Residents rallying to put another patrol deputy back on roads in Wilkin County, Minn., may see their grass-roots efforts pay off, even if it means opening their checkbooks.
Wilkin County commissioners agreed Monday to revisit a budget proposal by sheriff's deputies that would re-store a patrol officer's position, which was cut Jan. 1 to offset state aid losses and rising taxes.
An overflow crowd - more than 50 residents showed up - forced officials to move Monday's meeting from the board room to a courtroom in Breckenridge.
"I didn't know there were that many people who were interested," said Commission Chairwoman Stephanie Miranowski.
Last month, commissioners finalized the 2007 budget and cut three jobs, including one of the sheriff's four patrol deputies. Deputies offered a plan to keep Kurt Hodges as a patrolman, but officials called the plan a temporary fix.
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Wolverton Mayor Jodi Tracy on Monday presented her concerns, including speeding motorists, in an effort to sway commissioners.
Tracy said she wants the board to accept the deputies' earlier proposal - which would eliminate some hours by part-time deputies and double up officers on some shifts - and give everyone time to come up with a long-term solution.
One solution may be to ask communities to pay more for patrol coverage, Tracy said.
Two commissioners plan to meet with deputies about their proposal before making a recommendation to the full board Jan. 23.
County Auditor Wayne Bezenek, who keeps minutes for board meetings, said residents attending Monday's meeting came from nearly all stretches of the county.
In other 2007 cost-cutting measures, commissioners eliminated two employees and $140,000 from the Family Services Department and $200,000 from the Highway Department.
"We had to make the best decision we could with the information we had," Miranowski said.
Unless changes are made to Minnesota's funding formula for counties, however, Miranowski said board members will be making tough cuts every year.
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In 2000, Wilkin County received $972,845 in state aid. It decreased in all but two years since then and bottomed out this year at $561,617.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Steven P. Wagner at (701) 241-5542
