Human Services Board
Human Services Board Chair, Sue Hakes, and Board Members Heidi Doo-Kirk, Garry Gamble, Jan Hall, Carla LaPointe, Jerry Lilja and Bruce Martinson were all present for today's Human Services Board Meeting. Also present were Sue Futterer, Alison McIntyre, Jan Parish and Linda Waterhouse.
Child Care & Foster Care Licensing Responsibilities
Social Worker Linda Waterhouse gave an overview of the State Licensing Program/Services that she does for Adult Foster Care, Child Foster Care, Child Care, and Child Foster Home. Current caseload in Cook County includes (3) pending relative child foster home applications, (2) adult foster care facilities, and (9) child care licenses.
An aging population, a mini "baby boom" in Cook County, and ever changing licensing and training requirements have resulted in an increase in the licensing workload. This presents a challenge to Cook County's small agency with limited staff resources.
Licensing responsibility was transferred to Waterhouse within the last year and she notes that the work has changed since she did licensing about a decade ago. Waterhouse believes that one reason it is different is because of the growing challenges on families overall.
Board Chair Sue Hakes thanked Waterhouse for stepping up to take on this important work in addition to her responsibilities as a Social Worker.
August Financial Report
Jan Parish, Financial Services & Fiscal Supervisor, presented the August Financial Report noting that the fund balance is down ~$15K from last month. Parish also noted that Out of Home placement costs will be increasing this quarter.
Parish explained that the Financial workers are extremely busy with their regular work and the additional training required for eDocs, MNSure, Child Care and MFIP. Some overtime will be required.
Parish happily reported that the Good Samaritan Fund was recently replenished with a $22K donation from Spirit of the Wilderness.
Director's Report
PHHS Director, Sue Futterer, reported that based on County input, the State has selected UCare to partner with the MN Department of Human Services to offer Health Care in Cook County.
Futterer continues to explore with Carlton County a way in which Cook and Carlton Counties can work together to staff the Child Support Program and Services for Cook County. Carlton County is servicing Cook County cases on a temporary basis.
Futterer reported that (4) interviews were conducted to fill the open Case Aid position and that a decision would be forthcoming very soon.
Futterer reported that the Redesign Project for the Electronic Documents Management System (EDMS) for Child Support continues to move forward.
And, Futterer reminded the Board that enrollment for MNSure--a central health insurance marketplace for Minnesotans--begins in October 2013 with coverage beginning January 2014.
Items for Board Action
The Board approved hiring Andrea DeBoer as an Eligibility Specialist at 40 hours/week. This new position will be reviewed after 2 years.
Jerry Lilja forwarded a motion made by the PHHS Advisory Committee to "recommend that there be no reductions t the proposed 2014 PHHS budget expenditures". The County Board will consider this recommendation seriously when finalizing the 2014 Budget
Carla LaPointe forwarded a second motion made by the PHHS Advisory Committee to "recommend to initiate a No Burn Resolution as outlined from the MPCA and reviewed by the Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties Community Health Board. This issue will be added to the 9/24/13 County Board agenda for discussion and consideration.
The Board authorized the purchase of (3) Dell desktop PCs to be used for eDOCS EDMS system scanning for a net cost to the County of $1275.
Committee Reports
Committee Reports were made as identified below. If you have questions or want more detail, please feel free to contact Human Services Board Chair, Sue Hakes, or the Board Member reporting:
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency--Sue Hakes reported.
Public Health and Human Services Advisory--Carla LaPointe and Jerry Lilja reported.
Health Care Planning Committee--Bruce Martinson reported.
North Shore Collaborative--Sue Hakes reported.
Bill and Abstracts were approved and the meeting adjourned at 10:05 am.
County Board of Commissioners Meeting
County Board Chair Jan Hall and Commissioners Heidi Doo-Kirk, Garry Gamble, Sue Hakes and Bruce Martinson were all present for today's meeting. Also present were County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers, County Attorney Tim Scannell, and Support Staff Bev Wolke.
Public Comment
No member of the Public came before the Board today.
Highway Department
The County Board approved a work order for the County to provide winter maintenance services for the Rollins Creek Road. MNDot will pay the County $3000 for this service.
Moving Matters Kick-Off and Walking/Biking Tour
Kristin Dearruda-Wharton invited the County Board to join in the Moving Matters Kick-Off this Thursday, September 19 from 10 am to 6 pm on the Grand Marais Public Library Lawn. Moving Matters is a county-wide project with the main goal of increasing walking and biking throughout Cook County by making our streets and roads safer and more accessible for walking and biking. Jim Oberstar will be present to talk about active living and participate in a Walking/Biking Tour around town. Fun for all ages! Everybody is welcome!
Cook County Community YMCA
As requested by Y Director Emily Marshall, the Board approved the low bid purchase of a Door Access System for (3) doors in the new facility: front entrance, back entrance, school entrance (4-1 with Gamble opposed). Marshall also reported to the Board that she was successful in purchasing used exercise equipment from the Virginia YMCA at a savings estimated to be $20,000.
Wade Cole of ORB was present via SKYPE to discuss the need to add $70K to the contingency fund to cover construction costs for the Y project. County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers restated the complexities of the project and the potential cost of delay. After a lengthy discussion, the Board approved the request 3-2 (Gamble and Doo-Kirk) opposed.
Commissioner Concerns
- Brian Silence reported on the need for new siding/repair on the Hovland Town Hall.
- Commissioner Hakes raised the issue of clarifying the contract between Cook County and Boreal.TV. Commissioners Hakes and Martinson, Tim Scannell and Braidy Powers will work to provide a draft contract for presentation to the parties.
- Commissioners Martinson and Gamble presented their Staffing Analysis of several other counties to be discussed at a later County Board meeting.
Airport Funding
The County Board voted to support moving forward with the Airport runway extension design at a cost not to exceed $451,400 and subject to Board approval on the final contract and costs. Funding for this project comes from Entitlement Funds ($300K) and Highway Department easement payment ($151,400).
Rumble Strips
As requested at last week's Board Meeting, resolution language regarding the Centerline Rumble Strips was prepared by Bob Carter. The County Board passed the proposed resolution with just a minor addition:
The Cook County Board supports its citizens, who are opposed to the Centerline Rumble Strips (CRS) that have been placed on Highway 61 between Grand Marais and the border, in:
a) Working toward a mutually agreeable solution between them, MnDOT and the County Board to substantially reduce or eliminate the negative consequences of the CRS.
b) addition to MnDOT District One Engineer Duane Hill meeting with the County Board on October 8, hosting a public meeting in the near future with MnDOT and stakeholders in Cook County to voice concerns, questions and suggested changes to the CRS.
c) Requesting a moratorium on the installation of any CRS in Cook County without public meetings and input.
Meeting Minutes
A copy of the final meeting minutes will be made available by contacting the Auditor-Treasurer's Office at 218/387-3640 or by going to the Cook County website. A video of this meeting in its entirety may be viewed by going to Boreal.TV
