METH GUIDANCE CHANGES ARE NOW IN PLACE

When it comes to methamphetamine and its impact on Redwood County, those
involved are willing to admit they are learning as they go.

That was evident during the process that resulted in the demolition of a
house in Milroy this past fall.

To help cover more of its bases, members of a Redwood County meth working
group have made some substantive changes to the clandestine drug lab sites
ordinance it passed early in 2004.

Those changes were presented to the board during a special meeting Dec. 28.

One of the major issues it is trying to resolve is what to do with personal
items in the houses and/or other buildings where a meth lab is discovered.

Jon Mitchell of the county environmental office, said he received a number
of calls from those involved with the Milroy house asking for personal
items, such as mattresses or couches.

"Those items can be turned over to the owners," said Redwood County
District Attorney Patrick Rohland. "But, they must be cleaned by an
appropriate company first. If they (owners) want to pay $6,000 to have a
$200 mattress cleaned, that is their choice."

There is the possibility of the county recouping some of its costs by
selling personal property from meth houses, but in most cases, said
Mitchell, the items would not be worth it.

"We are still liable if people get sick even after the items are cleaned,
too," said Commissioner Joe Schouvieller.

Rohland said that in those cases the county could be a target, but in his
opinion it would be less culpable than the company that cleaned the items.

He added that his assumption is the county board would only pursue this
option in issues where items of significant value were involved.

"If a meth lab is found in a barn and there is a combine in the barn, the
county may be able to clean the combine and sell it," he said.

Rohland raised his concerns with current that state law that says a car
that has been used to make meth can not be stamped on the title as such. A
car that was used for meth could be resold and the new owner would never
know it.

He said there are individuals working on new legislation that would allow
for a stamp on the title that indicates the vehicle was used in the
manufacture of meth similar to a salvage title.

A similar stamp may be put on homes that are cleaned to ensure that
homebuyers know beforehand what was going on in the house.

There was some discussion regarding the fears of not being able to sell
property with that kind of stigma, but it agreed it is putting the
responsibility for awareness on the land or property owner.

A public hearing to discuss the revisions is scheduled for Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.

In other action during the meeting, the county board:

- - Approved an agreement with the Brown County Evaluation Center for
purchase of service. The center provides for short-term and long-term
juvenile detention for Redwood County. The rates for 2005 are $146 per-day
for short-term and $186 per-day for long-term detention, which reflects a
$10-increase over 2004.

- - Referred the issue of hiring a county coordinator over to the personnel
sub-committee, which will review the current job description and pursue
other possibilities for the position.