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Sharing benefits counties
Published 11:16am Thursday, February 10, 2011The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners hit the nail on the head when they said neighboring counties must work together more in the future to help make ends meet.
Collaboration will be a key word as Otter Tail County moves forward.
Look, for example, at the county’s department of solid waste. Not that long ago Director Mike Hanan became part of a cooperative where he not only oversees programs in Otter Tail County, but in Wadena and Todd counties, too. All three counties share in paying his salary.
A similar system is in place in the court system, where Court Administrator Janice Cossette serves not only Otter Tail County, but Becker and Clay counties, as well.
We applaud Otter Tail County’s commissioners for taking a lead on this issue. The board is in the process of setting up meetings with boards from neighboring counties to discuss how they might all share in providing services.
County Coordinator Larry Krohn said this week that “Combining more county services can and will be done. Otter Tail County is not alone in this endeavor. We’re seeing lots of changes among Minnesota’s 87 counties.”
He’s right. And with the foresight and planning by the Otter Tail County Board, our county will be well poised for the change.
