. “We also thought about lowering the levy,” but decided it was better to put the extra revenue in reserve for the time being.
A provision of $1 million would not in itself be enough to build a clinic. The idea is to have a building that would accommodate visiting specialists as well as be a permanent site for an anchor tenant, such as a group of physicians.
Williams pointed out a committee appointed by hospital trustees is looking into construction of a clinic. County Counselor Alan Weber said a report from the committee was due soon.
TIM CUNNINGHAM, executive director of Tri-Valley Developmental Services, came with hat in hand to ask commissioners to renew their $65,000 contribution to the agency that helps those developmentally disabled.
Cunningham blamed cuts by the state for putting the agency in dire straits. Tri-Valley is facing a cut of $500,000 for fiscal year 2017, and that’s on top of a $1 million cut for FY 2016.
“We’ve let five employees go” and will furlough another four or five, Cunningham said. “We’re down from 170 to 130 employees with roughly the same number of clients.”
In addition to services, the agency also provides housing for clients.
Looking ahead, Cunningham said two houses would be remodeled in Humboldt, and a third in Iola. “We’ve been stuffing them (clients) in like sardines.”
“Anyway the state can screw us over, they do,” Cunningham growled. Tri-Valley has been in operation 31 years, with Cunningham involved for 25. Today’s financial climate is “the worst I’ve ever seen,” he said.
The aim of Tri-Valley Development Services is to give clients opportunities to live as independently as possible.
WILLIAMS resigned from the 31st Judicial Nominating Committee, citing a conflict with him being a commissioner. He suggested Iolan Ryan Sparks fill his seat, a proposal that received unaminous support.
