ECI Coordinator asks county to eliminate fee to manage funds

     Sherri Hunt wears many hats in Jones County, including working as a county employee as director of Cedar/Jones Early Childhood Iowa (ECI).

     It was that role that brought Hunt to the May 25 Jones County Supervisor meeting to discuss the Employer of Record Services Contract for Fiscal Year 2022.

     Hunt has been in this role for 18 years.

     “I am very passionate about this,” she said.

     Prior to her visit to the board meeting, back when the supervisors were working on their budget, Hunt said she submitted a funding request for ECI. She reminded the board that they chose not to support the request.

     A 3 percent fee comes out of Hunt’s ECI budget, or about $1,000 per fiscal year, for the Auditor’s Office to process her paycheck, despite the fact, Hunt said, that she’s a county employee.

     In addition, the Auditor’s Office manages ECI’s funds and grants Hunt is awarded. For example, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library receives grant funding for programs in both Jones and Cedar counties.

     Hunt said Jones County was her fiscal agent/sponsor, and the fact that she lives in Jones County, it’s just been convenient. She said the projects she receives funding for serve the entire county.

     Hunt informed the board of supervisors that County Auditor Whitney Hein proposed ECI pay a fee for the handling and management of funds.

     “I’m not willing to do that,” Hunt said. “That’s more money I’d have to take away from programs; that’s less money that goes to the kids (of Jones County).” Hunt said she hoped the supervisors, Hein and herself could come to an agreement on this matter.

     Knowing the Auditor’s Office was also managing money for Cedar County ECI, Hunt went to the Cedar County Board of Supervisors and they agreed to serve as her fiscal agent at no cost.

     “This is much more than about the money,” she said of the 3 percent fee. “How can you support ECI? This is about the kids and making an impact, making sure families know what Jones County has to offer.”

     Hunt said she would like Jones County to continue managing grant funds, specifically if those grants are awarded to Jones County programs.

     Hein said it could get complicated running funding through two county governing bodies, especially if Cedar County is serving as her fiscal agent. She told Hunt she would want to have a conversation with the Cedar County Auditor, making sure they were comfortable with Jones County also managing funds without a formal agreement in place.

     “It does present some risks legally,” warned Hein.

     “These are separate grants,” Hunt explained, “not ECI funds.”

     Supervisor John Schlarmann asked if the ECI funds could be separated between Jones and Cedar counties. Hunt said because her position was organized by the state, the funds cannot be separated at the county level.

     Hunt said up until now, her relationship with the Auditor’s Office has been good. She also has a combination of Jones and Cedar county officials serving on her board.

     “This is nothing new,” she said of the funding. “I’ve worked with Janine (Sulzner, former county auditor) on projects and never had an issue. I’ve never had to pay fees on projects.”

     Furthermore, Hunt said the grants she’s passing through the county aren’t huge dollar amounts by any means.

     “But they buy a lot of books and serve a lot of kids,” she said.

     Lucia Herman, ECI board member and Community Services director, spoke out in favor of ECI.

     “They have a very limited budget,” Herman said of the amount of money passing through the county. “We all know where the dollars lie with mental health and human services.” Herman said she would support not charging Hunt the additional fee.

     “Her funds are already limited with the state,” Herman added.

     In the grand scheme of things, Hunt said the amount of work she puts on the county is minimal in comparison to others.

     “This is not about the money, but about the board of supervisors recognizing the work I do within Jones County,” she said. “If I fall in with another county, you may never see me or my services.

     “Of all the other things the county supports, are we really going to argue about $1,000?” continued Hunt. “I’d like to see Jones County step up and contribute like Cedar County does.”

     Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach asked Hein if she charges fees for other grants that come through her office.

     “I don’t oversee other departments’ grants,” Hein said. “It’s up to them to manage.”

     “This is Whitney’s office,” Supervisor Joe Oswald reminded everyone. “If she wants to charge a fee…”

     Hunt just asked that the supervisors consider her request to eliminate the 3 percent fee to issue her paychecks, as well as the fee to manage ECI grant funds. Oswald said they would discuss taking action before July 1 when the new fiscal year takes effect.

     The board did approve a Facilities Use Agreement with the Anamosa Family Resource Center for office space for Hunt and CPPC/Jones County Family Council/Decat Coordinator Heather Weers. Both are county employees.