This week's headlines

The amount of federal money being paid out for food stamp assistance in Delta County has more than doubled in the three years between 2008 and 2011.

The county Health and Human Services Department reports that in 2008, $2.63 million was paid out for food stamp assistance in the county.

Last year, 2011, the amount had swollen to over $5.51 million.

Payments almost hit the two-times-higher mark in 2010, rising to $5.12 million.

In a separate public health matter, the complete lack of any Medicaid dental suppliers in Delta County continues.

There have not been any Medicaid suppliers for new dental patients in Delta County "for some time," reports HHS director Chuck Lemoine.

In a recent report to the Board of County Commissioners, Lemoine, on Jan. 23, said that declining reimbursements to care providers is largely responsible for the exit of county dentists from the program.

In other business at recent meetings, the county commissioners have dealt with the following matters:

• The board heard a report from Lemoine about his department possibly contracting with an outside organization to administer the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. In Pueblo County, Lemoine said, Goodwill Industries has taken over program administration. The contractor is paid out of the program's federal allocation at no cost to the county. Here, that would free up available staff for other duties. The department is looking further into the idea to see if it might be applicable here.

• County Clerk and Recorder Ann Eddins reported on more changes in voting procedures possible in future. Discussions are taking place in the Legislature about establishing a "uniform, statewide voting system," she reported. There is no bill, only discussion at this point. There have been 43 bills introduced to the legislature this session that affect the operations of the county clerk's office, Eddins said.

State bureaucrats have also been pushing for changes that would remove some social services functions from local control and oversight and put them in state hands.

• The commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the Delta Montrose Technical College for sheriff's department use of the school's firing range.

• The commissioners approved a final draft of a letter opposing the Flaming Gorge Pump Back Project that would pump water stored in Flaming Gorge Reservoir to the Front Range.

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