Todd County Commissioners: Energy assistance and household water assistance programs approved
by Karin L. Nauber
With Commissioner David Kircher opposed to the household water assistance program part of a motion, the Todd County Board of Commissioners approved the fiscal year Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Grant Contract.
With the passage of this board action, Todd County Health and Human Services (HHS) will administer and deliver the Energy Assistance Program and Household Water Assistance Program to Todd County residents beginning October 1, 2021.
The county HHS department has long administered the energy assistance program (EAP), but the household water portion is new and even the employees working with the program aren’t exactly sure what it is all about.
Financial Support Services Unit Manager Lisa Chapin said that her understanding is that it is to help people pay their water bills.
In spite of the county not having much information on the new program—which came from COVID funding—Chapin did say that the funds for the two programs would be kept separate.
Kircher asked, “What if we don’t want to accept this?”
He said that he was okay with the EAP program, but not the new addition of the water program.
The discussion rolled into rent and that people were already not paying their rent.
Chapin said that the county could provide emergency assistance to help people with an eviction, but that they have been referring residents to Rent Help Minnesota. She said that the program has thousands of applications pending.
After further discussion, Kircher asked if they could separate the two programs instead of approving both in one motion?
HHS Director Jackie Och said that this was how the state is rolling out the program so they have no option to separate them.
Och and Chapin agreed to bring more information back to a work session once they know more.
In other business:
• Approved the retirement of Road Deputy Corey Heid effective July 30. Heid has been with Todd County for over 32 years. . .