HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 3/24/2022BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
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Board Members Present: Larry Fickbohm (arrived at 4:10 p.m.), Marty Milanowski, David
Zepczyk (phone), James Crandall (phone), Stephanie Defoe
Haskins (virtual), Susan Rosa (virtual)
Board Members Not Present: Jeremy Oswald, Lona Schmidt
Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Mary Anich, Stephanie Eder (virtual), Tom
Croteau, Jeanine Spuhler, Sarah Traaholt, Pat Daoust
Call to Order and Introductions
Crandall called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and introductions were made.
Opportunity for Public Comment
No Public Comment
Discussion and Possible Action – Review of the December 7, 2021, Meeting Minutes
Motion by Milanowski, second by Haskins-Defoe to approve the December 7, 2021, meeting minutes as
presented. Motion passed.
Review of the February 24, 2022, Meeting and place on file
Meeting notes were reviewed and placed on file.
Program Presentation – Aging & Disability Services Section, Pat Daoust, Transit Manager, Bay
Area Rural Transit, (BART) Door2Door Transportation Program
The Bayfield County Door2Door Transportation Program has launched. Door2Door is a Bay Area
Rural Transit (BART) van service that provides public transportation from a person’s door in
Bayfield County to another location in Bayfield County, the City of Ashland, or the City of
Hayward and back. Normal operating hours are 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, requests
for other times or days may be approved. Van is handicap accessible. Service is available to
anyone.
Daoust reports a slow start. BART is increasing outreach by putting ads in area papers,
attending the home show in Ashland, and distributing magnets with Door2Door information
printed on them. Informational brochures have been delivered to area libraries, hospitals and
clinics. Riders who have already used the service have expressed their appreciation for this
additional transportation option.
Rates are based on the distance of travel. Milanowski asked if rates will rise now that gas prices
are increasing. Daoust stated that rates are set in December for the year.
FINAL:
Approved at the 5/3/22
BCDHS meeting
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
K:\Agendas and Minutes\DHS Board\Minutes\2022 DHS Board Minutes\2022-03_24_BCDHS_Board_meeting_minutes-final.docx 2
Crandall asked how this is different than the Blue Goose. Daoust replied this is not an on-
demand service and it is available throughout Bayfield County. Same day bookings may be
declined. Reservations must be made in advance.
Monthly Section Reports
Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder
Linder is out of the office. Skulan presented her report.
Linder reviewed data regarding financial exploitation in the last year. Eleven referrals were
made in Bayfield County for financial abuse of seniors. Seven were perpetrated by family, three
were online scams, and one was conducted to a paid caregiver. The total amount of money lost
was $92,700. Only seven of these cases were referred to law enforcement. Some seniors refuse
to support criminal charges due to embarrassment or because they do not want family
members charged with a crime.
Senior congregate meal sites will all be open by the end of March. Carolyn Novak has trained
thirty volunteers who will assist at the meal sites.
Family Services – Mary Anich
December and January were busy months. Due to staffing issues only Social Workers Richard
Kamm and Ashley Miller were available to provide on-call. This was taxing for Kamm and Miller,
but their efforts were much appreciated.
DHS has been meeting with staff from the Washburn schools. The schools have noticed an
increased need for behavioral health services. There has been a marked increase in serious
behaviors with middle school students, particularly girls.
Lindsey Friedrich, Behavioral Health Case Manager, resigned in December. Fredric moved back
to Southern Wisconsin to start a professional therapy practice.
The Youth Justice position was filled by Traci Olson in December. Olson has since resigned. Her
last day will be March 25, 2022. Olson is returning to her former position with the Department
of Corrections, in Probation and Parole.
August Gordon joined Family Services in December as a Behavioral Health Case Manager.
Gordon will be transitioning to the Youth Justice Coordinator position vacated by Traci Olson.
Evan Maki was hired as a Behavioral Health Case Manager. Maki will join the team on April 4,
2022.
Family Specialist, Presley Nuutinen, resigned. Nuutinen was completing her bachelor’s degree
and an internship with CCS in Ashland while working full-time with Bayfield County. Nuutinen
decided she needed to focus more on her studies.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
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Val Gurske-Westlund was hired to replace Nuutinen as the Family Specialist. Gurske-Westlund
was a former Jail employee.
Foster Care Coordinator, Briana Aldaba, started with Bayfield County on Feb 7, 2022. Aldaba is
quickly acclimating herself to the program.
One Behavioral Health Case Manager position is still vacant. DHS is working towards
transitioning behavioral health social workers and case managers from the Family Services
Section to the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Section.
Anich attended a Compassion Fatigue course with several other Bayfield County employees in
February.
Support Services – Stephanie Eder
Eder reported the Support Staff team is fully staffed. Ashley Bayliss was hired as a part-time
receptionist. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Intern, Stephanie Kent-Wargin,
was also hired by Bayfield County for a 90-day clerical internship.
Eder attended the Management Meeting to review the Carlson Dettmann Wage Analysis.
Working with Kathy Wolfram-Moran on year-end Children’s Long-Term Service (CLTS),
Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) and Birth-to-3 reconciliation reports for the
State. Wolfram-Moran completed the final 2021 Greater Wisconsin Area Aging Resources
(GWAAR) claim.
Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Reporting (WIMCR) pick-up session for CY2020 was completed.
CY2021 WIMCR will begin in April.
Eder has been in touch with several counties to find a replacement for the Human Service’s
accounting system known as Visual Wissis. There are very few options that meet all the
requirements.
Several Support Staff team members have been taking some well-deserved vacation time.
Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler
Attendance in the Economic Support section was adversely affected by illness this past month.
Staff work from home if they are able.
Interviews for two vacant positions are scheduled next week.
The annual desktop monitoring for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) is
complete. The state reviews heating applications for accuracy, complete and concise notes,
and other compliance criteria. Economic Support staff met with state staff for training and
technical assistance.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
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BadgerCare and FoodShare will be unwinding the pandemic policies in July.
Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) – Tom Croteau
Croteau reported the current case load is forty-one participants. New referrals continue to be
made as well.
DHS is recruiting for a new CCS Service Facilitator position. Croteau is monitoring current staff
workloads to prevent burnout.
Memorial Medical Center’s Behavioral Health unit approached the CCS team to resume
presentations about the CCS program to patients. Despite the current workload, staff will be
presenting monthly on a rotating basis. It is important to maintain positive relationships with
community partners.
Administration of The Community Support Program (CSP) is contracted to Northland
Counseling. Currently there are nine active participants. Croteau meets with Northland
Counseling monthly to monitor program service and participants.
Croteau reported the transition of Behavioral Health staff from Family Services to CCS has
begun. Croteau is searching for a provider who can complete substance abuse screens.
Croteau reported long-term CCS participants were asked what life would look like without CCS.
Participants had similar answers. They want to build connections and relationships and
eliminate individuals who are paid to be in their lives. CCS teaches participants skills and
increases their confidence and ability to develop these relationships.
Rosa complimented staff.
Monthly Reports
Monthly Financial and Training reports were reviewed and placed on file.
Resignation – Mark Ludeking
Citizen Member Mark Ludeking resigned from the DHS Board. Ludeking was the citizen
representative from the City of Bayfield and surrounding areas. DHS is currently searching for
another citizen member from the City of Bayfield or surrounding areas interested in an
appointment to the DHS Board.
Discussion and Possible Action – Appointment of Cecelia Webb to the Comprehensive
Community Services (CCS) Coordination Committee
Webb has completed an application to serve on the local and regional Coordination
Committees. Her application was vetted by the County Administrator. The CCS Coordination
Committees are required to include at least 31% participant members. Webb meets the
participant requirement and can replace a vacancy left by Andrew Austin. recommended Webb
is recommended for an appointment to the committee.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
K:\Agendas and Minutes\DHS Board\Minutes\2022 DHS Board Minutes\2022-03_24_BCDHS_Board_meeting_minutes-final.docx 5
Motion by Rosa, second by Milanowski, to approve Cecelia Webb to the local and regional
Comprehensive Community Services Coordination Committees. Motion passed.
Process to Notify Department of Inability to Attend DHS Board Meetings
DHS Board members should call 715-373-6144 or e-mail DHS at
baycodhs@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov, if unable to attend a scheduled meeting. This helps
determine if there will be a quorum at the meeting and ensures business can be conducted and
formal action taken at the meeting.
Discussion and Possible Action –
Due to federal requirements of partner organization Bay Area Rural Transit (BART), The
Door2Door (D2D) Transportation Project is open to all citizens of Bayfield County. The co-
payments for the program can be prohibitive to residents who have mobility limitations
caused by age, disability, or income. S85.21 funds specifically target these populations. To
help address this, DHS has developed a policy for review and approval. Co-payments for
individuals who apply and are approved for a waiver will be billed to DHS and paid with
S85.21 transportation funds. Linder takes the calls, reviews the questions and responses, then
determines if the fees will be waived.
Rosa requested that the policy be modified to allow for a partial waiver as well as a full waiver
of fees for riders. The policy will be modified and presented at a later date.
Motion was tabled for revision.
Discussion and Possible Action –
The on-call policy included in the Bayfield County Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual is
not competitive compared to other counties in the region. Options and recommendations for
change were presented. The DHS Board reviewed the options and decided on a
recommendation.
Motion by Milanowski, second by Fickbohm, to recommend the following changes: 1.) increase
on-call pay from $1.50 to $2.00 per hour;2.) increase minimum compensatory time accrued for
phone calls from one-half hour to one hour, allowing for only one minimum in a 60 minute
period; and 3.) establishing a three hour minimum of compensatory time for a mobile response.
Further, that these recommendations be presented to the Personnel Committee at their April 7,
2022, meeting. Motion passed.
Discussion and Possible Action –
A budget resolution was presented to allow DHS to transfer Aging and Disability Resource
Center of the North (ADRC-N) Contingency funds to the new fiscal agent, Ashland County
Health and Human Services Department.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
March 24, 2022
K:\Agendas and Minutes\DHS Board\Minutes\2022 DHS Board Minutes\2022-03_24_BCDHS_Board_meeting_minutes-final.docx 6
Motion by Fickbohm, second by Milanowski, to approve the resolution to transfer the Aging
and Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) Contingency Fund to New Fiscal Agent
and recommend its approval to the full County Board. Motion passed.
Other (Informational Items)
A. Email appreciation, Family Specialist Valerie Gurske-Westlund
Future Meetings
A. Due to a conflict with the next County/Tribal meeting, the April 28, 2022, DHS Board
meeting was moved to Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 4:00 pm.
B. May 26, 2022
C. June 23, 2022 (this meeting will be held in the County Board Room and will include the
Public Hearing on the 2023 DHS Budget and Opportunity for Comments Regarding
Bayfield County’s Policies and Procedures for Equal Opportunity Employment, Service
Delivery, and Language Access)
Crandall Adjourned the meeting at 5:18 pm.
Submitted by Sarah Traaholt, Clerk III