Local briefs

The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Board will meet 3:30 p.m. Monday at city hall.

Placements are under budget

Crow Wing County budgeted well for out-of-home placements in 2000.

Sue Beck, county welfare director, informed the Crow Wing County Board Tuesday that the cost of out-of-home placements came $20,960 under budget. The county spent $2.58 million of a $2.6 million budget.

"We are one of few counties who actually spent under budget," said Beck. "This is about as close as you can come in a budget."

In January, the county has spent an estimated $208,300 in placements, which is almost $30,000 under the budgeted figure of $238,333. Beck said the budget increased for 2001 by $260,000 from last year. The county has spent thus far about $11,000 more than January 2000.

Commissioner Terry Sluss, who has been working with the Association of Minnesota Counties child welfare task force, said AMC recommends the state fully take over funding of out-of-home placements. The counties would partner with the state by continuing to work on outcomes and prevention efforts.

Nisswa plans open house

NISSWA -- The city of Nisswa will host an open house and a hearing Jan. 31 at Nisswa City Hall for community members to meet with city officials and to review and comment on a new zoning ordinance.

The open house will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a formal public hearing at 7 p.m.

The proposed ordinance is a result of the work made by the Nisswa Navigators citizens' group and was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation.

The ordinance is organized in a simpler fashion with greater emphasis on community design standards and environmental protection. The new zoning districts have been created from the directives in the recently adopted city comprehensive plan.

More than 100 Nisswa residents participated in the development of the proposed ordinance.

Copies of the proposal are available for public review at Nisswa City Hall. For more information, call Laurie Hemish at (218) 963-2402.

Neighborhood association to meet

The South East Brainerd Residents Association will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Brainerd Public Library. Officers will be elected, and those attending are asked to bring their questionnaires from November's minutes.

Public utilities commission to meet

The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission will meet 3 p.m. Wednesday in the board room at 1151 Highland Scenic Drive.

Program planned on chiildren

A satellite broadcast presentation, "A Safer Community for Children and Youth: Ten Things You Can Do," will be 3:30-5 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Crow Wing County Social Services Building on Laurel Street in Brainerd.

The presentation will feature psychologist James Garbarino, co-director of the Family Life Development Center, and a professor of human development at Cornell University.

The presentation is open to all who are interested, but will be of particular value to people interested in community and youth work, parents and youth, members of faith communities, educators and law enforcement personnel.

For registration information, contact the Crow Wing County office of the University of Minnesota Extension Service at (218) 824-1065.