To the editor:

I am writing on behalf of our current and future clients at The Polk Wellness Center to commend the Polk County Board of Commissioners for approving our request for $74,981 in Maintenance of Effort [MOE] funds at their July 9 board meeting.

We are pleased that the commissioners recognize these MOE funds as an excellent match for our situation.

The non-profit Polk Wellness Center is already providing medical and behavioral services to almost 600 clients in the area – some with health insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, as well as those without insurance. These funds will indeed help us maintain our effort.

In addition, we want to complement the commissioners on their far-sighted financial stewardship in realizing that this allocation of county funding will allow us to continue shifting a financial burden off Polk County law enforcement, EMS and St. Luke’s Hospital.

– Maureen Smith, board chair The Polk Wellness Center