Oconto County Hears Plans For Regional Family Care

Plans for a new state-directed regional plan for delivery of “Family Care” services in Wisconsin were unveiled to Oconto County Board at their regular monthly meeting Thursday, Dec. 17 by Community Services Division Manager Mike Riemer after an introduction by Health and Human Services Director Craig Johnson. Explanations to the public will begin in January. The plan, mandated by Governor James Doyle back in 2005, includes creation of what Riemer described as “a new branch of government,” to handle managed care for elderly and disabled residents.

Riemer said he will train the board all year on what the new program entails. In spring of 2011 the board will be asked to create a new long-term care district with at least six other counties. Based on a map that accompanied the address, it appears one of the seven or more counties involved will almost certainly be Marinette County.

Then, in a second phase of the program, a new Aging and Disabilities Resource Center will be built somewhere in the new district, Riemer said.

The map distributed in connection with the presentation showed Oconto, Marinette, Lincoln, Langlade, Shawano, Menominee, Brown, Kewaunee and Door as counties currently participating in Ongoing Planning Consortia with Family Care implementation dates anticipated in 2010 or 2011.

Explanatory material on the Family Care program, written by Riemer, was included in the board packet.

Supervisors appeared less than enthused.

“Doesn’t the Commission on Aging already do this?” one asked. Riemer agreed they already do some of it, and added, “We’re going to have to merge with them.”

He said when the state takes over managing the program the amount of money counties are obliged to contribute will decrease. There were some expressions of doubt.

“And the state does such a good job!” Board Chair Leland Rymer commented with slight sarcasm. He said there are approximately 400 disabled people in Oconto County and some 500 jobs are involved in caring for the disabled and the aged.

Details of the proposal and thoughts behind it will be explained as the year goes on, Riemer said.

One of the communications read at the start of the meeting was from Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, making it clear that while he supports eliminating Milwaukee County government, since the city and county boundaries coincide and many services are duplicated, but he definitely does not support eliminating county government in any of the state’s other 71 counties.

A closed session that would have included discussion of bargaining issues related to mandatory furlough days was not held because the unions raised no issues.

However, numerous questions remain as to how it should be implemented, at the request of Administrator Kevin Hamann the policy was referred back to the Personnel Committee. It is expected to come back to the board in January or February.

The 5 days of unpaid furlough time for all non-emergency county employees are intended to shave $125,000 off county expenditures during 2010.

Voluntary furloughs this year saved only $1,200, Hamann said in response to a question from Supervisor Rose Stellmacher.

Supervisors had mixed feelings about how the mandatory furloughs should be implemented. Some favored closing all non-emergency county offices on selected days, others felt floating days off with permission of the department head would be best, and still others felt they should create more long weekends.

Hamann said the AFSCME union president asked only two questions, one being what County Board members are doing to help with the budget crunch, and the other, how the furloughs will affect contact employees. There also are questions on how to deal with 10 hour days versus eight hours, how furloughs will affect grant financed programs, and the need to avoid using furloughs to create need for layoffs. Another union related question is whether mandatory furloughs are considered layoffs. The union attorney says yes, while county legal advisors say no, Hamann said.

Earlier in the meeting supervisors had engaged in a long discussion over whether or not supervisors serving in voluntary posts on WCA and other state level committees should receive per diem and mileage payments from Oconto County.

Supervisors Marie Bartz and Claire Trepanier were absent.

A letter from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle awarding Oconto County a Homeland Security grant for $63,889 was read at the start of the meeting. The money is to help pay for the multi jurisdictional communications system being established in conjunction with Marinette County.

A letter from Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive, stating that while he expressed an interest in eliminating waste of overlap services between the county and municipal governments in Milwaukee county; he does not support an end to county government in the other 71 counties across the State of Wisconsin.

A letter of thanks from Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission Executive Director, Mark Walter, for the support given the Commission by Oconto County.

Ten zoning changes for parcels located in the Towns of Abrams, Brazeau, Breed, Chase, Gillett, Little Suamico, Oconto, Oconto Falls, Pensaukee, and Stiles were adopted without opposition as recommended by the Planning and Zoning committee.

Without dissent the board approved a resolution to contract again with the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC)to provide services for economic development, tourism and administration of three economic revolving loan funds. OCEDC Administrator Bruce Mommaerts explained changes to the board, particularly some defining the separation between the county and the non profit corporation.

Also without dissent the board adopted a resolution amending and updating amended the Financial Management Policy for the County to establish a review and approval process of all new and existing contracts by the County’s Corporation Counsel and establishing procedures for municipalities to file applications for exemption from the county library tax levy.

In a routine action recommended by the county’s insurance carrier, the board denied a $607,711.13 claim for damages in a traffic accident in the Town of How.

Also in a routine action, the board again voted not to provide General Relief, as they have done each year since the program became optional some years ago. Cost of providing the service, if the board had chosen to do so, would be in the neighborhood of $500,000 a year. General Relief generally assists those with mental health issues or substanc abuse problems, the board was told.

The board approved purchase of two dump bodies and hydraulics without pusher axles for from Olson Trailer & body for $87,206, and two triaxle trucks from Kenworth of Wisconsin, without trades and with options. Price is $227,400 each.

By amending an action taken at the November County Board meeting, supervisors made it possible for the Town of How to be included in the 2010 Orthophotgraphy aerial photos of the county. There is grant money available for this project and when the final number of those participating across the state becomes available there will be a better idea of how those funds will be distributed, the board was told.

A 2010 service contract with Bay Communications, Inc. for the Sheriff’s Department communications system was approved. This contract comes up for renewal annually and this year the price is $800 less than it was for 2009.

Use of Federal stimulus money to buy computer equipment and software for the Child Support Agency was approved.

Reappointments approved were:

Ron Korzeniewski, Krakow, and Clifford Gerbers, Gillett, to the Oconto County Housing Authority Board for three year terms expiring December 31, 2012;

Mary Lemmen, Oconto Falls, to the Tri-County Business Development Revolving Loan Fund Committee for a term ending December 31, 2012;

Lemmen and Al Schlorf, both of Oconto Falls, to the Oconto County Business Development Revolving Loan Fund Committee for terms ending December 31, 2012; and

Loretta Shellman, Oconto Falls, to the Health and Human Services Board for a term to expire in January, 2013;

Wanda Nienstedt, Gillett, was appointed to the Oconto County Library Services Board for a 2-year expiring Dec. 31, 2012.

The Employee Update for November 2009 reported no retirements, resignations, terminations, new hires, or transfers.

Supervisors were reminded that Declaration of Candidacy papers for the 2010 Spring election are available in the office of the County Clerk, and are due in the office of the County Clerk no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

Hamann reported the Health Monitoring System purchased with a grant to the county’s Wellness committee is ready for use.

At the start of the meeting there were eight communications read:

A letter of thanks from the family of Bill Bake to the Oconto County Courthouse staff.

A letter of thanks from Eileen Duffeck, Airport Commission, for the invaluable help she recently received from Tucker Van De Hey and Technology Services.

A letter of thanks from Peterson Dairy LLC in Lena for all the work and foresight by the county to write the Targeted Resource Management (TRM) Grant.

A letter of thanks from the Oconto county Historical Society for all the support the Board of Supervisors gives to the Historical Society; in particular, restoration of the Beyer Home Carriage House.

All County Board members were invited to attend a luncheon at Woodlands of Oconto following the board meeting. Woodlands recently had several management changes and wanted the board to meet the staff and see other changes in the organization.

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