The Todd County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution June 16 saying that Todd County taxpayers should not be saddled with the financial consequences of the neglected responsibilities of Governor Pawlenty and the Legislature.

The resolution, approved at the Todd County Board meeting, stated that the commissioners will not be forced to raise and spend taxes on behalf of the state for activities that are mandated by the state.

The commissioners, and County Administrator Nathan Burkette, explained that the resolution did not mean that the county would not pay for state mandated services and programs.

"We will look at which mandates are important to Todd County taxpayers," Commissioner Jerry Ruda said.

Commissioner David Kircher agreed, saying that the county board may choose not to pay for mandates that are not particularly valuable to county taxpayers.

"This resolution does not paint us into a corner," Ruda said.

Ruda said that the county board could still raise taxes if it was absolutely necessary. The resolution will be forwarded to the governor and legislative leaders.

CEP offices Due to the efforts of several groups and individu- als, county residents will now have an occasional Work Force Center to assist people in finding employment.

The center will assist laid off and displaced workers locate new employment or retraining opportunities.

David Valesano, from the Little Falls office of Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP), explained to the Todd County Board that Frank Sandelin, social services director for Todd County, had been urging him to open a Work Force Center in Long Prairie for years. He said that, with layoffs at R.R. Donnelley (printing) and the over-all bad economy, now was the time to act.

Valesano said that more recently, Julie Baum, from the Long Prairie Chamber, and Chris Pelzer, the head of the county's MIS department, had lobbied for the creation of an LP office.

Others involved included Todd County, the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce, the Long Prairie Rotary Club, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The new Work Force Center will be open the second and fourth Tuesday of every month beginning on June 23 and will be in the county commissioners board room in the downtown government center. Todd County will also provide eight lap top computers, according to MIS Director Pelzer.

Peter Svendsen, also from the Little Falls Workforce Center, will staff the office. Svendsen will assist workers in all areas of job search including resume preparation, job application and the location of educational opportunities for people who want to prepare for a new career. Svendsen's job was created with funds from the Economic Stimulus Act.

Members of the Long Prairie Rotary Club will assist Svendson, according to Julie Baum, of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce.

"If we have a good response we will expand our services," David Valesano said.