by Mari Radtke
Barb Rohwer explained that she had been asked by Brian Schimmer, Director of O’Brien County Conservation asked if there could be a fund established for donations made for specific projects. Rohwer explained that from the State Auditor, “It is a sub fund of the general basic fund. The general basic fund interest will stay with the general fund.” She said that any specified use of funds must be tracked and can be used only for the specified purposes. John Farrell spoke as president of O’Brien County Sportsmen’s Club. He asked if a donation for a particular project was made and the project cost was less would the donor get the difference back. There are unconfirmed reports that OCCB staff approached the Sportsmen’s Club about donating. Supervisors recently cut funding for one ranger from the OCCB budget. The question Farrell asked about getting unused donation funds returned was not directly answered with supervisors advising Farrell that a donation should be made for a specific project only after the needed amount is known, or that any remaining balance would remain in the general fund.
O’Brien County Sportsmen’s Club has donated thousands of dollars over the years to County Conservation for land acquisition projects. Little Sioux Valley Conservation Association (LSVCA) has fundraised and provided support for Prairie Heritage Center and other education activities since it was built. A letter from Assistant Director Amber Wetherell to LSVCA board members in September calling for an investigation erected a barrier between the two organizations. The resolution for a donation account was approved. The O’Brien County Supervisors spoke following their vote that they expected this new donation fund to be limited to being spent within O’Brien County.
Another budget amendment was scheduled for April 27 for the Secondary Roads budget. They expect to spend beyond budgeted amounts by doing projects in future budget years. The amendment will not ask for more tax dollars.