A second public listening session on the proposed 2019 Eau Claire County budget will probably be similar to the first one, but with different issues receiving attention, according to the vice-chair of the County Board’s Finance and Budget Committee.
The second session is scheduled for 6.p.m on Thursday, Aug. 9 at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger St. in Eau Claire.
Jim Dunning, vice-chaIr of the committee, said more than a dozen people spoke out on various issues facing Eau Claire County at the first listening session, which was held on July 26 in Augusta.
“The main concern was the continued support of the Augusta Senior Center,” Dunning said, “along with the cleanup and restoration of Lake Eau Claire.”
Lake Eau Claire has been filling up with sand over the years, Dunning said, and there is a process for removing it and keeping it out that involves multiple counties.
Dunning said one other issue that was discussed was adding more funding to maintain and update county roads.
Dunning said he anticipates the second forum to run similarly, but to have different issues brought up.
After the second listening session, Dunning said the committee will meet with the County Board as a whole and go over what issues were mentioned and which ones can be addressed in next year’s budget.
Additional public forums will then take place in the fall to give the community a chance to reflect and comment on the proposed budget before it is finalized.
Reported by Seth Abrahamson, CV Post reporting intern