DUI Taskforce presents fiscal plans
MINERAL COUNTY – The Mineral County DUI Taskforce presented their plans for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal year.
Richard Hader, who is running the taskforce operation, broke down the budgetary analysis to the Mineral County Commissioners.
“We have had problems with our plan for this year due to the fact that we were having trouble knowing where the money was at for the DUI Taskforce,” Hader said. “We found that it was getting comingled with some other grants.”
Hader presented two documents to the commissioners. One was for the 2014 fiscal year that ends at the end of June.
There is a balance forward of $10,500, and an extra $1,500 came in from the Mineral County Justice Court for a balance of $12,000.
Several scholarships will also be awarded from the allotted funds, Hader announced.
The second plan presented will be for the fiscal year of 2015.
“It is our intention to forward income again and we should at least have $11,500,” Hader said. “We are probably going to carry $8,000 over from this fiscal year.”
Hader estimated that another $2,000 will be available from justice court fines, and driver license reinstatement fees will bring in $1,500. Some $7,000 will be pledged for scholarships to be available to high school seniors.
DUI enforcement funding has been raised to $3,000, and $500 was pledged for travel to related meetings.
“The last couple meetings we attended we’ve never billed for mileage or anything else, we just went and did it,” Hader said. “We’ve sent out some emails to ask who wants to remain on the task force. I’m guessing everyone on the email list is going to stay.”
Hader said that the Mineral County taskforce plan is generally based off of several other DUI taskforces in the state.
As far as scholarship allocation, the taskforce is expected to contribute $500-$1,000 per scholarship depending on how many applicants there are.
“In my mind it is easy scholarship money,” Hader said. “I think once the DUI Taskforce steps up to the plate more it will be better all the way around for all the schools.”
Students applying for the scholarships have to list educational background, extracurricular activities, and any volunteerism they have participated in to be considered.
Students also have to write a 1,000 word essay providing a plan on how they are going to stay away from drugs or alcohol on high school graduation night.
The DUI Taskforce strives to reduce the alcohol related offenses within the county whether it is DUI related, or a minor in possession.
“We used to be strictly enforcement doing alcohol compliance checks at bars and businesses looking for those who are selling to underage kids,” Hader said. “We’re realizing now, like with anything else, prevention is the way to go.”
The commissioners unanimously approved to accept the taskforce plan for the 2014 fiscal year as well as 2015.
Commissioner Laurie Johnston was appointed to represent the county on the taskforce.