Meeting Information
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017
4:00 p.m.
-Presentation of Cookingham Award to Craig Weinaug
CONSENT AGENDA
(1) (a) Consider approval of Commission Orders; and
(b) Consider approval of Class “B” Club License for Little Reno, Inc. DBA Paradise Saloon
(Clerk’s Office);
(c) Consider approval of Cereal Malt Beverage License for Flamingo Enterprises/The Bird of Lawrence (Clerk’s Office);
(d) Consider approval of Cereal Malt Beverage license for Clinton Submarina (Clerk’s Office);
(e) Consider approval of Cereal Malt Beverage license for Clinton Marina (Clerk’s Office);
(f) Consider approval of application for an authorized emergency vehicle permit for Duane Filkins
(Sheriff’s Office);
(g) Authorization to enter into engineering services agreement 2018 bridge inspection services; Project No. 2018-02 (Keith Browning);
(h) Consider contracts for District Court remodel project (Jackie Waggoner)
(i) Consider contract for legal research for the District Court (Jackie Waggoner); and
(k) Consideration of the 2018 Heritage Conservation Council’s Natural & Cultural Grant Program Materials (Jan Shupert-Arick)
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Approve the 2017-2021 capital Improvement Plan (Sarah Plinsky/Keith Browning)
(3) Economic Development Update (Larry McElwain)-No backup
(4) (a) Consider approval of Accounts Payable (if necessary)
(b) Appointments
-Board of Zoning Appeals (1) positions 10/17
-Building Code of Appeals Board (2) positions 12/16
-Community Corrections Advisory Board (1) position
-Senior Services Board of Directors (3) positions
(c) Public Comment
(d) Miscellaneous
RECESS
RECONVENE
6:00 p.m.
(5) Public hearing to accept public comment on amending the 2017 Budget; and action from the Commission to amend the 2017 budget (Cammy Owens)
(6) Mental Health Update (Bob Tryanski)
(7) Adjourn
December 13, 2017
Gaughan called regular meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 with all members present.
PRESENTATION 12-13-17
Craig Weinaug, County Administrator, was presented the International City/County Management Association’s Cookingham Award which recognizes officials for their mentoring effort in the field of public administration. The award was presented by past intern Logan Masenthin, and supported by many former interns and public administration peers.
CONSENT AGENDA 12-13-17
Gaughan moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
► Commission Order No. 17-050 and 17-051 (on file in the office the County Clerk);
► Notice to Township Board for Cereal Malt Beverage License for Flamingo Enterprises (Clerk’s Office);
► Notice to Clinton Township for cereal malt beverage license for Clinton Marina, 1329 E 800 Road;
► Notice to Clinton Township for cereal malt beverage license for Clinton Marina, 1329 E 800 Road;
► Class “B” Club License for The Bird of Lawrence;
► Authorized Emergency Vehicle Permit for Duane Filkins, Sheriff’s Office;
► Waived the purchasing policy requirements and authorized the Public Works Director to enter into an engineering services agreement with GBA, Inc. to provide 2018 bridge inspection services for 152 bridges for a lump sum maximum fee of $48,720;
► Approved accessing cooperative and existing contracts for a total project cost not-to-exceed $160,000 to remodel a new courtroom and protem judge’s office for the District Court;
► Five year agreement in the amount of $79,005.04 with Westlaw Thomson Reuters for legal research needed in the District Court; and
► 2018 Heritage Conservation Council’s Natural & Cultural Grant Program Materials.
Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 12-13-17
Gaughan moved to approve the 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Plan. Motion was seconded by Derusseau and carried 3-0.
ECONOMIC DEVLOPMENT 12-13-17
Steve Kelly, vice president of Economic Development EDC, gave and update to the Commissioners on the Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2017-2018.
Larry McElwain, CEO/president The Chamber, stated the chamber is partnering with the KU Honors Program to employ student leaders in a job shadowing project with local businesses. McElwain stated the program will help students find their way, help the job market and hopefully they will decide to stay on in our community.
No action was taken.
ACCOUNT PAYABLE 12-13-17
Gaughan moved to approve accounts payable in the amount of $1,386,279.56 to be paid on 12-14-17. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
RECESS
At 4:50 p.m. the Board recessed until 6:00 p.m. meeting.
RECONVENE
At 6:00 p.m., the Board returned to regular session.
BUDGET 12-13-17
Gaughan moved to open a public hearing to accept public comment on amending the 2017 Budget. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
No comment was received,
Gaughan moved to close the public hearing. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
Gaughan moved to approve the amendments, as submitted by staff, to the 2017 Budget. Motion was seconded by Derusseau and carried 3-0.
MENTAL HEALTH UPDATE 12-13-17
Bob Tryanski, Director of Behavioral Health Projects, updated the County Commissioners on the status of the initiatives prioritized and formalized in the 2018 Budget; and shared with the community the visions of where Douglas County is going on approving the Crisis Center.
Jill Jolicoeur, Assistant to the County Administrator, has invited legislative delegators from Douglas, Johnson, Wyandotte and Shawnee counties to the legislative breakfast on January 17 at the State Capitol. She has invited a special guest, Brent McGinty, CEO of Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare. The reason for the forum is to convene our legislators from four counties who are the behavior health stakeholders. We hope to look at new opportunities to expand supportive housing for those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse disorder. Missouri has a great story to tell on the expansion of their Medicaid codes and how they can bill for some of their services that are provided in a residential environment, especially in the areas we are looking at.
Tryanski clarified the definition of behavioral health as helping people and being compassionate and serving those with serious mental illness, mental health issues, or substance use disorders
Our goal is to focus on how to intervene more effectively by building systems and services where people can maintain a stable recovery and prevent people from becoming substance abusers. Tryanski stated housing needs to be a priority and showed an expanded vision for wrap around services including housing.
Russ Johnson and Karen Shumate, LMH, gave an update on the expanded role of the hospital to handle people in crisis by adding a crisis stabilization unit with three rooms. Johnson said as soon as they get staff hired, including outpatient social workers and a case manager, they are ready to open. They hope to have hired staff and be functioning by the end of February.
John Stewart, Heartland Community Healthcare, discussed the role of a behavioral health consultant. He said a 2004 study showed that 74% of the patients that show up in a primary care exam room also have a behavioral or mental health issue. That is a staggering number. Primary care providers are well trained in biology and pharmacology, but not in mental health. His goal, along with Bert Nash, is to put appropriate resources to address that 74% with integration that extends beyond the primary care exam rooms. Mental and behavior health issues are an overwhelming challenge in our lives and intertwined with medical conditions that show up in our medical exam rooms. Stewart said they have adopted a model in conjunction with Bert Nash, by visiting many other organizations to understand the integrated practices that address that 74%.That practice puts licensed clinical social workers and psychiatrists proximal to primary care providers and allows them to function a little more like licensed clinical social workers and psychiatrists; psychiatrists and clinical social workers begin to function a bit more like primary care providers. In this integrated system, these players begin to rely on each other.
Tryanski stated as a recap of information, in January the Integrated Crisis Team will come online at LMH. That team will be supported by the Social Services Project for detox provided in the Emergency Department regardless of insurance. We’ve doubled the psychiatry in LMH and Douglas County. Plus we’ve added a pilot program in jail with wrap around services for substance abuse disorders.
Sandra Dixon, DCCCA, explained the use of medically assisted detox. DCCCA is currently doing social detox. However, the hope is the medically assisted detox will be more comforting to those going through the process encouraging them to engage in treatment more quickly.
Shannon Oury, Housing Authority; and Patrick Schmitz, Bert Nash, discussed using federal dollars to stabilize people through transitional housing, using the Tier II housing idea. If successful, people can move to Tier III housing for a more permanent housing solution.
Jason Hess, Heartland Regional Alcohol & Drug Assessment Center (RADAC), explained their organization’s work with substance abusers. He stated there are so many people in crisis that do not have insurance. Hess added our community stakeholders have put together a care model to help people span from service to service without worrying about billing and payer sources.
Thellman commented so many of these ideas and visions were not possible without the collaboration of our agencies. She has never seen agencies working so hard together to solve problems. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. Relationships are being built with trust and integrity.
At 7:30 p.m. the Board took at 10 minutes recess.
At 7:40 p.m., the Board returned to regular session. Gaughan opened the item for public comment.
Phil Friedeman, Douglas County resident, stated tonight he got to witness real leadership working together. He stated concerns that we need to plan for expansion of the crisis center and has concerns that once the center is open surrounding county residents will come to use our services.
Bill Wood, 2612 W 27th Terrace, thanked everyone for trying to better the services in our community including the $1.8 million for mental health services. The stated he is concerned about tying the crisis center and the jail expansion on a ballot.
Rose Schmidt, 4505 Harvard Road, thanked the health provider groups for their innovative ideas. She is also concerned about linking the crisis center and jail expansion on a ballot.
Mary Brand, 102 Indian Drive, said there has been a need for a crisis center for 150 years.
John Krehbiel, 4108 Wimbledon Drive, shared a family mental health crisis experience and said he feels the LPD training made it possible for local police to assess his son’s situation and save his life. He also has concerns about putting the jail expansion and crisis center as one ballot item.
Syed Jamal, Douglas County resident, also stated concerns about putting the jail expansion and crisis center as one ballot item.
Becky Foerschler, 1352 Stone Creek Drive, said she supports building the crisis center but feels it’s a moral dilemma to link the crisis center with the jail expansion on a ballot.
Graham Kreicker, 1421 W 2nd Street, stated mental health has always been a priority of Justice Matters and thanked Tryanski for pulling us to work together. He said he does not feel its good democracy to link the crisis center and jail expansion together on a ballot. He asked how the County intended to pay for the crisis center.
Gaughan responded the question of cost is unsure. We are looking at reducing square footage of the crisis center, the City of Lawrence will cover $500,000 for the Tier II housing; and the Tier III housing will be reimbursed by the Housing Authority. There will be more discussion on funding at future meetings. Gaughan said with everything we are doing we are cost conscious.
Chela Ingram, 727 N 3rd Street, works with foster kids who age out of the system. She said many times their paths lead to homelessness and incarceration. She feels these young people need a mental health crisis center.
Mike Fonkert, 211 E 8th Street, feels it’s important to separate the crisis center from the jail expansion on a ballot.
Bill Simons, Douglas County resident, thanked everyone for all the work that has been done. He took a tour of the County jail with the Sheriff. He found the number of mental ill in jail will not be reduced by the crisis center. After looking at the presentation, feels there needs to be more work from state legislatures and the District Attorney. He agrees the jail expansion and crisis center should be separate issues on the ballot.
Gaughan stated tonight is not the grand finale. A lot of work has gone into the development of the crisis center from the discussion of a building to the discussion of the system. We’ve had a full and complete discussion at the Commission meetings with our agencies and partners in the community on our two most pressing needs the Commission needs to wrestle with, crisis center and jail expansion. They are both priorities. What started the conversations was the Sheriff said he needed a full half of the next jail expansion be mental health beds, which Gaughan stated “shocked us”. Over 17% of bookings each year are individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. After researching, we found we need additional support in the community to address what we perceived as a growing gap between what had been traditional state funded responsibilities to support mental health care and what communities and counties could do beyond that. Gaughan said
this has been a very rewarding journey for an elected official who cares.
In the interim time, we have studied and reviewed, formed the CJCC, brought the same level of collaboration that Bob Tryanski has developed among the community health partners with members of the justice system, and achieved a series of expanded diversional alternatives to go on top of what has been placed in the community keeping incarceration rates down. Douglas County is among the lowest incarceration rates in the state. We’ve developed a house arrest program, pretrial evaluation program and a better working relationship on the health side to break people out of silos to advance and improve the criminal justice system. The needs of this community are growing because we are growing and our system needs to grow. We are getting pressed by a legislature that has found other priorities. People are staying in jail longer though bookings are down. Gaughan said we have model programs to work with individuals who are incarcerated and programs to work with those before justice is involved. These programs have kept the incarceration rates low. However these programs need to continue to be supported and funded. Staff needs to be able to work with these individuals that are best suited to take advantage of the programs. The way we do that is with frictionless connections with services. We implement that with the courts, invested in behavioral health court and a new protem judge to take pressure off the system. We’ve invested $1.8 million in the 2018 Budget to move forward with these initiatives starting in January. As a Commission, it is our responsibility to address core gaps in the system in our community, in our justice system and mental health system. The discussions the Board has had over the past four years has happen in this room during County Commission meetings. The needs of the individuals facing incarceration, however temporarily, in our County jail are very real needs. They need better space. Our staff that work in the jail needs better space to help to reintegrate and rehabilitate our friends and neighbors back into the community, as does our mental health system in this community needs space and support to elevate its mission to advance from crisis back into intervention. Gaughan stated this has been a rich and rewarding journey to see this community investigate these issues, develop solution and bring them forward for discussion. Gaughan thanked his fellow Commissioners, especially Commissioner Thellman who stepped up when he had other obligations and brought this to a better product.
Derusseau thanked her fellow Commissioners, Sarah Plinsky and Jill Jolicoeur for their collaboration and all of our community partners. She said she is proud and impressed with their collaboration. There is no ego and no ownership, just the goal of making things better for our community.
Thellman added there will be future meetings to explain decisions. From the beginning of this long conversation, it is equally important to have compassion for the folks inside the jail and those on the outside who are experiencing the worst days of their lives. It’s a complicated issue. There are folks that spend their whole life in the system with law enforcement and mental health. We have tried to honor the wisdom of those who work in the trenches and have the hard job of making things work in an under-funded system. Thellman said she applauds everyone for being here with hearts full of conviction.
No action was taken.p
Gaughan moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Thellman
and carried 3-0.
____________________________ __________________________
Nancy Thellman, Chair Michelle Derusseau, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
___________________________ _____________________________
Jamie Shew, County Clerk Mike Gaughan, Member
Time and Date
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