Logan County to support new work training program 'Strengthening Working Families Initiative'

[August 19, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Tuesday, August 16, 2016, the Logan County Board held their regular monthly meeting to vote on several motions and resolutions. One focus of discussion on funding for Community Action's (CAPCIL) Strengthening Working Families Initiative.

Guests were CAPCIL's Breann Titus and Katie Alexander.

Board member Kevin Bateman made the motion to approve giving CAPCIL $30,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 for the Strengthening Working Families Initiative.

There were three amendments to the original motion.

Bateman amended the motion that the $30,000 be based on sixteen students. He said the program would receive half the money when the classes start and the other half upon completion.

Bateman would also like the students to appear before the board to be recognized for their achievement.

Bateman said if the program only gets eight students, the county would "only be on the hook for $15,000."

Board members Miles Craig, Gene Rohlfs and Pat O'Neill said they did not feel the funding should be per student. Craig said they are funding a program not a student. Rohlfs and O'Neill said expenses are same no matter the number.

Rohlfs had questions about criteria and how to evaluate success. He does not want to keep paying for the program year after year.

Alexander said they are open to suggestions for criteria, but measurable outcomes have been established and must be met for the program to succeed. She said the program may be funded by grants later.

Titus said they will recruit the students to get sixteen. They want the program to be successful and will only be able to get grants if it succeeds.

Board member Chuck Ruben said since it is a pilot program, they can look at success at the end to decide about funding again.

Bateman then amended his motion to spend up to $30,000 but still base it on per student. This motion failed 8-4 with Dave Blankenship, Craig, Emily Davenport, Bob Farmer, Pat O'Neill, Rohlfs, Ruben and Adam Schmidt voting no; Rick Aylesworth, Bateman, David Hepler and Schaffenacher voting yes.

Craig motioned to amend Bateman's motion to fund it as a joint venture with funding contingent on the city's involvement and program being fully funded.

Bateman said he did not want the program to be held up based on whether the city might do it. Hepler said the program will be discussed at a joint meeting with the city on September 21st.

Craig's motion for the funding to be contingent on the city's involvement failed 8-4 with Aylesworth, Bateman, Blankenship, Farmer, Hepler, O'Neill, Rohlfs and Schaffenacker voting no; Craig, Davenport, Ruben, and Schmidt voting yes.

The original motion to give CAPCIL $30,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 for the Strengthening Working Families Initiative passed 7-5 with Aylesworth, Bateman, Craig, Hepler, O'Neill, Rohlfs and Ruben voting yes; Blankenship, Davenport, Farmer, Rohlfs and Schaffenacker voting no.

[Angela Reiners]