Energy Hot Line Urged For County

The concept of an energy hot line through the county's Consumer Action Center received endorsement Wednesday from the Board of Commissioners' Human Services Committee. Urging that the hot line, although for all county residents, should work closely with the county's Department of Social Services, the committee also instructed Consumer Action Center director John Knapp to survey local home heating oil dealers for their proposed allocation priorities and policies if heating oil becomes more scarce. The committee also proposed a resolution asking state social agencies to review public assistance policies, "in light of high inflation" in all areas and rising costs of petroleum producís. The primary purpose of the local hot line, similar to the one on the state level, will be to aid residents who can 't get heating oil. Knapp told the committee that his office has been handling some energy questions on an informal basis and that his agency should be able to hahdle the present rate of calis during 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. office hours on weekdays. However, he noted that there might be a need for more telephones and therefore more funds for his agency if the energy crunch "finds more people without heating oil sources." The Consumer Action Center can be reached by calling: 665-4451. One of the commKtee's major concerns in establishing the hot line has been residents receiving public assistance and, more specifically, those who might need additional monies through direct relief funds as fuel costs rise. The concern led to the committee's recommendation that the Consumar Action Center work closely with the Department of Social Services "to channel relevant cases" to that department. While some commissioners have predicted that this year's budget might not have enough funds to meet what they anticipated as needs stemming from unemployment and rising costs during the energy crisis, some of these fears were lessened by remarks from Catherine Mudie, acting director of the county's department of Social Services. "We don't anticípate a great increase in oürTleeds, she said. "We have been told that the need for more direct relief monies should not be more than in the past." "But we have been wrong before," she admitted. The acting director promised the committee that she would provide commissioners with a complete accounting of such expenses for January. Those records should be prepared by Feb. 13. Mudie was only one of several representatives from county social service-oriented agencies at the meeting. All expressed great concern for lower income families during the nation-wide energy crisis. Particular concern centered on rumors that many distributors will resort to allocation plans based on past payment records if heating oil becomes more scarce. "That's the plan I've heard most often," said Cmsr. Kathleen M. Fojtik, the Ann Arbor Democrat who heads the Human Services Committee. "And that means that the persons most affected will be in the lower income range. ' '. Fojtik joined with fellow commissioners in asking Knapp to survey distributors for clarification of proposed allocation policies. Cmsr. Raymond G. Shoultz, D-Ann Arbor, noting that whatever future allocation policies might be followed "the lower income families will be hit hardest," recommended the resolution asking state agencies to review their public assistance policies and budgets. All issues endorsed or recommended by the committee are expected to go to the full Board of Commissioners for approval. The next full board meeting will I beFeb.6.