Committee plans to review building needs

LONGVILLE -- Commissioners Jim Dowson and Jim Demgen, acting as the board capital improvement committee, will review a proposal Sept. 11 for the county to purchase property for the Family Safety Network.

Currently, the county contributes $9,000 annually toward the Family Safety Network's annual rent to use two buildings at Ah-Gwah-Ching for an office, counseling and emergency housing.

The state has proposed to increase that rental to $13,159 this year and $24,865.50 next year. Administrator Robert Yochum said he has delayed for several months this year a formal response to the state on the increase, because the board has yet to act on it.

If the commissioners chose to terminate the state lease, Yochum recommended they make a decision soon, so he can negotiate an interim lease for 2002.

Chris Swenson of the Family Safety Network Tuesday asked the commissioners to purchase a building for the agency. She estimated the cost would run $200,000 to $300,000.

The current rental space is 4,154 square feet. Swenson said she would need at least that much space to continue existing programs.

Demgen said if the county were to purchase a building, it should be centrally located in the county and serve residents of the entire county.

The issue also will be referred to the county budget committee in October for consideration of how the county could fund such a purchase with a deficit currently being projected for existing county operations in 2003. That proposed budget allows only $9,000 for the Family Safety Network at this time.