HomeMy WebLinkAbout09152021 BdBOARD MINUTES
UNIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
200 W. Alona Lane, Lancaster, Wisconsin
MEMBERS PRESENT VIA Zoom: Carol Beals, Joan Davis, Nancy Howard, Amy Kite, Justin O’Brien, Gary
Ranum (Chair.), and Mike Tiber.
MEMBERS PRESENT VIA Zoom in office: Judy Friar, Patrick Schroeder, Charles Stenner and Mary Ellen
Tredinnick.
OTHERS PRESENT VIA Zoom: Jeff Lockhart, Jessica Munson, Abbi Trainor, Robert Keeney, Taryn Pratt
and Nancy Schmitz.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: 6:00 p.m.; quorum present.
2. OPEN MEETINGS LAW CERTIFICATION: A notice was published in the Herald Independent, stating
the date, time and place of the Unified Community Services Board meeting. Notice was also posted in four
public locations, on Grant and Iowa Counties websites and sent to local radio stations. Notice given that
meeting will be conducted via electronic videoconferencing. Verified by Nancy Schmitz.
3. AGENDA: Mike Tiber moved to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Joan Davis and passed
unanimously.
4. MINUTES: Patrick Schroeder moved to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2021 meeting. Motion
seconded by Justin O’Brien and passed unanimously.
5. INTRODUCTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
6. BILLS: Charles Stenner moved approval for payment of the bills August/September, 2020 as reviewed.
Motion seconded by Mary Ellen Tredinnick and passed unanimously.
7. REPORTS:
a) Financial report for August, 2021 given by Jessica Munson.
b) Personnel report for August, 2021 given by Jeff Lockhart.
c) Team Lead Report - Behavioral Health – Abbi Trainor supervises the Behavioral Health Department
that includes the Mental Health and AODA programs. They are starting new Seeking Safety Group that
will meet 1 day per week for individuals with trauma and/or addiction issues. There are also three Peer
Support specialists that meet with clients in the community. Abbi comes to us from Green County and
completed her degree at UW-La Crosse. Her husband is from Georgia and she has two children.
d) Personnel Committee Report given by Patrick Schroeder. The Personnel Committee recommended a
1.0% across the board salary increase on January 1st and 1% increase across the board on July 1st. Also
included in the budget increasing wages for support staff and Health IT Technician to bring positions
closer to comparable rates. Revisions to the Employee Handbook were approved.
e) Finance Committee Report given by Gary Ranum. The Finance Committee recommended that the
2022 draft budget be approved.
f) Chairman’s report – None.
g) Jeff Lockhart presented the Agency Director's report as follows:
i. Unified has an unassigned fund balance of 21%.
ii. Shelby Sporle hired as Administrative Professional and Alaina Deiter resigned.
iii. Cheryl Knapp’s husband passed away.
iv. DHS Birth to 3 changed the program evaluation and are revising the results summary.
UNIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
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v. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Dept did a rescue using Narcan.
vi. Unified has received additional Block Grant monies related to COVID funds in the amount of
$77,000 for Substance Abuse and $47,000 for Mental Health. Funds will go toward two ½ time
positions or 1 dual diagnosis position. We are also moving the Prevention Specialist to a ¾
time position.
vii. Applying for a State Opioid Response Grant and are requesting approximately $600,000. This
includes a funding request for the SWCAP, ED2 Recovery Program. The peers help to connect
people with services.
viii. Grant County DSS is reporting about 90% of the removals of children from homes are due to
parents using meth.
ix. Use of State Institutes and Crisis Beds are going up. Mental Health needs are rising; e.g.
childhood anxiety and depression doubled over the past year.
x. Unified has signed the health records contract with Echo Vantage. It will take about 4 months
to implement. Possible launch in February.
The Board members wished to express their condolences to Cheryl Knapp on the loss of her husband.
Gary Ranum and Patrick Schroeder reported on the discussion they had with Bainbridge properties and
the proposal to purchase this building. The estate will have the property appraised and look at the
offer.
Justin O’Brien mentioned a Class action by the Wisconsin Counties Association regarding opioids.
Joan Davis asked about the potential for law enforcement to bring an I-pad on a call to expedite
immediate communication with mental health therapist.
Justin O’Brien moved to accept the reports and place them on file. Motion seconded by Mike Tiber
and passed unanimously.
9. 2022 BUDGET: Jessica Munson reviewed the budget that was presented to the Finance Committee. UCS
expects more revenue from billing next year in 2022. Wages increased to bring closer to a comparable.
Estimating an 8% increase in health insurance and HRA contribution increase. Patrick Schroeder moved
to adopt budget as reviewed and present to the full County Boards. Motion seconded by Joan Davis and
passed unanimously.
10. NEXT MEETING: October 20, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. via zoom.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Charles Stenner moved to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. Motion seconded by Carol Beals and
passed unanimously.
Nancy Schmitz, Recorder