June 21, 2017 at 4:48 p.m.
County board tables proposed withdrawal from ADRC partnership
County board tables proposed withdrawal from ADRC partnership
According to the proposal, offered by supervisor Bob Mott who also serves as the chairman of the Oneida County Commission on Aging, the idea is to integrate the ADRC with the Oneida County Department on Aging.
"We felt, in looking at the way monies were spent in the four-county area, that we could take advantage of some of the monies that were not being used and possibly provide more services," Mott said.
According to its website, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Northwoods helps older people and people with disabilities - along with their families and caregivers - find services and resources to keep them living well and independently. Services are free of charge and confidential.
In order to withdraw from the contract, the county would have to provide 16 months advance notice or negotiate a release with the ADRC of the Northwoods.
Mott said one of the reasons he introduced the resolution seeking permission to exit the partnership is his belief that a merger would create a one-stop shop for services.
"We've always been a one-stop shop and that has been what the state's motto has been from the get-go," ADRC regional manager Terese Poe responded. "There is some cohesiveness between our agencies."
Don Meeder, the only Oneida County resident employed at the ADRC of the Northwoods, serves as the disability benefit specialist. He said he believes that the proposal to withdraw from the partnership considers only the Department on Aging.
"I was never contacted. From what I was hearing and the way it was explained, it was strictly from an aging perspective," Meeder said. "I serve people 18-59. I'm not sure that group would feel comfortable, or want to, be lumped in. So the committee never really approached me about how I felt in a change in the model and that's an important part. The disability benefit specialists are an integral part of an ADRC program. It's aging and disability."
The matter hit home for supervisor Ted Cushing, who helped form the ADRC of the Northwoods and currently serves on its board.
Cushing acknowledged his attachment to the ADRC on multiple occasions and offered a basis for his opposition to the proposal to withdraw from the partnership.
"I have been involved with this thing from the beginning and I can tell you it was like starting a new business from scratch," Cushing said. "I am very attached to it in its current format. It's working well, if ain't broke, don't fix it. The state encourages us to partner with neighboring counties on things and that's exactly what we've done. The line [in the resolution] that bothers me the most is 'intent to withdraw as a partner.' The counties were partners in this and we made it work. Because of those surpluses in monies, we showed it was working well...You can't use surpluses anywhere you want. The state has to approve. It ain't right. I don't want to see this happen, I don't want to see us turn our backs on the other counties that are involved in this and I am going to vote 'no.'"
Cushing also said he was upset that the sub-committee created by Mott to research this idea did not include a board member for the ADRC.
Department on Aging director Dianne Jacobson offered a response to that complaint.
"Ted, we did talk a lot about the impact on the region," Jacobson said. "However, the committee - in their defense - has to look at what's best for Oneida County and I attended the last ADRC board meeting to have an open discussion about this, only to be asked to leave the room for three closed sessions in three successive meetings because this topic was discussed by the ADRC in closed session. All of our meetings have been open. I've been asked to share materials, we've shared as much with you as we can and I am very sorry if anyone was disrespected in this process. I work for Oneida County to look at what's best for Oneida County."
Given his chance to speak, supervisor Robb Jensen suggested the board was not ready to make a decision on the resolution.
"We get this mailed, mine says postmarked June 15. This is a pretty big decision we're being asked to make," Jensen said. "I believe the annual reports from this group has been good and we're being asked to make a decision and being given information here today. My point is, why haven't been updated to what some of these issues are prior to today?"
Jack Sorensen concurred with Jensen and asked that the resolution be tabled until the August meeting. The rest of the board members present, with the exception of Mott and Carol Pederson, who also served on the sub-committee, agreed.
Broadband grant
The Oneida County Broadband Development Committee gave a presentation early in the meeting and then came back with a resolution later seeking matching funds for an application for a grant from the Public Service Commission's rural broadband grand program.
The current goal for the committee is to develop a county-wide broadband system that would provide high speed internet for residents. Mott supported the grant application and a letter signed by chairman Dave Hintz to be sent to the PSC.
"Essentially what we're asking in this resolution is that we support sending this letter and we support the concept behind applying for the grant for the 2018 Rural Broadband Grant," Mott said. "I support it. I know my town has gotten involved...Little by little things are changing and we hope eventually all of Oneida County is covered."
The resolution to earmark $30,000 for the project was passed after the board altered its wording.
Other resolutions
The board also approved the Forestry, Land and Recreation Committee's request to continue to gather information for a proposed purchase of 231 acres of land from private owners in Enterprise, as discussed at the June 7 meeting.
A repayment of $31,027.52 to the ADRC of the Northwoods for donated personal time off - brought before multiple committees earlier in the month - was also approved.
The board also approved the creation of an ordinance to govern the naming or renaming of geographic features within the county. The panel also amended the county code to take out language for meeting agendas, setting up the opportunity to create an agenda template to comply with the state's open meetings law.
Finally, the board authorized the transfer of $70,000 from the general fund to complete the Law Enforcement Energy Savings Capital Improvement Project and gave the sheriff's office permission to apply for a COPS grant to eventually be used for staffing for security improvements to be made in the courthouse.
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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