Dear Friends,

In the last issue of the Milne Report, I committed to making some positive changes in Marion County. Today, I am confident that Marion County is in a better position than it was a year ago to continue facing the challenges of change before us. The key to that success has been the leadership role the Board of Commissioners has begun playing.

One of my major achievements last year was to work with my fellow commissioners to establish a set of goals for the County. These goals lay the foundation for the future.

Over the course of the last several months through hard work, debate, compromise and consensus, we have committed to developing "a strong and effective internal management infrastructure that supports good decision making and quality service delivery."

We have targeted six goals: Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Communications, Information Technology, Capital Management, and Accountability. I am particularly pleased that we have incorporated into our goals every one of the campaign promises I made eighteen months ago.

When I first took my seat as a Marion County Commissioner, the option before the Board was a $22 million, 120-bed facility. I heard from many people in the community who agreed with me that this expensive "solution" did not come close to addressing the real problem.

We, like the board before us, wrestled with what Marion County’s role is in responding to juveniles who break the law and to those juveniles who have demonstrated that they are a risk to the community and themselves. With the number of youths who are troubled and the seriousness of the crimes they commit rising, we all agreed we could not continue to do things as they have been done in the past. We began questioning what the appropriate and most effective role of Marion County should be in the continuum of juvenile justice.

Our first step was to identify our mission: "Ensure Public Safety." From there we established our vision for achieving that mission, the elements of an effective juvenile system, the role of the Board of Commissioners, and the role of the Marion County Juvenile Department.

The Marion County Juvenile Department is responsible for establishing sanctions for every first-time offender coming into the system. That department is responsible for referring offenders to programs (not necessarily provided by the County) and they are responsible for providing detention when the court deems it necessary.

The most cost-effective option for the County is to build a new facility. But, instead of the "Taj Mahal," we have agreed to a more appropriate 50-bed facility that will get the job done for a quarter of the price. With the construction cost dramatically reduced, we will not have to go to the voters for funding. The existing facility will continue to be used for administrative and court functions.

To fund the increased cost to operate this expanded juvenile detention center, we will not ask voters for more money either. Running a juvenile justice system that meets the needs of our citizens is our responsibility and we should do so from within our budget.

We will look first to the juvenile department itself. In a redesigned department, there will be opportunities to re-allocate dollars. We must, and we will, be more innovative in seeking grants and redirecting funds so that money is spent in the most effective and appropriate manner to meet the needs of these youths and their families. But this will be done in a fiscally responsible way.

Over the next 18 to 24 months, there will be many changes in our juvenile department. Some of the changes are already taking place and some may not be noticeable for some time. And, of course, the true test will be in our effectiveness in serving troubled youth. We have not only demonstrated our commitment to improving our juvenile department to more effectively meet the needs of our citizens, but also our commitment to providing leadership and a new style of management in Marion County government.

Sincerely,

Patti Milne

P.S. Set aside this date! April 30, 2000. You will want to make your reservation early to attend Patti’s Planting Party, as space is limited for this great fun Spring Fundraiser Event. Patti’s Planting Party will be held at Fessler’s Nursery. There will be box lunches, tours, demonstrations and tips to help you plant and care for the spring flowers and plants you’ll be taking home in your complimentary planter box! For informatoin and reservations, call 503.569.3981.