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Home My WebLink About10-21-2020 Health & Human Services Minutes MEETING MINUTES HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BOARD October 21, 2020 5:00 PM Room 1284-County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 - Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin NOTICE Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, board members and staff are encouraged to attend the meeting online using the Zoom platform. Members of the public may watch this meeting online by following the instructions below. To ensure the safety of everyone in attendance, all individuals attending in person will be subject to social distancing rules. Seating will be limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join. <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85783136478?pwd=N2hGQzRiYzFpVkZxM01SN1N2bHJldz09> Passcode: 734956 Or join by phone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 Webinar ID: 857 8313 6478 Passcode: 734956 International numbers available: <https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kuAysndFU> CALL TO ORDER The October 21, 2020 meeting of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Board was called to order at approximately 5:00 PM by HHS Board Chair Dave Ostness. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Cathy Leaf St. Croix County Supervisor Present Carah Koch St. Croix County Supervisor Present Dave Ostness St. Croix County Chair Present Scottie Ard St. Croix County Supervisor Present Greg Tellijohn St. Croix County Supervisor Present Paulette Anderson St. Croix County Vice-Chair Present Deb LindemannSt. Croix CountyBoard MemberPresent Natasha Ward St. Croix County Board Member Present Paul McGinnis St. Croix County Board Member Present Others is Attendance: Assistant County Administrator Ken Witt, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, and many other community members Others in Attendance Remotely: Health and Human Services Director Bob Rohret, Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke, Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen, SCC Epidemiologist Elle Klasen HHS Board Members Attending Remotely: Supervisor Paulette Anderson, Board Member Deb Lindemann, Board Member Paul McGinnis, Supervisor Greg Tellijohn, Supervisor Cathy Leaf, Board Member Natasha Ward Excused Absences: Unexcused Absences: APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Health & Human Services Board Regular Meeting September 29, 2020 5:00 PM Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness asked the Board if after review of the Sept. 29, 2020 meeting minutes if any editing was needed. Chair Ostness noted one change to the Sept. 29th minutes, stating that Supervisor Ard is listed as an unexcused absence, but should be listed as excused. With that change to the minutes, Chair Ostness accepted them as amended. Chair Ostness also informed the Board Members and those in attendance that agenda item # 2 will be skipped tonight. RESULT: ACCEPTED AS AMENDED PUBLIC COMMENT Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness opened the meeting to public comment for items on or off the agenda. A large crowd was in attendance in the Boardroom and online tonight, of which a significant number of community members addressed the Board regarding the role of the Public Health Officer and the potential communicable disease ordinance. After hearing all those wishing to speak, public comment was closed @ 7:05 PM. The HHS Board then took a 10 min break. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Covid-19 Update from Public Health Public Health Officer Kelli Engen along with St. Croix County Epidemiologist Elle Klasen reviewed a power point with the Board highlighting recent data and trends around COVID-19 activity in St. Croix County. They also shared the various types of testing being done and the upcoming free testing sites being implemented by the Wisconsin National Guard at the fire stations in Hammond and in Somerset. Discussion and questions followed. Board members are encouraged to reach out if they have additional questions. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Presentation on Manure Spill and Brown Water Event Response Plan This presentation was postponed until the next HHS meeting based on time constraints tonight. RESULT: NO ACTION Next: 11/18/2020 5:00 PM 3. Health and Human Services Monthly Financials Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke provided an update on the September Health and Human Services Financial Report. Looking at Public Health revenues on the state grant revenue line, and comparing year to year, there is an extra $200,000 which is for contract tracing and other funds for COVID-19 needs. On the expense side in salary and fringe we see an increase due to extra staff for contact tracing. Strenke also highlighted that Purchased Services continue trending high particularly in Children Services, though HHS as a whole is within budget for purchased services The Health Center Campus is showing the $461,000 CARES funds posted. Strenke explained that the September revenues for the Health Center Campus are not in this report, but she is working to get this changed so current month revenues can be included in these monthly reports. Questions and discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Report of Communication Efforts by the Health and Human Services Public Health Communications Subcommittee Public Information Officer (PIO) Adam Kastonek provided a background of what the Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health (PH) Communication Subcommittee has been being working on in addressing communication around the Public Health ordinance as well as COVID-19. On September 4th information about the proposed ordinance was shared on social media, with local media and published on the county website. Since then this is the 3rd highest page viewed on our website. Also at that time the COVID-19 FAQ page was implemented and has had 1794 views, with 823 views specific to the ordinance. Per subcommittee request a survey was also issued and has received 940 responses. All of this information has been seen by many in the community as well as commented on. Recently, on October 7th the subcommittee held a digital town hall. Approximately 40-50 people spoke that evening. Half of the speakers were online, and the other half in person in the County Boardroom. Many more were in attendance. Various questions and concerns have been voiced throughout this process and we have worked to keep the information and FAQ's up to date. Since the ordinance has been tabled there has been more focus on communicating the data, testing and general COVID-19 questions. Supervisor Leaf shared that option #3 of the ordinance was postponed indefinitely at the last HHS Public Health Communications Subcommittee meeting. HHS Board Chair Ostness stated that the HHS Public Health Communications Subcommittee has completed what they were tasked with and at this time will hold off on any additional meetings. Supervisor Leaf questioned the HHS Board Chair as to what are we going to do to support Public Health moving forward. HHS Director Rohret shared that we will continue to address the pandemic as best we can, in one way by hiring additional limited term employees and also based on DHS guidelines we have streamlined some of the public health efforts to relive staff. We continue to meet with local partners to help mitigate the spread and trying to respond to the ever- changing need. Board Member McGinnis believes it is incumbent on the community to be responsible if they don't want an ordinance. Masks make a difference and schools are showing it works. Discussion had on bringing back an ordinance in another form with different and additional language. Supervisor Tellijohn would like to see leadership from this committee now before it's too late. We can address some concerns but an ordinance should be on the next HHS Board agenda. Board Chair Ostness shared we are informing citizens and should continue to educate. Discussion on additional ways to keep the community informed. PIO Adam shared that we will use video more in the near future. We need to do more, but due to limited media opportunities we would be looking to online/social media video and public access channels. Supervisor Koch pointed out that communication is being done, but community is feeling it isn't being heard. She wonders if there could be a collaborative process with Public Health and the community to determine next steps and ways to slow the spread. Could the Subcommittee or the PIO be tasked to look at how the community can work with Public Health. Interim County Administrator Ken Witt would like to assign this to Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek and have him report out to Health and Human Services Board. Supervisor Leaf requests that there be action and language on an ordinance on the next HHS Board agenda. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS * Revised Ordinance language- Several Board members request this - would need to follow appropriate parliamentary procedure * Manure Spill and Response plan * Information and Statistics on the status of Mental Health in the County. If Board members have additional items they are encouraged to reach out to HHS Board Chair Ostness or HHS Director Rohret. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE * HHS Director Bob Rohret informed the Board that the Behavioral Health Administrator position has been filled by Sharlene Lopez. She has extensive experience in Behavioral Health, with the Department Of Corrections in MN, and in higher education. Sharlene will start on Nov. 2nd. * On Veteran's Day (Nov. 11th) a pop up food pantry will be held at the St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond from 1-2 PM for any Veteran. Call 211 for details * HHS Director Bob Rohret shared that SCC was not chosen as a pilot site for a Behavioral Health Home Hub and Spoke pilot. There are additional opportunities being looked at that may allow for changes to Medicaid payment structures and an expansion of services for people with behavioral health needs. ADJOURN HHS Board Chair Ostness called this Oct. 21, 2020 meeting of the HHS Board adjourned at approximately 8:13 PM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Currently scheduled for November 18, 2020 @ 5:00 PM in Government Center Boardroom, Hudson