HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil on Aging 11-20-08 MinutesCouncil on Aging Page 1 12/31/08
COUNCIL ON AGING AND DISABILTIES MEETING
November 20, 2008
St. Croix County Government Center
CALL TO ORDER: Councilmember Nelson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Pledge of
Allegiance was said.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors: Sharon Norton-Bauman, Al Schrank, Esther Wentz, Gerald Peterson;
Councilmembers: Ramsey Lee, Lois Burri, Kristen Johnson, Vera Grant, Michelle Chevalier,
Virginia Jacobson and Sue Nelson. Also present were: Community Services Coordinator Tracy
Davis; Administrative Assistant Renea Aeschliman; Disability Benefit Specialist Marian Mottaz;
Caregiver Support Coordinator Nancy Abrahamson; Health and Human Services Director Fred
Johnson; ADRC Manager Brad Beckman; County Administrator Chuck Whiting; and Ron Jansen.
ACTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: A motion to approve the minutes was made by Supervisor
Schrank and seconded by Councilmember Lee; motion carried.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday, Dec. 18th in the County Board Room of the Government
Center.
1. Vote on the Council on Aging and Disabilities By-Laws Draft and term limits:
Council members received the draft versions of the Council on Aging and Disabilities by-
laws at the October meeting. Following discussion on how the term limits were decided and
reviewing the handout the term limits, a vote on the by-laws and the term limits was taken. A
motion to accept the by-laws as presented was made by Councilmember Grant, seconded by
Supervisor Wentz; motion carried. A motion was made by Councilmember Lee, seconded by
Councilmember Burri to accept the term limits; motion carried. Manager Beckman stated the
by-laws will need to voted on again at the December meeting before becoming official.
2. Aging Updates:
• A list of the current Interfaith Volunteer requests was given to the Council. Caregiver
Support Coordinator Abrahamson informed the Council that this time of year is fundraising
time. Donations will be received by the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation and
distributed to the Interfaith Program.
• Transportation requests to use the ADRC vans for out of county trips were presented by
Community Service Coordinator Davis.
o New Richmond Senior Center – Amery – December 4th
o Somerset Senior Center – Como Park – December 5th
A motion to accept the transportation requests was made by Supervisor Schrank and seconded
by Supervisor Peterson; motion carried.
• Community Service Coordinator Davis informed the Council that the Public Hearing for the
85.21 Grant was on November 13th at the Baldwin Senior Center at 1:00 p.m. The 85.21 grant
funds the Transportation programs through the Aging and Disability Resource Center, River
Falls Ride Share, and Volunteer Medical Transportation Program through the Disability
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Coalition. She provided copies of sections A – H of the grant draft for the Council to review.
The 85.21 Specialized Transportation Grant totals $132,881.00 requires a 20% county match
which was already figured into the 2009 budget. The Grant will be turned into the state by
December 31, 2008.
• On November 7th all the vans were inspected and passed. Inspections are held on an annual
basis at the Highway shop in Hammond.
• Community Services Coordinator Davis informed the Council that the 5th Annual Monster
Mash Bash was held on Friday, Oct. 24th from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. It was well attended and
enjoyed by all. There were close to 150 people with many of the attendees in costumes. Over
$280.00 was raised for the Congregate Nutrition and Senior Center Board Coalition.
• Baldwin Nutrition Program Manager position was filled by Gina Evenson, former DayAway
Manager. She will start the second week in December. Interviews will be held for the
Hammond Nutrition Program Manager.
• Secret Santa program has started for 2008. In years past, bags were delivered to county
residents over the age of 60 with little to no family in the area. This year we will be combining
the Secret Program with the former Love Bags from the New Richmond School District. Press
releases will be sent out to the local papers and public access stations as well as churches.
Donations can be dropped off at all the Senior Centers or the Aging and Disability Resource
Center by December 12th.
• Nutrition Advisory Council (NAC) met for the first time at the Hudson Senior Center. NAC
is a required committee to oversee the nutrition program by reviewing menus and
concerns/complaints. Representatives from the area senior centers applied for the volunteer
advisory council. Meetings will be held on a quarterly basis throughout the county. The
Preventative/Nutrition Program Coordinator will be part of NAC along with Rhonda Johnson,
Outreach Coordinator.
• Health & Wellness Expo will be held on March 28, 2009 at WITC in New Richmond from
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Expo will feature clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, home health
agencies and other providers. There will also be blood pressure screens, diabetic information,
cholesterol checks, and other screenings. The expo will be open to individuals of any age.
More information will follow.
3. ADRC updates:
• Policies & Procedures for ADRC – drafts: Drafts of the ADRC policies and procedures that
have been approved by the state were presented to the Council on Aging and Disabilities.
• Update on ADRC office expansion: Johnson and Beckman met with Tobin and the Corporate
Express representative early in the month. They discussed the layout of the office and revised
the layout of the reception area. Discussion regarding access from the ADRC suite to the 1216
conference room and the safety aspect took place between St. Croix County Chief Deputy
Shilts, Johnson, and Beckman. Johnson mentioned that the cost for the remodel has yet to
come in. The remodel will hopefully take place sometime in January.
• Staff roles in the ADRC – Disability & Elderly Benefit Specialists overview: Liza Gibson,
Elderly Benefit Specialist, was not present for the meeting due to having her baby on Monday.
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Marian Mottaz, Disability Benefit Specialist, presented information to the Council on what her
role is in the ADRC. Mottaz assists disabled individuals 17 years old and 9 months to 59 years
of age access the health care system. She assists individuals with the application and appeal
processes.
4. Budgets for 2009:
The Council was given the final 2009 Budgets for the ADRC and Aging which were passed
by the County Board. The Preventative/Nutrition Program Coordinator position was passed as well
and will be filled in January.
5. Older Americans Act requirements for Aging Programs: Beckman presented the Council
with a handout that was compiled by AARP. The handout explains the Older American’s Act
funding and guidelines. Beckman mentioned the Older American’s Act has not changed in terms of
funding guidelines for programming, it is still for those 60 years and over.
6. Community Health Partnership presentation regarding provider network: Linda Fike,
Clinical Supervisor with Community Health Partnership, provided the Council with brochures
regarding the two programs offered through Community Health Partnership; Family Care and
Partnership. She informed the Council that the Community Health Partnership has opened an office
in River Falls to handle the Long Term Care in Pierce, St. Croix, and Dunn Counties. For the past
18 months, Community Health Partnership has been working on contracts with area medical and
service providers. Community Health Partnership started out as a pilot program in Eau Claire with
only one benefit package called Partnership. Under the Partnership plan Community Health
Partners becomes the individual’s insurance and works as an HMO. Partnership covers both acute
and primary medical needs as well as Medicare Part D. Family Care was formed when the State
sent out the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Care Management Organization (CMO). Family
Care allows participants choice, which was a requirement of the RFP. The difference between
Family Care and Partnership when looking at acute and primary medical care coverage is which
providers the participant can visit.
Fike pointed out that there has been some difficulty with the clinics in the area accepting
clients on the Partnership plan. Community Health Partnership has not been able to solidify a
contract with the clinics. Individuals enrolled in the Family Care plan have had little to no problems
receiving services. CHP will continue to work with Western Wisconsin Medical Association on
contract development. Johnson pointed out that he has spoken with Western Wisconsin Medical
Association representative, Mike Stein, regarding the concerns surrounding the contracts and
making the transition as seamless as possible. There was discussion on what the role of the Council
would be regarding advocacy for the clients under Partnership with the clinics. Fike will return in
December to update the Council.
7. Correspondence:
8. Possible Agenda Items for next meeting:
Community Health Partnership update
Western Wisconsin Medical Association Spokesman – Mike Stein
A motion to adjourn was made by Supervisor Schrank and seconded by Supervisor Wentz; motion
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carried.
________________________________ ________________________________
Renea Aeschliman, Administrative Assistant Lois Burri, Secretary