By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – Elizabeth Brown, the director of the Minnehaha County Detox Center, gave good news to commissioners at their Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.
Brown reported that the center received a 98% at their accreditation review, earning another three years of accreditation for the facility from the South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health.
All of the commissioners seemed very happy to learn of this, and they told Brown so.
Commissioner Cindy Heiberger took the opportunity to applaud the work of Brown and the center, while Commissioners Jeff Barth and Gerald Beninga both pointed out the growth and improvement in the county’s detox facility in past years.
Commissioner Dean Karsky compared the past detox facility to a “cave,” and he commended Brown for the improvements and for helping people at the “lowest point in their existence.”
In regular business, the commission voted unanimously to transfer $303,662 from the county’s general fund to emergency management fund. This money represents a state grant that emergency management uses for its operating budget.
Commissioners also voted to sign the 2020 agreement with Lutheran Social Services to provide for its Evening Report Center.
Juvenile Detention Center director Jamie Gravett spoke about the benefits of the program in providing an evening alternative for youth who may have a conflict or little supervision at home.
While this service is mainly for young people awaiting their court dates, Gravett said that because of the support they receive in this program, it can have a positive effect on their lives.
Heiberger added that often kids would go there “post-adjudication,” as well.
“They would ask the judge to let them stay there, because they were safe, and they were learning things,” she said. “It was a much better situation for those kids.”
She also explained that while the county funds the youth’s time at the center pre-adjudication, the United Way pays for the services after any trial.
Because of the holiday, there was no commission meeting on Dec. 24, and the next meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 31.
That meeting will be at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Meetings are open to all, and public comment is always encouraged.
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