Alamance County Commissioner Tim Sutton grudgingly signed off on the $13,000 trip required as part of a $9 million federal grant for a DSS program:

Gary Ander, who heads the DSS System of Care initiative, said the county’s program is “unique … a first for North Carolina” because it focuses on comprehensive treatment for children five and younger.

Focusing on “early intervention” will save the county “a ton of money” in the long run by helping children avoid problems as adults, Ander said.

He called on commissioners to be “ambassadors” for the program. “We’re going to do some great things here with your support” he said.

The trip eventually was put back on the consent agenda. The commissioners unanimously approved it as more or less a formality, after Sutton wished it well but added that he “had to speak out because we’re all agents of the government.”

Got to spend money to save money, eh? Thanks should go to Sutton for pointing out that it’s all taxpayers’ money.