HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth & Human Services 01-25-01 r~
t Jan 18 01 01:09p St Croix Co DHHS 715 246 8225 p.2
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Thomas Dorsey, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Robert Stephens
(John Borup, 246-8223)
COMMITTEE TITLE: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board
DATE: 01/25/01
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Complex, New Richmond
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 02/13/01
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: 01/11/01
ANNOUNCEMENTS
APPOINTMENTS :
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Request to purchase electric low-height beds for Nursing Home.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Program Reports:
a. Long Term Support
b. Nursing Home
2. Personnel Issues
3. Capital Outlay Planning
4. Financial Update
5. Health Center Apple Orchard Improvements
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: John M. Borup
DATE:
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE
COUNTY CLERK
NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE
E ,
a °
ST. CROIX COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BOARD
January 25, 2001
The St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board met on January 25, 2001, at the St.
Croix County Health and Human Services/Health Center complex.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Stephens, Chair
Leon Berenschot
Lois Burri
James Craig
Einar Horne
Fern Johnson
Mary Louise Olson
Esther Wentz
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chris Bethke, excused
STAFF PRESENT: John Borup, Health and Human Services Director
Carolyn Krieger, Nursing Home Administrator
Ron Lockwood, Long Term Support Coordinator
Judy Aronson, Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT: Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Educator
Kathie Hachey
Sharon Nykanen
Connie Balow
Chair Stephens, called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. noting the meeting was properly and
legally publicized.
NEXT MEETING: The next Health and Human Services Board meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, February 13, 2001 at 8:30 A.M. at the St. Croix County Health and Human
Services/Health Center complex. Burri will review vouchers at 8:00 A.M. Olson and Wentz
asked that they be excused from the meeting on February 13, 2001.
AGENDA: MOTION: A motion was introduced by Berenschot, seconded by Wentz, and
unanimously adopted: That the agenda be approved as circulated.
MINUTES: MOTION: A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by Berenschot, and
unanimously adopted: That the minutes of the 01/11/00 Health and Human Services Board
meeting be approved as circulated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Borup announced that Chris Bethke is in Holy Family Hospital and that
flowers have been sent to him.
1
f
Health Center Aople Orchard Improvements : Stephens stated at the last meeting Bethke
requested funds in the amount of $1,500.00 to clear a roadway for access to the orchard - cutting
down scrub trees etc. Stephens stated at the May 25 `h, 2000 Health and Human Services Board
meeting a motion was approved not to exceed $1,000.00 to clean up the area for the community
garden and the fruit tree project. A bid for $3,700 to dispose of the wood stumps taken out by
the Sportsman Alliance, widening the driveway and creating a parking area, also includes lime
rock for the driveway.
MOTION: A motion was introduced by Stephens, seconded by Wentz, and unanimously
adopted: That the Health and Human Services Board increase the motion from $1,000.00 to
$3,700.00 for the community garden and apple orchard project.
Diana Alfuth introduced the three master gardeners that were present. Alfuth had a rough sketch
of where the garden will be located. She stated the volunteers would grow vegetables and
produce which will be donated to the food shelves. Alfuth stated this garden project should be
self-supporting. There will be miscellaneous expenses like renting a tiller. She stated, for
example we may have small plots about 15' x 15' which we may rent out for $20.00 to persons
that do not have the space to grow their own produce. The garden project will be publicized.
Financial U ate: Borup stated he wanted to explain the $1,000,000 that was taken away from
Health and Human Services in 1998. He stated the audit missed some monies that were sent back
to the State, due to State errors in 1996 and 1997.
Borup stated that when $1 million was transferred to the General Fund in 1998, that the
Department had been running a balance frequently in excess of $1 million. When the 1997 audit
was presented in the Spring of 1998, it reported revenues in excess of expenditures of $704,506.
However, the audit missed a State error of $180,003 in 1996 and $182,433 in 1997 totaling
$362,436. These payments were returned to the State. The State didn't identify these paybacks
until November 25, 1998.
$704,506 Revenues over expenses
180,003 1996 State error
182,433 1997 State error
$342,000 Actual Revenue over Expenses in 1997
Borup stated $1,543,915 was designated (per audit)
$ 312,436 was returned to State
$1.000.000 County General Fund
$ 181,479
Borup stated this explanation was exacerbated by Mental Health having a surplus of monies this
year. Borup stated we are in good shape. Borup stated the ITP monies of $200,000 plus are over
what we had been told we would receive.
Stephens stated when he had spoken to Don Brown about the budget when they took the monies,
Brown had stated if Health and Human Services ever needed the monies, to come back to him
2
and we could have it back. Stephens stated he perceived there are misconceptions and we gave a
conservative budget. Borup stated he invited Stan Krueger and Ralph Swenson to join us.
Rcquest to purchase electric low-electric beds for Nursing Home : Krieger stated the low-bed
purchase that was approved at the January 11 `h, 2001 Health and Human Services meeting for 24
beds in the amount of $20,544 are no longer available. The new amount for these beds is
$27,586.80. Krieger asked if the Board would like her to purchase the 24 beds at $329/per bed
more or if they would like her to stay within the $20,544 and purchase fewer beds. The Board
informed Krieger to stay within the amount that was approved. Krieger stated she is working on
the Bayport grant to purchase more items for the nursing home.
Nursing Home: Krieger stated the Nursing Home census is 92. Referrals and inquiries have been
slow since the holidays. Stephens stated that marketing is a big part of other nursing home
budgets. Krieger stated we could do some redecorating here. Most nursing homes do not want to
look like a hospital and we do look too institutional. Krieger and Borup are applying for some
grant monies that if awarded, could be used to improve the building.
An article from the New Richmond News was distributed regarding nursing homes. It stated
nursing home throughout the country are finding it increasingly challenging to provide the care
that older people need, for two fundamental reasons: the cost of providing care is increasing and
the funding available to pay for care is decreasing.
Borup stated we are trying to get samples of contracts from John Keefe so we can meet with
Corp Counsel.
Program Rgports: Long Term Support: Ron Lockwood stated they did a study in the Fall
looking at waiting lists. He distributed a residential care comparative study. They have a staff
committee looking at issues focusing on what is high cost in the area - severe/behavioral
problems that need to be dealt with. Stephens stated nobody is getting hurt regarding the waiting
list. People in crisis will be served. Lockwood stated 24 hour care is extremely expensive for
people living alone as they have unique needs. Lockwood stated he would like to take some risks
with a group living situation/adapted living program. He stated the group is trying to control cost
and generate savings. They are working with the guardians for alternative arrangements.
Lockwood stated Aurora is building a facility in River Falls. A consumer from River Falls has
contacted Lockwood to pay for his long distance rates. The consumer feels discriminated against
because he has to pay for his calls to Health and Human Services and it is a burden for him. He
is advocating for himself and others with disabilities. He would like to have a toll free line, a 1-
800 number. Borup volunteered to research the cost.
Personnel Issues: The LTE Social Worker position for the Mental Health Community Support
Program (CSP) approved at the last meeting has been approved by Personnel and will be referred
to Finance. Economic Support is recruiting for a replacement for an Economic Support
Specialist.
Borup asked that Board members mark their calendars for February 15, 2001 from 1:00 p.m. to
3:00 p.m. for "Investing in Tobacco Control: A Guide for State Decisionmakers". A Public
3
Health training network satellite broadcast. He encouraged Board members to attend. Location to
be determined.
Olson left the meeting at 7:42 p.m.
Capi 1 Ou ay Planting: Borup stated we have started up-dating a 5-year plan. The purpose is to
coordinate and prioritize capital outlays in order to maintain predictable funding, protect the
County's asset values, identify future funding concerns with time to react proactively, and
operate within normally accepted funding means of our taxpayers. The goal is to develop such a
planning tool and integrate it into the County's annual budgeting process. Horne questioned the
process and will talk with Chuck Whiting.
Burri left the meeting at 7:47 p.m.
Stephens asked if there were any other issues to bring before the Board.
MOTION: A motion was introduced by Home, seconded by Berenschot, and unanimously
adopted: That the Health and Human Services Board meeting be adjourned.
Time: 7:49 p.m.
Chairman:
Attest:
Secretary
4