AGING AND LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE
Monday, January 7, 2008
Administrative Center – Room 3220
9:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Roger Plesha, Jim Ehrsam, Ann Fisher, Ray Ebert, Jerry Sebranek, Jason Gillett, Lyell Montgomery, Sharon Hampson (arr @9:02)
MEMBERS EXCUSED: None
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS & STAFF: Pam Semb, Pete Eide, Noreen Kuroski, Jim Gausmann, Steve O’Malley, Jim Speropulos, Bill Shepherd, Charles Spiker, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Roger Plesha, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Ehrsam/Sebranek to approve minutes of December 10, 2007. Motion carried unanimously; Hampson absent.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Fisher/Gillett to accept the following consent agenda items:
· Commission on Aging Minutes of December 4, 2007
· Ripples & Waves – Lakeview Newsletter
Motion carried unanimously; Hampson absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None requested.
REQUEST BY SHELBY YOUTH BASEBALL
Pete Eide reviewed, noting Jim Speropulos, Ray Ebert and he met with representatives of Shelby Youth Baseball and walked the area in question where they are requesting to extend the fence on the baseball field closest to Trane Drive. The Shelby Youth Baseball group would like to move the fence back 35 feet in order to allow more field space for team members that are 14 years & older that have longer hitting capability. The project cannot be completed in time for the upcoming season, so there is no hurry for the committee to make a decision. Pete noted such a fence could hinder the possibility of a future street/entrance into Hillview; there is a reqirement of 60’ or 66’ of right-of-way from the centerline though the City does not like two streets that are side by side (safety reasons). Hillview staff would also like to keep the existing hill as is for green space. If the fence were to be moved back, the existing hill would have to be removed. The Shelby Youth Baseball is responsible for all related costs of their proposed project. MOTION by Ebert/Gillett to refer the matter to the April Committee meeting and to also hold such meeting at Hillview. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jim Gausmann reviewed, in addition to his written “Veterans Service Office Committee Report, January 2008” that was sent with the agenda. Highlights as follows:
· Madison VA Medical Center waiting list was very large, so VA has allowed surgeries to take place at other medical facilities close to Veterans’ residences.
· Homeless numbers are down. He noted a home in Tomah that can house up to 60; the home keeps
1/3 of the Veteran’s wages with the balance placed into their savings; this is a 2-year program. He
also noted a new facility at Chippewa Falls. La Crosse County office refers 2-3 homeless Veterans each month to a facility.
· The VA Clinic in La Crosse is expanding its space by 4,000 sq. ft. with completion by this summer; they plan to serve 5,000 area Veterans as compared to 4,000 currently.
· Also included with his report were “Office Activity Statistics for Years 2004-2007.”
REPORT ON FUTURE SERVICES AS NEEDED BY THE AGING POPULATION
Noreen Kuroski distributed copies of an upcoming on-line free conference on “Creating Aging-Friendly Communities”; online conference dates are Feb. 20 thru March 5, 2008. The conference will help communities to get prepared with the senior population that will double over the next 25 years. Various local governments and other agency staff have started to meet on this same subject and plan to facilitate a similar session for the County.
At this time she also distributed copies of “Exploring the Aging Journey through Film” – the first aging film fest scheduled for January 25th from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the Cartwright Center at UW-L.
APPROVAL TO INCREASE ONE-WAY FARES FOR THE MINIBUS
Noreen noted the MTU Paratransit Service has raised their transportation fares from $2.00 to $2.50 due to increase cost of fuel and operating costs. Because of the rate increase and because all riders qualify to ride the MiniBus which currently has a rate of $2.00, they are switching over and using the MiniBus service; total number could equal 300-500 additional rides per month. If this continues, it’s anticipated by the end of the 2008, that the MiniBus could have a $60,000 deficit due to increased ridership. In order to keep this from happening, Noreen recommended a one-way rate increase for the MiniBus, as follows:
$2.00 to $2.60 - Zone 1 (serves City of La Crosse - 80% of total rides)
2.80 to 3.50 - Zone 2 (serves Onalaska, Holmen & West Salem)
3.30 to 4.00 - Zone 3 (serves rural)
MOTION by Ehrsam/Hampson to approve the one-way rate increase as presented (see above). MOTION by Ebert/Gillett to amend the motion by increasing Zone 2 to $3.00 and Zone 3 to $3.50. Lengthy discussion followed. Some concerns related to monetary hardship, competition with Shared Ride, county-owned vehicles vs. leasing. Supervisor Ehrsam wanted more information in writing. General agreement to refer this agenda item to later in the meeting in order to give Noreen time to prepare printed information for the committee.
RESOLUTION RE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CHARTER CONTRACT – MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
MOTION by Plesha/Fisher to approve the resolution. Miscellaneous questions. The residents of the corporation will be integrated within the facility; approximately 80% of the facility’s square footage will be leased to this new corporation. Bill Shepherd said this has been a long time coming and is a unique collaborative effort; by-laws are being created and will be approved by the newly created Board of Directors at their first meeting on January 23rd. Other counties are approving similar resolutions; and the by-laws also have a section that allows additional counties to join. Supervisor Ebert commended staff for their efforts on this endeavor. Motion carried unanimously.
SEEKING THREE MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES, INC., BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Per the newly created by-laws for the corporation’s Board of Directors, three members need to be County Board Members that will have 3-year terms. Three members of the committee volunteered to serve on the Board of Directors, those being: Roger Plesha, Jim Ehrsam and Ann Fisher, though Ehrsam and Fisher will be out of town for the January 23rd meeting and cannot attend. Supervisors Ray Ebert and Jerry Sebranek offered to be alternates.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES, INC. – MEMBERS MEETING AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
Copies of the agenda were distributed. Pam Semb noted an RSVP is required as a meal will be served.
APPROVAL TO INCREASE ONE-WAY FARES FOR THE MINIBUS (cont.)
Noreen distributed an informational sheet that showed current one-way rates for MTU Paratransit Services as compared to MiniBus, including her suggested rate increases, plus the increases per the amendment of Ebert and Gillett. Again, lengthy discussion followed. Supervisor Ehrsam withdrew his motion, so there was no motion for consideration. MOTION by Ebert/Gillett to approve the following one-way rate increases for the MiniBus: from $2.00 to $2.60 for Zone 1, from $2.80 to $3.00 for Zone 2, and from $3.30 to $3.50 for Zone 3. MOTION by Gillett/Plesha to amend the motion by increasing one-way rate for Zone 1 from $2.00 to $2.50. Motion on the amendment carried on 7 to 1 vote; Montgomery-no. Original motion as amended carried on 7 to 1 vote; Montgomery-no.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
At this time, Committee Chair Plesha noted that he received two phone calls from residents that there was no bird seed in the birdfeeders. Pete Eide briefly reviewed, noting Hillview had Wild Birds, Ltd., taking care of this. Seed was purchased from donation dollars, but they used good quality seed which costs more and consumed faster by the birds. Staff at Hillview has since decided to take care of purchasing the seed and will fill the feeders. Committee Chair Plesha suggested the Boy Scouts be in charge of filling the feeders. Pete concurred and Roger will contact the Boy Scouts.
NEXT MEETING
Monday, February 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Committee Chair Plesha declared the meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder