Commission hears census updates

Members of the 2020 Leadership Marengo class sat in on a short meeting of the Marengo County Commission Tuesday and learned of efforts to make sure all residents are counted in the census next year.

Meolinie House, partnership specialist with the U.S. Census, gave the Commission a “refresher course” on the importance of the head count held every ten years in America.

With $167 billion on the line, the county needs to make sure as many residents as possible are counted so that it can get its fair share of federal support. House said only 56 percent of county residents responded for the 2000 census. The figure rose to 63 percent in 2010.

“We want to assist in getting those numbers up as much as you can,” said House.

The project now is in the education phase, and she encouraged commissioners to appoint a liaison to work with the U.S. Census and county workers. In January, she continued, the “awareness phase” will begin.

For the first time respondents will be able fill out census forms online or by telephone in addition to mailing in a printed form or responding to a census taker who comes to the door.

She also said the U.S. Census is hiring part time workers and encouraged anyone who is interested to logon to www.2020census.gov/jobs. “We want to hire people from your county to work your county.”

The Commission approved meeting dates for 2020. All will be on the second Tuesday of the month except for November. That meeting will be held the next Thursday.

Also approved was a change in the monthly charge for the $10,000 life insurance policy from Minnesota Life Insurance. Each county employee’s fee will go from $3.70 to $4.20. The amount for retirees will stay the same.

Reappointed to the E-911 Board of Directors were Bill Mason, District 2; Joseph Hudson, District 4, and Tommy Reese and Bruce Baker, at-large members.

The Commission also learned the local Drug Enforcement Task Force Commission has received $204,100 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance3 Grant.

Probate Judge Laurie Hall announced that high school and college students now are eligible to work the bools for the election Dec. 10. She also said filing closed Nov. 8 for those who wish to run for county offices.

The Commission voted to accept the retirement of Joyce Morgan as Library Director and appoint Sarah Dailey as the new Library Director and to adjust her salary accordingly.

In December, the Commission will accept applications for overseer/custodian of the Chickasaw State Park and accept bids for the Inmate Telephone Contract.