HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-2022 Council on Aging and Disabilities Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL ON AGING AND DISABILITIES
May 13, 2022 8:30 AM
St. Croix County Service Center-Rm 171 & 172
1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Attendee NameOrganizationTitleStatusArrived
Paul AdamsSt. Croix CountySupervisorAbsent
Cathy LeafSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Dave OstnessSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Maureen BrunnerSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberExcused
Amy SchneiderSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Bonnie RichertSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Nancy HableSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Nancy E. MeyerSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Lois BurriSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Roxanne M. WakeenSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberExcused
Martha MabisSt. Croix CountyCouncil MemberPresent
Others present were Kristin Newton, ADRC Administrator; Bob Rohret, HHS Director;
Carolyn Greunke, ADRC Disability Benefit Specialist; Liza Gibson, ADRC Elder Benefit
Specialist; Laurel Feldt, ADRC Disability Benefit Specialist and Fay Strenke, HHS Fiscal
Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Council on Aging and Disabilities Regular Meeting March 11, 20228:30 AM
Convener Ostness asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions to the
minutes. Conveyor Ostness approved the minutes as written.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
Conveyor Ostness opened the floor for public comment, hearing none, he proceeded with the
meeting.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Introduction of New Council on Aging and Disabilities member
Convener Ostness provided Council with a brief introduction of new County Supervisor
Paul Adams.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Election of Council on Aging and Disabilities Chair
Council on Aging and Disabilities (COAD) Convener Ostness opened to the floor for
nominations for Council Chair. Supervisor Leaf nominated Supervisor Dave Ostness ;
seconded by Council member Hable. Supervisor Leaf moved to have the elections
closed; seconded by Council member Schneider. The election of Dave Ostness as COAD
Chair was approved.
RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\]
MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
SECONDER: Nancy Hable, Council Member
AYES: Cathy Leaf, Dave Ostness, Amy Schneider, Bonnie Richert, Nancy
Hable, Nancy E. Meyer, Lois Burri, Martha Mabis
ABSENT: Paul Adams
EXCUSED: Maureen Brunner, Roxanne M. Wakeen
3. Election of Council on Aging and Disabilities Vice Chair
Council Chair Ostness asked for nominations for the CAOD Vice-Chair. Council member
Meyer nominated Council member Brunner; seconded by Council member Hable.
Supervisor Leaf moved to have nominations closed; seconded by Council member Mabis.
The election of Maureen Brunner as COAD Vice Chair was approved.
RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\]
MOVER: Nancy E. Meyer, Council Member
SECONDER: Nancy Hable, Council Member
AYES: Cathy Leaf, Dave Ostness, Amy Schneider, Bonnie Richert, Nancy
Hable, Nancy E. Meyer, Lois Burri, Martha Mabis
ABSENT: Paul Adams
EXCUSED: Maureen Brunner, Roxanne M. Wakeen
4. Aging and Disability Resource Center Financial Reports
Fay Strenke, HHS Fiscal Manager, reviewed the financial report from April 2022. She
noted funding for the ADRC has been received, while Aging reimbursement is behind
but will be reflected on the June financial report. Strenke pointed out that the donation
amount for the aging programs is on track and same with expenses. Discussion
followed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
5. Establish Meeting Schedule of the Council on Aging and Disabilities
Council Chair Ostness reviewed the current meeting schedule with the Council
members. Council members would like to continue meeting the 2nd Friday of the
month at 8:30 am in New Richmond at the St. Croix County Services.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
6. Aging and Disability Resource Center Elder Benefit Specialist Program Presentation
Liza Gibson, ADRC Elder Benefit Specialist, introduced herself to the Council and
provided a brief overview of the program. The ADRC has two Elder Benefit Specialists
who assists St. Croix County residents who are 60 and over. Both of the Elder Benefit
Specialists are SHIP Counselors and can administer benefit check ups for individuals to
see what programs they may qualify for. The Elder Benefit Specialists assist individuals
navigate Medicare and assist many St. Croix County residents during Medicare Open
Enrollment. Gibson explained that referral process for the Elder Benefit Specialist
Program and that the person needs to reach directly. Discussion followed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
7. Aging and Disability Resource Center Disability Benefit Specialist Program
Presentation
Laurel Feldt and Carolyn Greunke, ADRC Disability Benefit Specialists, introduced
themselves to the Council and provided a brief review of the Disability Benefit Specialist
program. They mainly assists with Social Security Disability applications for St. Croix
County residents who are 18 - 59 years of age. Discussion followed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
8. Wisconsin's Key Issues for the Aging and Disability Populations Advocacy Event
Update
Administrator Newton provided an overview of the Advocacy Event. The handouts from
the day were added to the Council on Aging and Disabilities meeting packet. Discussion
followed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council member Meyer requested a presentation from the New Richmond VFW regarding the
plans for New Freedom Park in New Richmond.
HHS Director Rohret mentioned the Health and Human Services 2021 Annual Report will be
reviewed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADRC Administrator Newton informed the Council that May is Older American Month. Netwon
also mentioned a couple June events. June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and will
be displaying purple pin wheels at the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson and the
St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond. The pin wheels represent the number of
Elder Abuse investigations in 2021. On Friday, June 17th we will be hosting a Countywide Senior
Picnic at the Roberts Park Building.
Newton mentioned the Volunteer Banquet was held last week. Along with recognizing the
volunteers, Sharon Fregine was recognized for her years of cooking at the Woodville Senior
Nutrition Site. Sharon will be retiring at the end of the month.
Newton provided the Council with updates regarding the Senior Nutrition program -
Wellhaven is back to cooking for the River Falls Senior Nutrition Site, both congregate/on-
site dining and Home-Delivered Meals. The Roberts Senior Nutrition Site will be transition
to a restaurant model in July with days of service changes to Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Newton mentioned that a press release and Facebook post was sent out regarding a couple
of Nutrition Programs that are recently available - Senior Farmers Market Vouchers for
residents of St. Croix County and a Stepping Up Your Nutrition (SUYN) educational program.
SUYN will be held at the Hudson Senior Nutrition Site on June 21 and June 28 and will focus
on how nutrition can effect a person's balance.
HHS Director Rohret provided the Council with an update regarding the Woodville Senior
Nutrition Site. With the upcoming retirement of the cook at the Woodville site, it was
decided to not post the position and move to catered options for Woodville and the other
three sites who received meals from Woodville.
Rohret provided Council with a COVID update and reminded Council testing and
vaccinations are still available through Public Health at the St. Croix County Services Center.
Rohret informed the Council a Mental Health Symposium will be held on Wednesday, June 8
at Northwood Technical College in New Richmond from 6 pm - 8:30 pm. The event will be
free and open to the public.
Rohret mentioned DHS Secretary Timberlake visited the St. Croix County Services Center on
April 22nd. The visit was part of a tour across the state to thank county Public Health
Departments for the work done during the pandemic.
Rohret let Council members know of an upcoming partnership between Childrens Services
and the Family Resource Center in Baldwin that will engage with parents and children in a
different way. The program will be held at the St. Croix County Services Center and will start
in June.
ADJOURN
Chair Ostness adjourned the meeting at 9:58 am
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting will be Friday, June 10, 2022 in New Richmond at the St. Croix
County Services Center.