County funds SDS kids' program

By CHUCK SMITH

A local agency that provides service for disabled children took its expected funding cut, just as other agencies had to do this year, but it was successful in getting an obligation from the Barton County Commission for 2010 funding.

Sunflower Diversified Services Director Jim Johnson and Sunflower patrons met with the commission this week to discuss the agency’s request for $57,250 in funding for 2010, since the agency is planning next year’s budget now.

While that funding level would have been the same that the county provided in 2009, Jackson noted he and the rest of the Sunflower officials recognized the county has issued a 5-percent cut across the board and realized that same cut could be expected for its program.

And that is what the commissioners approved. The agency will receive $54,387.50 in 2010 for the Early Childhood Intervention Program.

That program is intended to, among other things, help work with young children and to integrate them into the school system.

Johnson noted this past year, Sunflower worked with 18 children who developed enough that “they won’t need extra help in the future.”

Also on Monday, the commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Great Bend to adopt another three years of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, the last piece in that equation, Assistant City Administrator Nick Gregory told the commissioners.

The program, which needs to be renewed by Jan. 1, 2010, provides property tax rebates for remodeling or addition programs on commercial and residential properties. Gregory reported earlier that city officials try to educate the public on the availability of the program, making sure that when building permits are issued there is information provided about how the revitalization program works.