McHenry Times

McHenry County Public Health & Community Services Committee met Sept. 27.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER

Meeting called to order at: 8:16 AM by Charles S Wheeler

PRESENT: Wheeler (8:15 AM - 9:47 AM), Yensen, Wilbeck, Reinert, Christensen (8:15 AM - 9:48 AM), Rein, Kearns

ABSENT :

Also present: Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator; Glenda Miller, County Treasurer; Thomas Annarella, Valley Hi Administrator; Leslie Schermerhorn, Regional Superintendent of Schools; Laura Crain, Drug Free Program Coordinator; Scott Block, Executive Director of Mental Health; Joe Kersten, Chairman of the Veterans Assistance Commission.

2. MINUTES APPROVAL

1. Public Health & Community Services - Public Meeting - Aug 30, 2018 8:15 AM

The minutes of the August 30, 2018 meeting were accepted pending an amendment of the Adjournment section. Chairman Wheeler stated there was an error in the minutes on who made the motion for adjournment. The previous minutes stated the motion was made by Mr. Wilcox when in fact they were made by Mr. Wilbeck. Staff will amend the minutes of the August 30, 2018 meeting to reflect this change.

RESULT: ACCEPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: John Reinert

SECONDER: Jim Kearns

AYES: Wheeler, Yensen, Reinert, Rein, Kearns

ABSENT: Wilbeck, Christensen

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

4. MEMBER COMMENTS

Dr. Yensen informed the committee members that she was unable to attend the Mental Health Board meeting due to extensive storm damage to her home. Dr. Yensen has a meeting with Scott Block, Executive Director of Mental Health, this afternoon.

Mr. Christensen arrived at 8:18 A.M.

5. NEW BUSINESS

A. FY18-19BudgetReviews

1. Regional Office of Education

Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator along with Leslie Schermerhorn, Regional Superintendent of Schools, joined the committee members for the presentation of the FY18-19 Regional Office of Education (ROE) budget (distributed at the meeting).

Ms. Schermerhorn provided the committee members with her own proposed version of the ROE FY18-19 budget.

After a lengthy discussion, it was the concurrence of the committee members to recommend the FY18-19 Regional Office of Education budget provided by Ms. Schermerhorn, which maintains the current staffing level, be moved forward through the budget process.

Full comments can be heard on the McHenry County's website audio of this meeting.

Mr. Wilbeck arrived at 8:27 A.M.

6. PRESENTATION

None.

7. RESOLUTIONS

1. Resolution In Support of Pioneer Center for Human Services and a Fixed-Site Facility at 14411 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock with Coordinated Outreach Services for People who are Homeless in McHenry County

Chairman Wheeler stated he would entertain a motion to table the resolution indefinitely, explaining they will now be using a facility in McHenry instead of the location at 14411 Kishwaukee Valley Road. Mr. Kearns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rein, to table the resolution indefinitely. The motion passed with a voice vote with all members voting aye.

RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Jim Kearns

SECONDER: Michael Rein

AYES: Wheeler, Yensen, Wilbeck, Reinert, Christensen, Rein, Kearns

2. Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Drug Free Communities Grant Award in the Amount of $625,000, an Emergency Appropriation to the Regional Office of Education Fiscal Year 2018 Budget, and Establishing the Fiscal Year 2019 Operating Budget for the Regional Office of Education

Laura Crain, Drug Free Program Coordinator, joined the committee members to discuss the resolution. Ms. Crain stated this was the same grant they have had for the last five years and the Office of National Drug Control allows them to request a second five years. Ms. Crain explained they are unique in that they are one of six different agencies who applied for the grant resulting in them being one of only two in the state to receive the grant without a gap year. Ms. Crain went on to explain the concern is not just that of opioid addiction but of addiction overall. She expressed the rise and concerns of vaping and stated she has a number of presentations set up to talk with students in schools on the dangers. A study was done of 15-23 year-olds which showed that 60% of those vaping in that age group were vaping illicit material and not oils. Committee members commended Ms. Crain on her hard work and dedication.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Michael Rein

SECONDER: Paula Yensen

AYES: Wheeler, Yensen, Wilbeck, Reinert, Christensen, Rein, Kearns

3. Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of a Call Notice Letter for the Maturities of Debt Certificates, Series 2010-B of the County of McHenry, Illinois

Scott Block, Executive Director of Mental Health, joined the committee members to discuss the resolution. Mr. Block stated they talked about the resolution intensively during the budget process and was here today as a formality to be able to bring the resolution forward to Finance & Audit and then for full County Board approval.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Jim Kearns

SECONDER: Paula Yensen

AYES: Wheeler, Yensen, Wilbeck, Reinert, Christensen, Rein, Kearns

4. Resolution Authorizing a $100 Rebate from the Valley Hi Fund for Tax Year 2017 Homestead Exemption Recipients (Leadership and Governance)

Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator, joined the committee members to discuss the resolution. Mr. Hartman stated, if it is the desire of the County Board to return some of the unreserved fund balance accumulated from Valley Hi back to the homeowner, this is a simple path to accomplish that goal. Mr. Hartman stated the resolution is based off the 2017 tax year and would be available to qualifying Homestead Exemption homeowners whose taxes were paid on time. Qualified recipients would receive a $100 rebate mailed directly to them in the form of a separate check. Currently, there are approximately 88,000 qualifying homeowners who would potentially receive the rebate. Mr. Hartman noted there are certain exemptions provided to Veterans with a certain degree of disability whom under the statute can have a full property tax waiver; these homeowners would not qualify for the rebate.

Thomas Annarella, Valley Hi Administrator along with Glenda Miller, County Treasurer joined Mr. Hartman and the committee members for further discussion on the resolution.

Chairman Wheeler left the meeting 9:47 A.M.

Vice-Chairwomen Dr. Paula Yensen continued with the meeting in Chairman Wheeler's absence.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Paula Yensen

SECONDER: John Reinert

AYES: Wheeler, Yensen, Wilbeck, Reinert, Christensen, Rein, Kearns

8. OLD BUSINESS

None.

9. REPORTS

A. ValleyHi

Thomas Annarella, Valley Hi Administrator, joined the committee members for the Valley Hi report and provided them with a handout of the Valley Hi's Administrator's Report. Mr. Annarella reported the State of Illinois had changed the rule in regards to Medicaid eligibility. A new state law in regards to Presumptive Eligibility states that after 45 days a Medicaid case is assumed to be eligible until the state has a chance to process it. Mr. Annarella stated from a cash flow standpoint they won't be waiting six to eight months for them to be put into the system and another six to eight months for them to receive payment.

Mr. Annarella informed the committee members they recently received the results from the Family and Resident Satisfaction surveys. Out of 110 surveys returned, Valley Hi received a 97% overall satisfaction rate and a 96% overall recommended facility rate.

Mr. Annarella also informed the committee members that Valley Hi was recently named to the Quality Honor Roll for the country. Scores were put in for the resident care provided and Valley Hi has now moved into the top 10% nationally in its quality of care. Committee members commended Mr. Annarella on his work with Valley Hi.

Mr. Christensen left the meeting at 9:48 A.M.

Joe Kersten, Chairman of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), provided the committee members with a handout of requested material on VAC Transportation service appointments. Mr. Hartman stated any questions regarding the report should be directed to Mike Iwanicki, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission.

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION (AS NECESSARY)

None.

11. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Wilbeck made a motion, seconded by Mr. Kearns, to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 A.M. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote of all ayes of members present. Absent was Chairman Wheeler and Mr. Christensen.

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