AGING AND LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE

 

Monday, February 11, 2008

Administrative Center – Room 3220

9:00 a.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Roger Plesha, Jim Ehrsam, Ray Ebert, Jerry Sebranek, Sharon Hampson, Jason Gillett (arr @9:02), Lyell Montgomery (arr @9:05)    

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Ann Fisher         

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None       

GUESTS & STAFF:  Pam Semb, Pete Eide, Noreen Kuroski, Steve O’Malley, Richard Running, 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 January 7, 2008.  Motion carried unanimously; Fisher excused; Gillett and Montgomery absent. 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Sebranek/Ehrsam to accept the following consent agenda items:

·         Commission on Aging minutes of January 8, 2008

·         Mississippi Valley Health Services Inc. minutes of January 23, 2008

·         Invitation to participate in “Creating Aging Friendly Communities” – February 20, 27 and March 5 as hosted by UW-La Crosse

·         Brochure – “Caring for the Caregiver”

·         Boy Scout project to fill birdfeeders at Hillview

·         Ripples & Waves – Lakeview Newsletter (handed out)

Motion carried unanimously; Fisher excused; Gillett and Montgomery absent. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

 

UPDATE ON FIRST MEETING OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

Steve O’Malley briefly reviewed.  Roger Plesha was elected as President and Sharon Hampson as Vice President.  The annual meeting is set for August 20th at 1:00 p.m.; they do not anticipate any needed meetings until then, though the officers can call them as needed.  He also noted Lakeview has generated bills to the other counties for their residents’ care which totaled over $65,000 for the month of January.  Other counties in the state are looking at doing similar corporations.

 

RFP FOR PROVIDER OF EXPANDED TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

Noreen Kuroski reviewed.  The STRAP grant of $111,484, as previously approved, is to be used for expanding transportation services.  Three vendors were contacted as well as posted on the County website.  Only one vendor submitted a proposal, that being Running Inc.  An evaluation team reviewed the proposal and determined that it met the qualifications and also has history of being a good provider of transportation services.  MOTION by Ehrsam/Ebert to approve Running Inc. as the provider for expanded transportation services for the Aging Dept. beginning March 2, 2008 through December 31, 2008.  Motion carried unanimously; Fisher excused.  Noted no tax levy is required.

 

REPORT ON HILLVIEW’S 2007 CENSUS FIGURES

Pete Eide reviewed.  He noted a record year for 2007 – admissions and discharges; average stay was about 11 days.  Vast majority of the patients were coming in from area hospitals.  Census figures for 2007 were in line with budget estimates.  Steve O’Malley commended Pete and Hillview staff for creating this new revenue stream which is critical to Hillview’s budget.  Supervisor Montgomery noted this as a new model of care and requested more information.  Pete said Hillview is like a mini hospital; is currently a leader in rehab care and Alzheimer care; continues to look at long-range plans on how to better serve the clients as well as retain nursing staff.

 

UPDATE ON STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGETS RE NURSING HOMES

Pete noted State budget deficit estimated at $400 million and the possible affect on nursing home reimbursements.  President Bush also plans to make cuts to Medicaid and Medicare effective 2009.  Steve O’Malley noted costs are increasing faster than revenue sources. 

 

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE TWO DISHWASHERS AND TRANSFER FUNDS FROM AGING UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE

MOTION by Plesha/Hampson to approve the resolution, which authorizes the purchase of two commercial dishwashers for two senior site locations at a cost not to exceed $7,200 from the Aging Undesignated Fund Balance.  Discussion followed.  Supervisor Sebranek questioned why the County is liable for such when the locations are in the City of La Crosse.  Noreen noted 12 such sites in the County that are run by Site Managers and not restaurant facilities.  The City provides the site at minimal cost that covers use of facility plus utility costs; the County has always provided the dishwashers; if dishes were done by hand, it would be more labor intensive.  The replacements were not included in the 2008 budget as replacements were not anticipated.  Steve noted it will require a 2/3 vote of the County Board.  Supervisor Ehrsam called the question.  Motion carried on 6 to 1 vote; Sebranek-no; Fisher excused.

 

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS

None requested.

 

NEXT MEETING

Monday, March 10, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Ehrsam/Gillett to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously; Fisher excused.  The meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

 

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder