Intervention program aimed to assist juveniles

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County commissioners, on Sept. 9, approved Otter Tail County human services assistance to Wilkin County which includes the city of Breckenridge. Wilkin County will pay a fee to Otter Tail County to cover employee assistance to Wilkin County employees.

The Otter Tail County Human Services director will serve and support Wilkin County with presence in Wilkin County approximately one day per week or 20 percent of a 40-hour work week. The Otter Tail County director may represent both Otter Tail and Wilkin counties with participation in work groups, committees, task forces and other assignments.

Otter Tail County will provide, at no cost to Wilkin County, office space in Otter Tail County, technology, equipment and office supplies for the purposes of Otter Tail

County business. Wilkin County will provide a Wilkin County designated laptop at no cost to Otter Tail County, office space in Wilkin County and on-site technology, equipment, office supplies and cell phone for the purposes of Wilkin County business.

School engagement new hire approved

County attorneys in Minnesota engage with schools primarily through intervention programs designed to address truancy and prevent juvenile crime. These initiatives often involve collaboration with schools, social services and families to address underlying issues before a student enters the court system. 

With this in mind, county commissioners on Sept. 9 approved the hiring of a county probation employee to help meet the aforementioned goals. Shifting the work to County Probation with the additional employee was determined to be the best option on the table. 

The new probation office employee will work in cooperation with the Otter Tail County Human Services department as well as the county attorney.