DEXTER -- Supporters of a new Stoddard County program created to the serve the developmentally disabled made another plea Thursday, Nov. 15, for funding, but will not be included in the 2019 Senate Bill 40 budget.
SB40 board members approved spending of just over $400,000 in the next year, including $65,500 for an existing shelter workshop.
Funding had been cut from the existing sheltered workshop for a portion of 2018, before control of the board shifted in the fall with the appointment of new members.
Board members Robin Rickman and Deb McKay voted for motions to provide equal funding to clients of both the existing sheltered workshop and the new program, Progressive Industries. The efforts failed without support from board members Danny Griffin, Ray McLane, Don Rhodes, Josh Hester and the Rev. Dale Holman.
Costs will change in 2019 because of increases to the minimum wage, said Hester. The board needs to have more information about what that could mean before making changes to the budget, he said.
The existing sheltered workshop has dropped from between 40-45 clients to 36, Rickman said. Progressive Industries has four clients currently.
Costs would not change for the board, she said, because it would fund essentially the same number of clients, but at two programs instead of one.
There is not enough money for both and the original tax was for the sheltered workshop, said Devin Miller, interim director of the existing sheltered workshop.
"I feel that if this continues to keep progressing, the battle between both of us is just going to continue to hurt the sheltered workshop and hurt the disabled employees," said Miller, adding later, "I've tried to be as fair as I can, but those people are not to be pulled around like a yo-yo. ... Honestly what it's turned into is a competition."
Having two programs offers more variety of possible jobs and training, said McKay and Rickman.
"Just as I've had a lot of choices where I chose to work, why can't the developmentally disabled have a choice?" asked Mike McCollough, of Progressive Industries. "If they want to work for X and Y is not providing what they need, then why can't they go to work for X."
The clients who have gone to Progressive Industries are trying to better themselves and should not be punished for that, said targeted case management board member Shirley Carney.
The sheltered workshop has come a long way, is getting bigger and better contracts and the current group works well together, according to Miller.
"If we would all be truly, truly honest, if there would have been a little bit of cooperation, you guys would have been over in this new building and this would be a completely dead issue and you would have a great environment for the developmentally disabled to work," McCollough said during the meeting.
That is not true, Miller said.
Members of the public also spoke during the meeting in favor of both programs, with McLane complimenting the sheltered workshop on its atmosphere and care given to clients.
County commissioner Carol Jarrell asked for financial information regarding how much Progressive Industries is spending and making. The SB40 board does not have that information, according to the discussion. McCollough said he would check on it at a later date.
SB40 board members also continued to discuss the possible sale of one or both of the new buildings used for targeted case management, Progressive Industries and Echos thrift store.
The payment for the outstanding debt on those buildings is lower than expected, said administrator Dana McClure. The monthly mortgage payment will be $6,800 rather than the $8,000 previously discussed.
Hester asked that the board consider developing bylaws to provide further guidance on its actions and mission.