I'm back!
Our County Board will be meeting Tuesday, April 20 at 9am for what could be a long meeting!
First, we will be electing a county board chairman, vice chairman and members of the highway committee. This process can be lengthy - or it could be over quickly. Then, we'll move on to the business of governing...
- AHNAPEE TRAIL: Grant funding is being sought to maintain the Ahnapee trail
- SCHAUER PARK: After a lively public debate, an agreement has been reached between the County and Jacksonport to develop a harbor of refuge and expand boat launching opportunities at Schauer Park.
- REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS: To encourage the creation of jobs, our County has a revolving loan program to provide very low interest loans to start and grow local small businesses. Two loans are being sought at this meeting.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY: The Board will be asked to approve a resolution supporting a state-wide study to create a new, bold economic development plan. We are not financially supporting this effort.
- BUSSES!: The social services and finance committees are recommending the acceptance of $326,500 ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) to purchase buses for the Sunshine House and Red Cross.
- ASPHALT PLANT: Our current asphalt operation cannot recycle old asphalt. $727,000 is being requested to upgrade our capabilities which will allow us to use RAP (Recycled Asphalt Products) and use less oil and propane to produce asphalt to maintain our roads
- ETHICS: The County is freshening up our ethics code - repealing the old code and replacing it with "ethical principles" that will be encorporated at a part of our Rules of Order.
We will also be re-assigning to committees. Some of our committee assignments will change to accommodate the new members of our County Board and changes made by the County Board Chairman.
Your questions and comments are welcome!
Ben Meyer
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Had a few questions regarding the grant funds for busses:
ReplyDeleteSee my responses below... next to the "--"
We improve the counties infrastructure by purchasing buses for non-profit organizations in Sturgeon Bay?
-- Yes, many elderly and disabled Door County citizens live in Sturgeon Bay. Also, I believe these organizations serve more than Sturgeon Bay. I'm nearly certain that the RC does...
Does anyone ask themselves if we should be doing these things, or do we just run willie nillie without purpose.
-- Yes. We should do this because it provides transportation to those who otherwise couldn't live independently. When they can't live independently then we pay (tax payers) for them to live in institutions - neither good for finances or for the dignity and quality of life for the people we're serving.
These organizations have the ability to obtain these funds all on their own. Or is this about power? We get the buses, lease them out, and they have to do our work.
-- The grant funds "pass through" the County - its a way to identify and distribute the funds efficiently. It's not about the power - there are no strings attached - accept the organizations have to have liability insurance and so on...
Like take people medical appointments and such. Maybe the people that reap the most benefit should pay for the buses, like the clinics. Or the pharmacie, or the shopping centers.....
Might be an idea or two.
-- I agree. My concern is that these businesses would not see significant benefits from this population to warrant the cost of these busses. The benefits of these programs actually help society as a whole too:
--Imagine you are homebound - you can't drive or walk well enough to get your own medicine or food - and you have limited funds. Would you chose to pay more to stay in an institution or would you enjoy the freedom of staying in your home while utilizing subsidized transportation? Sometimes families fill this role - but many others don't have families to rely on.
Thanks,
Ben