18 percent of children in Koochiching County live in poverty

Koochiching County has among the highest percentages of residents, especially children, living in poverty in the state.
In a recent Children’s Defense Fund study, 18 percent of the county’s children were living in poverty in 2005. The number of children — 152,000 — in Minnesota living in poverty is at the highest level of the decade, according to the study.
Between 1993 and 2005, Koochiching County’s percentage has remained consistent, but has always remained higher than the state percentage, according to Community Services Director Terry Murray.
“Our children do live in poverty,” Murray told the Koochiching County Board Tuesday.
Commissioner Mike Hanson said it was “pretty sobering” to see that poverty extends so far back, while county board Chairman Wade Pavleck saw a correlation between a lack of good-paying jobs, poverty and crime in the county.
“We need a new direction,” Pavleck said, adding that without jobs, poverty will continue.
Commissioner Chuck Lepper said this is the reason why existing businesses in the community need to be taken care of, pointing to the fact that Boise Inc., adds $63 million to the local economy each year.
Unemployment has also been consistently higher in Koochiching County than it has been overall in the state, Murray said.
According to the study, Koochiching County had the highest number of children arrested for serious crime in 2005 out of all of Minnesota’s 87 counties. In 2005, 49 children per 1,000 children, were arrested.
Murray said he didn’t realize the numbers were so high.
“That’s something we’ve never worked on,” he said, adding that he plans to discuss the issue with county Sheriff Brian Youso.
The high numbers have led to high costs to the county in out-of-home placements, which are regulated by the court system, Murray said. The called the correlation a “snowballing affect.”
When children come to Community Services, it is often too late for the county to step in with preventive measures, Murray said.
The number of children dropping out of school is also higher than normal, according to Murray. If Community Services is made aware of concerns early on, staff can work to keep students in school. But the longer they are out of school, and the longer they are on the street, the harder it is for Community Services to work successfully with the children, he said.

Koochiching County board news notes
• The Koochiching County Board heard that, according to the Koochiching County Attorney Phil Miller, the county board is involved in a lawsuit the city of International Falls has filed against the Minnesota Department of Transportation on the issue of Minnesota Highway 332.
“No matter how (the city) spins it,” the county has to defend itself and is thus involved, board Chairman Wade Pavleck said.
• The board approved to change the Loman area to a mail-in ballot for the November election, rather than a hand count precinct. About 750 registered voters in Koochiching County used mail-in ballots for the 2006 election, according to county Auditor Bob Peterson. Some residents have voiced objections to the mail-in ballots, meeting the standards set by the state for a polling location is impossible in several communities in the county, according to Peterson.
• The board set a public hearing on a petition for a cartway filed by Thomas Jacobson for 3 p.m. June 24. A cartway allows access to a piece of property through another piece of property with separate owners. The property owners are Ronald and Delphine Nelson, who voiced their objection to the cartway during Tuesday’s board meeting.
• The board appointed Allen Kruse to a four-year term as the veterans services officer.
• The board was given notice that Michael Kostiuk was hired as a part-time deputy in the Sheriff’s Office.
• During the public comment period, Dan McCarthy called for the firing of Paul Nevanen as director of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority. He also threatened to contact the state to urge it to withdraw funding for the KEDA if Nevanen is not fired.