Story 2

Heated discussions occurred at this Thursdays Isanti County commissioners meeting. As Sheriff Gus Dicesari requests money for his department, his requests are turned down with a 2-5 vote by fellow commissioners.

Dicesari argues many good points to why his department needs the $580,00 to run properly. But Commission President Anne Chenn, along with the other commissioners thinks that the sheriff's department can do without this year. Dicesari would like to eight new cruisers along with five additional deputies.

With growing crime in the streets, the deputies can't keep up with it all. With over 150,ooo miles on each vehicle, the cruisers spend more time in the shops than on the road. It is becoming too costly to keep the old ones running. But Chenn begs to differ; she suggests that the deputies leave the vehicles at the station to keep from the wear and tear on the vehicles. But not knowing, parking the cars at each deputy's house keeps the crime levels down in the neighborhoods.

Among many false accusations made by Dicesari, many of which accusing the immigrants of the higher crime population, lower job percentage, bad schooling and health care system. Although very passionate about his topics, it didn't get him far into the meeting when trying to win his budget case. He didn't get the money and raised eyebrows on the topics that he brought up.

Chenn and fellow commissioners not only listened to Dicesari's case, but also backed up their own reasoning to why out of $127 million budget, that his department couldn't be spared the $580,000.

Chenn backed up the immigrants, saying that they are hard working people that take care of the jobs that locals don't want, along with paying taxes like everyone else. there are a reported 5,000 migrant families now in the county trying hard to make a living to be permanent citizens of this country.

It was also stated at the meeting that this year they ran short in the budget due to increased costs for employee's health care and higher fuel costs. Along with spending over $30 million to build a new prison, there was too much crime and overcrowding in the county as it is.

needless to say, there were too many other things in the budget that ranked higher in importance than the sheriff's department. Maybe next year will be better for Dicesari and his deputies.