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Home My WebLink About11-18-2020 Health & Human Services Minutes MEETING MINUTES HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BOARD November 18, 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 increase of COVID-19 cases in St. Croix County and the number of attendees at previous meetings, public comment will only be available via Zoom. We want to ensure the safety of everyone who wishes to share public comment. You can attend in-person to watch the meeting on the screens in the County Board Room. No Board Supervisors, Committee Members, or County Staff will be present in the County Board Room during the meeting. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join. <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84659616614?pwd=QkVyLzdIRzJvTWcra3dzQndDaXE3QT09> Webinar ID: 846 5961 6614 Passcode: 376592 Or join by phone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 CALL TO ORDER Chair Ostness called this November 18, 2020 Health and Human Services meeting to order at approximately 5:00 PM. 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 Lindemann St. Croix County Board Member Present Natasha Ward St. Croix County Board Member Present Paul McGinnis St. Croix County Board Member Present All Board members appeared remotely Others in Attendance Remotely: Assistant County Administrator Ken Witt, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, Health and Human Services Director Bob Rohret, Board Members and several other community members Excused absences: Unexcused absences: APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Health & Human Services Board Regular Meeting October 21, 2020 5:00 PM Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness asked the Board if after review of the Oct. 21, 2020 meeting minutes if any editing was needed. With nothing noted the minutes were accepted as submitted. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT HHS Board Chair Dave Ostness opened the meeting to public comment for items on or off the agenda. Due to technology issues Public Comment came after agenda item number one was completed. Several community members were online though only a few spoke regarding the public health ordinance. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Presentation on Manure Spill and Brown Water Event Response Plan Community Development Department Resource Management Administrator Tim Stieber and Water Resource and Outreach Specialist Cole Webster reviewed a power point with the Board highlighting the priorities and work done by Groundwater Study Group in developing a spill response plan. Discussion and questions followed. A few suggestions provided by the Board included; if in alerting residents they could use the emergency response system that the county has, also look to finding funding sources, possibly the budget, for water testing kits for residents. Tim Stieber shared that if there are any additional suggestions for their plan in the future to feel free to contact him. Due to technology issues Chair Ostness asked to go back to public comment at this time. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Consideration of Emergency Response Plan for At Risk Adults Supervisor Ard shared information and her concerns around an incident that occurred involving a homeless resident. There is an increase in those struggling with mental health and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) issues. Staff at the homeless shelters are not trained to deal with these issues. These people then fall through the cracks and become at risk adults. We need a better plan and outreach to these people. Health and Human Services (HHS) Supervisor Kristin Newton shared that resources continue to tighten as the acuity of clients increase. The gaps in services are many and are apparent and even more so when they become homeless. Adult protection is enacted in some cases but clients need to want the help, they cannot be forced into anything as long as they are not harmful to themselves or others. Newton offered to conduct Mental Health First Aid training for staff at Grace Place, which Supervisor Ard thought would be helpful. Newton also shared that the Behavioral Health intake line staff are trained and are always available to discuss issues as well as there being a collaborative effort between law enforcement and SCC Health and Human Services/Emergency Services to provide resources to anyone in a crisis situation. Supervisor Ard shared that this is only a first step as these county residents not always present to shelters but are living in our communities. Not only is mental health an issue but lack of housing as well. Public Health (PH) Administrator Engen informed that there is a West CAP Board that several PH/HHS staff were participating in to collaborate on the housing issue though with the COVID-19 issues they haven't been participating. She will look to find someone else to participate on the West CAP board in the interim. Discussion and questions. Board members are concerned that we need to address this quickly as winter approaches and residents become unemployed. Supervisor Ard shared many are working on it but there are not enough housing units in our area. We need to encourage partnership projects to build housing for those with limited income. We may need to have assigned temporary emergency shelters in the county as well as an emergency plan to address the housing issue. HHS Director Rohret agrees we need to start addressing these issues and solutions are being discussed internally. This may need to be part of a state systems change. The Board would like to ask Peter Kilde Executive Director from West CAP to present at the next meeting to provide information on what they are doing around the housing issue. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Health and Human Services Monthly Financials Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke provided an update on the October Health and Human Services Financial Report. HHS Director Rohret shared that he and Children Services Administrator Julie Krings are watching the purchased services line in Children Services and are working to come up with some solutions and resources to address out of home placements. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Covid-19 Update from Public Health Public Health (PH) Administrator Kelli Engen provided a brief update on COVID-19 and the response by Public Health. Engen share that the Department of Health Services (DHS) at the state level has decided to do some strategic planning with the local PH Departments. Some of the PH staff participated today in a planning session on testing, contact tracing, and vaccination. There will be some specific strategies coming from the state hopefully next week. HHS Director Rohret informed of the new tab added to the COVID-19 page on the county website regarding what to do if you test positive. This is especially targeting the 19-59 year olds as PH may not be contacting all positive cases in that age group. This was done as PH has moved into the crisis standards of care and will be asking that providers steer positive cases to this information. Discussion around Minnesota closing its bars and restaurants and how this is being addressed in St. Croix County. The City of Hudson is working on this and many are being proactive. Questions and discussion on helping PH to increase their resources. County Administrator Witt shared it's not a budgetary issue, but not sure what other resources we could provide. PH continues to hire, but they need to be trained and supervised and can only manage so much. If anyone has ideas on how to better support PH please reach out to Witt. Many county PH departments are in this situation and weren't designed to handle this large of a response. Community members need to do their part by wearing masks, staying apart, and no indoor gatherings to slow the spread. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS * Housing Issue- Mr. Kilde from WEst CAP * Mental Health response during COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE * HHS Director Rohret shared that staff at St. Croix County Services Center (SCCSC) had it's very first virtual All Staff Meeting today. Over 100 staff participated and it was nice to connect with them. ADJOURN Chair Ostness wished everyone a great thanksgiving, and adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:20 PM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING December 16, 2020 @ 5:00 PM