In a reversal of its previous decision regarding appropriations for the 2001 budget, Mower County commissioners granted The Welcome Center $25,000 in their Tuesday meeting.

Thursday, January 04, 2001

In a reversal of its previous decision regarding appropriations for the 2001 budget, Mower County commissioners granted The Welcome Center $25,000 in their Tuesday meeting.

"I wanted to come here and present information on what we have done at The Welcome Center in the last three months and the network we have developed in the county," said Silvestry. "Our work has involved most of the agencies in Mower County."

Silvestry went on to stress that the services which The Welcome Center provides are available to all newcomers to the area, and are not intended to serve "two major employers" in Austin.

With the growth already evident this winter, Silvestry expects a doubling of the current newcomer to Austin numbers in the spring and summer.

"With the increasing population, there will be more taxes, more housing and more jobs," she said. The county’s economy will be improved."

After hearing Silvestry’s presentation, Mower County Commissioners voted to approve the recommendations of the finance committee on the general fund appropriations. Besides the addition of funding for The Welcome Center, money requested for 2000 and 2001 from the SEMCAC RSVP was not granted.

When asked why the finance committee members changed their stance on The Welcome Center, Commissioner Richard Cummings said that "added information from The Welcome Center, other board members and through phone calls helped the committee members to understand the situation better."

Stating that they were originally concerned that The Welcome Center was duplicating the efforts of county services, Cummings said they are now sure that duplication will not be occurring.

But, he said that the county will continue to monitor the efforts of The Welcome Center. To this end, Commissioner Ray Tucker asked Silvestry to revisit county board meetings in the future with progress reports or send quarterly reports if personal appearances are not possible.