By Sara Quam
Rock County is one of a few in the region that still hasn't decided whether to advance $18,000 to the floundering Southwest Regional Development Commission.
After more research and discussion, the Rock County Board of Commissioners tabled the vote Tuesday for a second time.
Communication and governing practices within the SRDC are still a concern to Rock County. The board also wants to know if the nine southwest counties will be responsible for making up any funds in the case of bankruptcy or if the SRDC folds.
Commissioner Ron Boyenga said, "Worst case scenario, we could pay over $700,000, and we should make sure a few people wonÕt cause that to happen."
The board fears that state bonds may have to be repaid if the SRDC's assets, namely Prairie Expo, are no longer for a public use. But with unanswered questions, the board and the SRDC are left to wait it out.
The SRDC has said that without the $18,000 advance, it won't likely survive.
All along, the Rock County Commissioners have said they didn't like the way the SRDC was handling funds and its communications. And even though it is a member, Rock County felt powerless in the way the SRDC was governed.
An executive board makes all decisions without equal representation from the nine member counties.
Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "We have a representative sitting at these commission meetings who's not being informed. I'm certainly sympathetic, but there are things that have to be fixed in the way theyÕve done things - the decision-making structure."
All of the SRDC's cash reserves went to Prairie Expo, which closed months ago. The executive board of the SRDC knew about the funding problems six months before the rest of the commission or any of the counties or cities were informed.
It's that kind of practice that concerns Commissioner Bob Jarchow. "I have a hard time giving taxpayers' money to an organization that has proven it can't manage it."
Only two counties, Lyon and Marshall, have voted to give the SRDC an advance that the SRDC says it will pay back with future tax levies.
Jarchow said, "I think there's a bigger fight down the road, and I don't see that throwing $18,000 at it is going to prevent us from paying the $700,000 later on."
The SRDC still pays monthly utilities and insurance on the unused Prairie Expo. The SRDC can get money through grants but probably won't be able to operate without all nine counties giving $18,000.