HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1972 (37) RESOLUTION 7
ST, CROIX COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION
and ALCOHOL-DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, Section 51.42 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the so-called Unified
Board Legislation, was enacted by the Wisconsin Legislature in November
1971; and
WHEREAS this legislation provides for the re-organization of services at
the local level for Mental Health., Mental Retardation and Alcoholism-Drug
Abuse; and
WHEREAS, Section 51.42 of the Wisconsin Statutes is permissive legislation,
providing that any County Board of Supervisors may implement, or not imple-
ment this legislation, as best serves the interests of the citizens of that
individual county, and
WHEREAS, the Guidelines for implementing Section 51.42 adopted by the State
Department of Health and Social Services in March• 197Z, set forth certain
mandatory staffing requirements, such as the employment of an overall Program
Director, and also the employment of three Disability Program Directors,
each of whom must meet high educational qualifications, and each of whose
duties are regulated in detail by the State Department of Health and Social
Services, thus increasing costs and at the same time diminishing local
control of the said mental health, mental retardation and alcohol-drug
abuse programs, and
WHEREAS, the said Guidelines for Implementation of Section 51.42, Page 17,
under "Recommended Procedures" provide that the County Board of Supervisors,
prior to establishing a Unified Board under Section 51.42, may appoint a
Study Committee to initiate a review process, using legal counsel; and
WHEREAS, there are many changing factors in St. Croix County such as:
1. Increased population growth rate and influx of population from the Twin
Cities area,
2. Continued rapid increase of the equalized county property valuation.
S. The construction of a new St. Croix County mental health facility at
New Richmond, with attendant changes in both mental health programs
and the population groups served;
-2-
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Board of Trustees of the St. Croix County Hospital recommends
to the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors that a Study Committee com-
posed of St. Croix County representatives be appointed by the County Board
of Supervisors, the said Committee being authorized and directed to com-
pletely re-evaluate the mental health, mental retardation and alcohol-
drug abuse services in St. Croix County; and
That the said Study Committee be authorized and directed to investigate,
to analyse the cost factors and to advise the. St. Croix County Board of
Supervisors with respect to the following matters pertaining to the Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and Alcohol-Drug Abuse programs in St. Croix
County.
1. Recommended modifications and improvements of existing programs.
2. Recommended new program developments including the adoption or rejec-
tion of the Unified Board (Section 51.42) Legislation.
3. Recommended changes in program delivery systems, including alignments
or re-alignments with neighboring counties or service areas which
would be mutually acceptable and beneficial to the citizens of St.
Croix County and those of the said neighboring counties and service
areas.
4. Recommendations with respect to any other matters pertaining to the
St. Croix County Mental Health, Mental Retardation or Alcohol-Drug
Abuse programs which the Study Committee feels should come to the
attention of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors.
Respectfully presented;
ate DelBert ddhChairman
Board of Trustees
St. Croix County Hospital
Arthur eterson, rustee
eZ,ona=d RaTT, ''Trustee