Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano County has suspended financial help for the Shawano Area Food Center in the wake of a state opinion that questioned whether the payments were legal.
The county’s finance committee Wednesday reached a consensus to stop assisting the food center with its utility bills, but also directed legal counsel to reach out to communities served by the center to see if they could help.
State Attorney General Brad Schimel earlier this month issued a formal opinion to Shawano County Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus concerning whether a county board is legally authorized to appropriate money to a private nonprofit food pantry.
Schimel concluded that state statutes do not give county boards that authority.
“While county boards may establish and operate programs to serve the residents of the county who need assistance in securing adequate food, the statute does not grant authority to make appropriations to nonprofits to perform this task,” Schimel wrote.
The opinion does not apply to cities and villages, which are granted broader home rule under the state constitution. Town boards can exercise whatever powers are consistent with village decisions if they pass a resolution to that effect.
Kordus said he would meet with municipal officials in the area to explore ways in which the towns, villages and the city of Shawano could work in concert with the county to continue assisting the food center.
“We’ll see what we can work out together,” Kordus said.
Kordus had not yet contacted those officials Wednesday, but he floated the possibility of the county providing some service or services to the municipalities in exchange for those communities taking on financial assistance to the food center.
Kordus said the finance committee reached a consensus to end payments to the food center to remove any uncertainty about whether the financial assistance was appropriate.
However, he said, the committee also felt it was important to find some workaround to continue helping the food center.
“Everybody agrees it’s a good endeavor and serves a vital need,” Kordus said.
The Shawano Area Food Center, part of the national Feed America program, distributes food to 21 food pantries and other outlets in the area, including the Shawano Area Food Pantry and Resource Center.
Its biggest expenses are utility costs and propane, according to John Hill, who was instrumental in getting the operation going in the Shawano area.
Hill said Shawano County has contributed about $8,500 a year to the organization over the past six years for utility costs. The center is reimbursed for its actual bills each month and is never given more than it needs, he said.
“We’ll continue to find a way to work toward a solution,” Hill said after Wednesday’s meeting.
Hill said the center will be able to use its reserves to cover utility costs for September and October.
“It may take 60 days to get this resolved,” he said.
It’s unclear what will happen if it takes longer than that.
“We’ll take a look at it and analyze it,” Hill said. “We’ll find a way to keep going, or if we can’t get funding, we’ll have to shut the door.”
Hill was confident, however, that some solution to the problem would be found. He noted that even in light of the committee’s decision it was clear that all of the members support the food center.
“Everyone wants this,” he said.