HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 6/22/2017BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room
June 22, 2017
Board Members Present: Larry Fickbohm, Kent Seldal, Jim Crandall,
Rachel Coughtry, Pat Carver
Board Members Excused: Rusty Williams, Phil Milam, Lona Schmidt, Fred Strand
Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Mark Abeles-Allison
(left @ 5:40)
Call to Order and Introductions
Crandall called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m.
Review of the May 25, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Motion by Fickbohm, seconded by Carver, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed
unanimously.
Public Comment – Limited to 3 minutes per person
None
Open the Floor for Public Hearing
Motion by Carver at 4:36, second by Coughtry, to Open the floor for Public Hearing. Motion
passed unanimously.
Program Presentation –Unborn Child in Need of Protective Services (UChPS) – Family Services
Social Worker – Rebecca Kruit
Wisconsin Act 292 enacted in 1998 permitted the detention, at any state of pregnancy of a
pregnant person who habitually lacks self-control in the use of alcohol or drugs that poses a risk
that the infant will be seriously affected or endangered at birth. This allowed Wisconsin officials
to arrest and detain pregnant women for up to the duration of their pregnancies if said officials
believe that the pregnant woman in abusing substances.
In Bayfield County, the detention of pregnant women has always been in the form of residential
or community-based treatment. However, a civil rights complaint was made in recent years
because Taylor County used incarceration in their county jail to detain a pregnant mom who
was using.
Due to that case, the courts have overturned the ruling. Now pregnant women abusing
substances can only be offered services if they ask for them. If they ask, DHS social workers
encourage them to go to Northlakes Community Clinic or Behavior Health at Memorial Medical
Center. Services cannot be offered, even on a voluntary basis, nor can the pregnant mom be
detained or in any way compelled to accept treatment to ensure the health of the fetus.
Opportunity for Public Comment on 2018 Budget and/or Bayfield County’s Policies and
procedures for Equal Opportunity in Employment, Service Delivery and Language Access.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room
June 23, 2017
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No in person public comments.
Review Written Comments
Skulan reviewed the three written Public Comments for the 2018 Budget:
1. Kathy & Gaylen Claremboux – Kindship Care
2. Kim Marble-Follis, CASDA
3. Kathy Roper, Executive Director, Northwoods Women, Inc., d.b.a. New Day Shelter
Monthly Section Reports
Family Services – Elizabeth Skulan
Skulan reported for Haukaas as she is out on leave.
• Emergency Detention numbers are currently much lower year to date in 2017 than in
2016, 27 compared to 45 this time last year.
• Haukaas’ last day in the office will be Wednesday, June 28th.
Skulan noted that she received a call from Carol Lund, Northland Counseling (NC), that they
broke ground on their Youth Crisis Stabilization Facility. NC expects the facility to open this fall,
they hope by September 1 or October 1, 2017. Bayfield County will initially contract to pay for
three days a month for a bed hold fee. Each month, that bed hold will pay for the first three
days of use in the facility. Unused bed hold days will not carryover month to month. The bed
hold fee will included in the 2018 contract, but will end after December 2018.
Economic Support Services – Elizabeth Skulan
Spuhler is currently out on bereavement leave. The unit continues to provide job-shadowing
experience to a new Income Maintenance worker from Iron County.
Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder
Grant funding for revitalization of meal sites are available from the State of Wisconsin. A grant
proposal is being written for the Port Wing Senior Meal site. One of the requirements of the
grant is the incorporation of local foods in the meal menus. Community members are excited
with the prospect of a different meal site venue and the possibility of enjoying local foods. The
grant funds are for up to $7,500 per site.
Farmer’s Market vouchers were distributed throughout Bayfield County to seniors. The
vouchers are for $30 each and where given out to 112 eligible senior recipients.
June 15th was World Adult Abuse Awareness day. A Financial Scam and Identity Threat
workshop for professionals was held at WITC. Pinwheels were placed outside of the DHS entry.
Each pinwheel represented a reported case of elder abuse and neglect in 2016.
Lindi Olson, Aging and Disability specialist, is on Family Medical Leave. Olson will be out for a
minimum of 3 weeks. Karen Bodin and Ann Marie Mackin are covering regional phone calls with
assistance from the five-county consortium.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room
June 23, 2017
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Support Services – Nikki Revak
Auditors are expected the first week of July and staff are compiling audit documents for their
review.
Management team provided a breakfast yogurt buffet for the DHS all staff meeting this
morning. IS Manager Paul Houck demonstrated the encrypting function for sending and
receiving emails.
Work continues reconciling the Comprehensive Community Services program with New
Horizon’s North.
The county sale of obsolete equipment has been put on hold until perhaps fall. County
Administrator would like a Policy on Disposal of County Property drafted.
Some support staff on vacation. Kathy Wolfram is on intermittent Family Medical Leave with
her son.
Monthly Reports
Monthly reports reviewed and placed on file.
Out of home placement costs for May were at $89,000; the average costs are around $35,000.
2018 Budget Preparation Memo to Department Heads – June 5, 2017
Skulan reviewed the memo from the County Administrator that provides direction on
development of the 2018 budget.
Carvery inquired what the relationship is between Bayfield County and Northern Lights. County
Administrator Abeles-Allison stated that Bayfield County has been the grantor to Norther
Light’s general obligation bonds.
Family Services Manager Report – Report on the Status of Replacement
Skulan reported five applications were received for the Family Services Manager position. Of
the five applications, two applicants were qualified, both in-house candidates. The position was
offered to Mental Health Coordinator, Cheryl Hanson. Hanson accepted the position. Her first
day of work as Family Services Manager is Monday, June 26th. Haukaas’ last day in the office will
be on Wednesday, June 28th. Her last day of employment is June 30, 2017. When Hanson was
hired as the new manager, Social Worker Rebecca Kruit was recognized for her expertise in
Child Welfare and role as lead worker, which will continue with Hanson as section manager.
Kruit received a promotion from Social Worker II to Social Worker III. The Mental Health
Coordinator position is currently being advertised with an application deadline date of July 9,
2017.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room
June 23, 2017
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Local Management Data – Comparisons for Management Position
Skulan reviewed the compensation schedules worksheet for similar positions near Bayfield
County. This was developed due to an inquiry at the May meeting from Supervisor Fickbohm
for data comparisons.
Discussion and Possible Action – First Year Vacation Schedule for Bayfield County Employees,
Advocating for Modification, Supervisor Fickbohm
Supervisor Fickbohm advocated for additional paid leave for staff during their first year of
employment with Bayfield County. Fickbohm indicated that Bayfield County employees should
be a treated with respect and Bayfield County can show appreciation with additional paid leave.
Discussion followed.
Motion by Crandall, Second by Carver, “To request the Personnel Committee review the paid
benefit accrual time off schedules, with considerations of “Paid Time Off” (PTO) and to provide
paid time off within the first year of employment at Bayfield County”. Motion passed
unanimously.
Discussion and Possible Action – Draft 2016 Annual Report (incomplete)
Skulan reviewed the completed 2016 Annual Report. Skulan will present the report to the
County Board at July meeting.
Motion by Seldal, second by Coughtry, to approve the draft of the 2016 DHS Annual Report and
present it to the full County Board. Motion passed unanimously.
Close the Floor to Public Comment on the 2018 Department of Human Services Budget and
Regarding Bayfield County’s Policies and Procedures for Equal Opportunity in Employment,
Service Delivery and Language Access
Motion by Carver at 5:55 p.m., second by Fickbohm, to close the floor to Public Hearing on the
2018 Budget. Motion passed unanimously.
Other (Informational Items)
A. Cornelius, Tamarine & Brown, Joanne, When Work Isn’t Enough: Effectively
Supporting Wisconsin’s Working Families, Wisconsin Budget Project, June 8,
2017
B. Katherine Barret & Richard Green, The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting to a
Government Gig, Governing.com, June 8, 2017
C. Other
Future Meetings
A. July 27, 2017
B. August 24, 2017
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room
June 23, 2017
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C. September 28, 2017
Adjournment at 6:02 p.m.
Submitted by the Nikki Revak