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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-2021 Health & Human Services Minutes MEETING MINUTES HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BOARD November 17, 2021 5:00 PM St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284 Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness called this November 17, 2021 meeting of the Health and Human Services Board to order at approximately 5:00 PM. ROLL CALL Attendee NameOrganizationTitleStatusArrived Cathy LeafSt.Croix CountySupervisorPresent Carah KochSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Dave OstnessSt. Croix CountyChairPresent Scottie ArdSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Greg TellijohnSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Paulette AndersonSt. Croix CountyVice-ChairPresent Deb LindemannSt. Croix CountyBoard MemberExcused Natasha WardSt. Croix CountyBoard MemberPresent Paul McGinnisSt. Croix CountyBoard MemberPresent Others in Attendance:Health and Human Services (HHS) DirectorBob Rohret, County Administrator Ken Witt, HHS Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke, Public Health Epidemiologist Elle Klasen & Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen (Via Zoom), Public Information Officer (PIO) Adam Kastonek, and several members from the community APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Health & Human Services Board Regular Meeting October 20, 20215:00 PM Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness asked the Board if after review of the minutes from the Oct. 20, 2021 HHS Board meeting if any editing was needed. With nothing noted the minutes were accepted as written. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Ostness opened the meeting to public comment for items on or off the agenda. A resident from the Town of Forest addressed the Board regarding large wind turbines and health issues. He is excited and grateful to be here tonight to share with this Board that the Highland Wind Turbine project has some significant changes and the project will likely not move forward. This is a major victory for the Town of Forest. He thanked the Board for their support. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. COVID-19 Updates Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen and Epidemiologist Elle Klasen presented information and data to the Board regarding COVID -19 cases within the county as well as the state. Klasen informed that currently we are averaging 100.4 cases per day and on Nov. 16th and 17th we had over 100 each day. Sadly, at the peak of the pandemic one year ago, we were seeing similar numbers of cases or just slightly higher. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, we have seen a huge spike in cases with 20.1% of those tested in St. Croix County (SCC) coming back positive for COVID-19. The greatest number of cases are still within the school age population, though also seeing a jump in the 30-40 year old age group as it is brought into the home. Some schools are again putting in a variety of mitigating processes from more separation to going virtual. COVID- 19 cases in St. Croix County are extremely high, the 3rd highest county in the state. Klasen shared that hospitals in the Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities Metro are near capacity, with very limited beds available. Engen shared that Public Health continues to work through this pandemic and are encouraging testing. She informed that WI Dept of Health Services is offering at home testing which you can find online, and the Wisconsin National Guard (WING) testing is still available at the St. Croix County Highway shops. They are rotating between Deer Park and Baldwin from 12-4 on Wednesdays. Information about this can be found on the County Website. Engen also shared information about the current COVID-19 vaccines that are approved (Pfizer) and which are still authorized for emergency use. She informed that Public Health started COVID-19 vaccine clinics last week in the schools for 5-11 yr olds and vaccinated 170 students last Friday and another one is going on today with 201 kids signed up. On Mondays, starting Dec. 13th, from 2-4 PM vaccine clinics at St. Croix County Services Center (SCCSC) will be open for the 5-11 year olds to get vaccines as well. You can sign up online. Your local clinics are also offering this vaccine to kids aged 5-11. Currently SCC PH clinics on Monday are not seeing huge numbers, but are seeing an increase of those coming in for their booster shot. In addition, Flu shots are also available on Mondays for those 6 months and older from 2-4 pm, please call to schedule an appointment for those. Discussion and questions followed. Dr. McGinnis shared some comments; He encourages everyone to be wearing a mask, for those unvaccinated to get vaccinated, and others to get your booster as soon as you can as your immunity will wane. He also shared that influenza cases are increasing. Please wear a mask. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Health and Human Services Monthly Financials Health and Human Services (HHS) Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke reviewed the monthly financial report with the Board. She shared that in comparing year to year, our revenues are up a bit in 2021, but our payroll numbers and operating expenses have increased as well, so is a wash. At the Health Care Campus the revenues appear lower, though some funding they are expecting has not come through yet. Also, the census continues to be low but in turn so are payroll and operating expenses. Strenke shared that some supplemental payments should be coming in to make up the differences, and we are expecting a Medicare increase which will also help offset some of the losses. Questions and discussion followed. One question was in regard to the therapy pool and if it is open for use by the general public and how are they billed. Director Rohret will provide an update on this at next meeting as not certain of the status of the therapy pool, but believes it is being used. Also discussed was the census numbers and the need for more staff to be able to work on increasing the census. More discussion on this at next meeting as workforce needs are significant. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Updates from the Aging & Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC) Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Rohret and Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Administrator Brad Beckman provided information on what programs the ADRC provides to support the older adults within the county, and who they serve. They also highlighted some updates and recent changes within the ADRC. Beckman informed that the Senior Centers are now open and they have hired a new cook in Deer Park. Grab and Go continued throughout the pandemic and they provided 4700 more meals than the prior year. Beckman also shared that a project he has been working on for many years, Curb to Curb service, looks to be coming to fruition in Hudson. HHS Board Chair Ostness then recognized Administrator Beckman for his years of service to St. Croix County and the ADRC. Beckman started in 2008 and will be retiring in December of 2021, the Board wishes him well. Thanks Brad! HHS Director Rohret also wished Brad well in his retirement! RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Addressing Housing Needs in St. Croix County HHS Director Rohret and Housing Navigator for Western WI and Board Supervisor Ard updated the Board on housing and homelessness. Ard informed that in looking at the winter months, currently Grace Place is full with a wait list of 150 people, and every shelter in Western Wisconsin is full. We are in crisis mode. The good news is 8 families were moved into permanent housing today. Several property owners have stepped forward in making this happen, working with the permanent support housing program. This program works with those that have previous criminal or substance use history to help with stabilization. Additional good news is that on Dec. 28th the Dakota Meadows, a Section 42 property in New Richmond, will open. This will help somewhat with the housing needs, but would still require 600+ additional efficiency or 1-2 bedroom units to provide stable housing for working families that are using a significant portion of their income for housing. Ard shared there is still lots of work to do. We need to address the application fee that is being charged to renters, as there is a ruling under Wisconsin 704 that no more that $25 should be charged. Many renters are charging much more and these fees add up. Supervisor Ard believes this needs to be addressed at legislative level, but at the county level we need to start with informing property owners and report to WI Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP). It may be as simple as informing more renters of this statutory rule, but there is no registry or listing of rental properties. Questions and discussions followed. Discussed where things are at with warming shelters as winter approaches and libraries are having limited hours due to COVID. Supervisor Ard shared that first we need a building, but then supervision and other resources in order to provide a warming shelter. Supervisor Tellijohn shared he has brought this before members of his church and discussed if there are ways to use churches as a warming shelter. He will bring back to this Board any additional information they find out. Director Rohret also provided information on the rent assistance for recovery housing through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. A contract has been signed with ONYX house to provide rental assistance for those struggling with substance use and mental health issues. These funds will help with first month's rent to get them stable housing and work towards employment. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Wind Citing Council and Renewable Energy Discussion and Updates HHS Director Rohret as well as several Board Members provided updates regarding the Wind Citing Council and Renewable Energy. Just this week information became available that Leeward Renewable Energy has submitted a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) informing they are cancelling the Highland Wind Farm project and asked that the PSC Close Docket No. 2535-CE-100 associated with the project proposed for the Towns of Forest and Cylon in St. Croix County (SCC). Supervisor Ard shared concerns that the land leases still in effect can be sold to another developer. Ard informed that green energy developer leases are able to be done by going door to door to property owners which leads to no information to the public. She believes a permit should be drafted and required to allow these developers to approach private property owners so this information is open to the public. Ard stated, for the health and safety of the county, this committee and the Board of Supervisors may want to begin discussions to draft an ordinance regarding wind and solar energy. Ard believes there is a need to look at a decommission plan to include an escrow account to cover decommissioning the infrastructure at the end of their useful life, and may need to include language around solar power panels and the battery storage as Public Service Commission (PSC) 128 has no language around this . We need to address this wisely to prevent the county from incurring major costs or damages down the road. On Dec. 2nd the Board of Adjustment will hear about a solar energy project, so we need to move quickly. Supervisor Ard asked that a draft ordinance be a future agenda item. County Administrator Witt shared that this may need to be a joint venture between Community Development and the Health and Human Services Board. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Initiatives Updates HHS Director Rohret provided updates to the Board regarding the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. RESULT: DISCUSSED 7. Civil Rights Requirements for 2022-2025 HHS Director Rohret provided a power point for the Board to review the work that will be needed to complete the Civil Rights Compliance plan for 2022-2025. Rohret highlighted that this will be a large effort with several divisions across the county. We should be hearing more on the requirements soon. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS * Discuss and draft of an ordinance that creates fiduciary requirements for wind citing projects to account for the infrastructure impact costs associated with these projects. It would include requiring escrow funds being deposited to cover decommissioning the infrastructure at the end of their useful life. Limitation on projects to not allow batteries on the sites because of the environmental concerns. * Updates on the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE * Director Rohret informed that some recent vaccine mandate rules have come out from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). He shared that it doesn't look like the OSHA ruling will apply to mandating vaccine for our (HHS) staff, but the CMS ruling does apply to the Nursing Home, though likely not for other areas of HHS. It could possibly apply to some programs within HHS, but no final decision yet. Exemptions and waivers from staff will be considered if mandates do apply * A St. Croix County Coalition meeting today, lead by Phil Landgraf from SCC Veterans Services, was held to bring together various community partners that work to support veterans to try and find new and creative ways to assist them. These meetings will be ongoing to share ideas and work together to implement them * Chair Ostness wished a Happy Thanksgiving to all ADJOURN Health and Human Services Board Chair Dave Ostness called this Nov. 17, 2021 meeting adjourned at approximately 6:40 PM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING December 15, 2021 @ 5:00 PM in the Government Center Boardroom.