As Koochiching County commissioners wrestle with how to provide services while at the same time living within the county’s budget constraints, a review of the services provided to residents by community action programs began Tuesday.

County Board Chairman Wade Pavleck appointed Commissioners Rob Ecklund and Kevin Adee to a committee to review the delivery of services to county residents by CAP agencies. Ecklund represents Koochiching on the Kootasca Community Action Inc. Board and Adee serves as the county representative on the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency Board.

Commissioner Brian McBride, who made the motion to create the committee, said the committee can help the board understand better all that CAP agencies do for county residents and whether the agencies are the best way to delivery the services.

The action was prompted by concerns voiced by commissioners that Kootasca has chosen to leave some of its positions located in Koochiching vacant with staff retirements and layoffs.

Commissioners said they want to be sure that Koochiching is receiving its fair share of funding and services.

Patty Petite, Kootasca executive director, met with the board Tuesday to review programming provided to Koochiching residents by Kootasca and to answer questions about the programs.

Petite acknowledged that staff numbers and funding have been reduced. She said just this year the agency’s budget had been cut by $3 million to about $5 million. Of the agency’s 60 staff members, she said 12 are located in International Falls.

However, she noted, that a large provider of funding to the agency requires that much of its money be spent in Itasca County, where the foundation is located. Petite said the agency continues to look at different funding streams.

Commissioner Mike Hanson noted that the agency has had to adjust to tough economic times. He said in 2007, the agency had a $7.7 million budget and 105 staff.

Petite said the agency leads four programs for Itasca and Koochiching residents: crisis housing, energy assistance, Headstart and weatherization.

New initiates involve a program that helps people gain financial literacy by offering budgeting classes, credit information and asset development. It also hopes to expand a program that helps people gain refurbished computers for use at their homes.

“Funding has been a barrier,” she said, adding that she would visit again with commissioners to explore funding from the county for a joint initiative or project.

Commissioners said that while they appreciate all that Kootasca does for Koochiching residents, they want to ensure that the federal funding provided to Kootasca is being used fairly in the two counties.

Pavleck said he was concerned that the agency’s board uses the “John Carver model of government” which allows the director to make decisions about salaries and budgets, while the board makes policy decisions.

“I don’t care for that form of government,” Pavleck said. “There is not the oversight that should be there to properly provide services to residents.”

Petite said the board is reviewing other models of government, and urged commissioners to offer suggestions.

Petite has served the agency as its executive director for 10 months and said the government shutdown and other issues have made the position difficult.