The Custer County Kids’ Club will continue to operate, at least for now, with partial Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds, while the Custer County Youth Club will carry on with volunteers.

That was the general consensus of the county commissioners during their regular meetings held earlier this week.

The kids’ club is an after school care program for children up to fifth grade. The youth club is an after school program for teens.

Both programs began operating in December with the use of state and federal TANF dollars.

Also operating with the use of TANF dollars was the Hanssen Haus resource center.

All three programs came under fire earlier this year after Custer County sheriff Fred Jobe alleged possible misuse of those TANF funds.

At the time, Jobe was also concerned that county dollars were being used to operate the three programs, and such dollars were not put in the 2009 budget.

Jobe’s allegations led to an audit by state officials. That audit revealed kids’ club and youth club did qualify for full TANF funding through June, while Hanssen Haus would qualify for partial funding during the same time frame.

On Monday and Tuesday, July 6-7, the county commissioners looked at the dollars spent and how much TANF dollars would be available for the next six months.

From Dec. 2008 through June 2009, expenses for kids’ club totaled $66,605.28.

During the same time period, expenses for youth club totaled $15,560.97. All of those expenses were reimbursed with TANF dollars so no county funds were expended.

The income generated through donations and fees for kids’ club from Dec. 2008 to June 2009 totaled $1,181.55. No income was generated through the youth club.

Hanssen Haus expenses through June totaled $28,157.03, however, only about 45 percent of those expenses – $12,389.10 –  were reimbursed with TANF funds.

The income Hanssen Haus generated in rental fees during the same time frame was $395, therefore, county funds to operate Hanssen Haus from Dec. 2008 to June 2009 totaled $15,372.93.

TANF dollars totaling $14,608.70 were also used to hold strategic planning meetings to get the three programs up and running.

The general consensus of the commissioners was that no county dollars would be expended to continue the teen club.

Instead, the teen club would continue as long as volunteers were willing to run it. Donations and grant dollars would also be sought. There are currently three teens enrolled in the youth club.

Social services director Laura Lockhart told the commissioners some $45,000 in TANF funds would be available to continue to operate the kids’ club through Dec. 2009.

Additional dollars would also be sought through grants and other funding sources, said commissioner Carole Custer.

Salaries plus benefits for the kids’ club over the next six months will total $38,477.40. 

Currently, kids’ club has 15 children enrolled, however, they are not fulltime attendees.

Rental fees will be sought to generate additional income through Hanssen Haus.

– Nora Drenner