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Show Information Benice Necessary among the highest of other similar agencies in the state. In a recent meeting of key county government leaders, l&R's future was discussed. At the outset, some seriously questioned the need for it. But by the end, after seeing 600 calls referred to mental health, a like number to the Council on Aging and hundreds of others to various agencies, all agreed it must be continued. FUNDING IS tight, but for something this important, that affects directly and indirectly so many county residents and government and other agencies, agen-cies, some help should be possibleeven pos-sibleeven if it's just a small bit from a lot of places. Let's pitch in and save what I believe is one of those good, needed government agencies! By TOM BUSSELBERG The Davis County Information Informa-tion and Referral Service should be continued. IN THIS day of belt-tightening belt-tightening and conservation as far as government spending is concerned, some may initially say, "Who needs such a service? ser-vice? Isn't it just a luxury we'll have to do without?" I'd be the first to agree that on the surface, that may appear to be the case. We've got to cut someplace, and better bet-ter there, say. than to cut out a children's clinic, for example. BUT I don't think Information Informa-tion and Referral, or l&R, as it's commonly called among those who are familiar with it, should be scrapped. To do so might leave a lot of people scurrying for help and not get ting it very fast. You see, as the title implies, it's an agency that provides information in-formation where to pay my vehicle tax on what summer employment programs there are for my teenage son. for example. ex-ample. Or, if someone has a question about how his elderly frail mother can be helped while still keeping her at home, that person may be referred to the Davis County Council on Aging's alternatives program. BOTH SITUATIONS sound simple enough to solve. Couldn't the average person find those answers without having logo to such an agency, a middleman, if you will? Perhaps. But then again, even the bureaucrats often don't know where to turn. And then what about a case such as this one, where a call came in Thursday July 23 at 4:45 p.m. just 15 minutes before quiting time and start of the Pioneer Day weekend for many. A MAN who had just moved to the county from Salt Lake City had no money and he was out of gas and food. He had an apartment but no telephone and had applied for food stamps but wouldn't be receiving receiv-ing them for 30 days. What could he do? Information and Referral personnel referred him to the Community Action agency's emergency food bank, and they were able . to assist him until he could get other help, recalls Larry Burdett, executive execu-tive director of Davis County United Way, one of two agencies agen-cies providing funding for I&R. It is supplying $7,500 and the federal Title 20. $22,500 to make up the $30,000 budget. "IF SOMEONE is down and out and can't find help from anyone, he won't starve to death," Mr. Burdett emphasizes. empha-sizes. "Somehow he'll find food by sorting through garbage gar-bage cans, stealing or holding someone up, etc. We're not talking about giving everyone a handout when they come along," but an alternative to the need for drastic measures. The full-time I&R coordinator coordina-tor for nearly the past four years, Marilyn Kelsey, left the agency for another job July 3 1 . For now, Mr. Burdett and a couple of other staffers are doing double-duty, keeping l&R alive. But it's future could be jeopardized, depending on whether Title 20 funds will be available. THE FEDERAL government govern-ment has said that source will be axed of 25 percent funding, and then the state, following the new Reagan Administration Administra-tion guidelines, will decide where the remaining portion goes. Mr. Burdett has said United Un-ited Way could well increase its allocation, but that isn't possible until at least the first of next year. Although the county doesn't put any money into the pot, it must approve the Title 20 contract con-tract and in signing a sort of stop-gap contract a few weeks ago through Oct. I, start of the federal fiscal year, included a ten-day cancellation clause at state insistance. That leaves an uncertain future, at best. MORE THAN 11,000 calls from 7,000-plus clients were received last year. That means one in 20 county residents called cal-led for some help. That may not sound like much, but in just five years existence, I&R's track record has shown tremendous growth with its county usage ranking right |