Government At Work - Friday September 21

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 –

8:15 a.m. –McHenry County Board Public Health & Human Services Committee –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Four interviews are scheduled for individuals to be appointed to the McHenry County Housing Authority, Senior Services Grant Commission.

Elna Hamilton is to be interviewed for the Housing Authority, Stephen Polep for the Senior Services Grant Commission.

John White and Catherine Nash are seeking appointment to the senior Services Grant Commission, but are unable to attend the meeting.

The Committee is to consider five resolutions accepting grants including three from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the Workforce program.

Two grants from the Illinois Department of Public Health will provide for one full-time and two part-time positions in the Health Department.  

A resolution is also being presented regarding authorization of an increase in the Daily Room Rates at Valley Hi Nursing Home effective December 1, 2012.

The proposed increases include:

Intermediate Care – From $200 per day to $210 per day

Skilled 1 Care – From $210 per day to $220 per day

Skilled II Care – From $230 per day to $230 per day

Other financial related matters for Valley Hi include a Resolution to reclassify a full time food service assistant into two Part Time Food service Positions. This would make it possible to reduce the overtime in the dietary department and have more weekend and evening staffing in that department.

The Committee is also to consider a reclassification of a Full Time Food Service assistant into two part time food service positions at Valley Hi.

County Nursing Home Doing Better Than In Past

Valley Hi Nursing Home is doing much better than in the past. According to a recent report to the County Board by Administrator Tom Annarella, For the first six months of this year, the revenue has exceeded the expenses and there should be approximately $875,000 over the expenses. There is no control available for what the state and federal governments provide for the nursing home funding.

Receipt of funds from governments can be sporadic. The Federal Government pays their bills on time, but there is an eight month wait for payment from the State.

Annarella reported to the County Board at a recent County Board meeting that the residents are given more say in what events go on. There Is also a resident food committee providing choices of meals.

Annarella also advised the Board that the new building will be paid off in January. The building located on the southeast corner of Nelson and Hartland Roads was constructed following a successful countywide referendum in 2002 which provided funding for the construction a new facility.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 –

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –
Meeting in the McHenry County Transportation Building,
Several Resolutions are being presented for Committee approval, including one for supplemental services agreement and appropriation funds for the Charles J. Miller Road project. An additional $$265,451.18 is required for breaking the project into two separate contracts that were not identified in the original scope.

Another Resolution is authorizing a budget line item transfer in the Division of Transportation FY 2011-12 budget for Fuel, Oil and Grease, regarding a budge line item transfer from the Transportation/County Engineer and in conjunction with the County Administration to transfer $70,000 within the Transportation Budget to cover a shortage in the Highway Fund-Fuel Oil & Grease. This $70,000 shortage is due to the price of fuel oil which has dramatically increased from Fiscal Year 2011 by 7%. It has also increased 23% since Fiscal Year 2010.

A third Resolution the Committee is to consider awarding a $384,927.51 contract to Peter Baker & Son Company for maintenance resurfacing for Dunham Township. Bids for this project were opened July 11. This is the second annual bid letting for Township projects which are funded primarily through Township Motor Fuel Tax Funds.

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Housing Commission Education Committee –

Meeting in the Planning and Development Department Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road Woodstock.

The Committee will continue consideration of the MBE/WBE Certification.

Also, planning is to get underway for the 2 ^nd Fair Housing Poster Contest fir 2013.

9:30 a.m. – Staff Plat Committee –

Meeting in McHenry County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A staff sketch plan review of the Evans Subdivision, 9822 Haegers Bend Road, Algonquin, is scheduled.

Also, a final plat review is scheduled on the Leuth Subdivision.

6:00 p.m. – Community Behavioral Health Safety Net Task Force –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Time is provided for public comment at the beginning of the meeting.

Following approval of minutes from the prior meeting, the agenda calls for a restatement of purpose, revisit indicators, and review allocation summary by provider, including Mental Health Board, Community Development Block Grant, United Way, and Senior Services.

7:00 p.m. Valley Hi Nursing Home Operating Board –

Meeting in the Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

New Business matters include: the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget; presentation to the County Board, a Resolution for an upgrade to the Clinical Software; and ZPIC Audits.

Old Business includes Medicare Part B prepay probe; Valley Hi Unionization Update; Open Meetings Training; IDPH Hearing Update.

The Administrator will also provide the Board with an update.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Department of Health, Animal Control Advisory Committee –

Meeting in the McHenry County Department of Health Crystal Lake facility, 100 North Virginia Street (Route 14,) Crystal Lake.

Under Old Business, a report is made that a second rabies and microchip event was held providing 17 microchips

A presentation is to be provided regarding the McHenry County Animal Control.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

7:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Operating Board –

Meets at Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

Financial matters are at the top of the agenda and include the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget review and Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Goals.

The Valley Hi Debt payment is an item for discussion along with a December 2011 FOIA Request and Union Activity.

The Board will also receive a Medicaid Payment update.

Old business includes Medical Director search, Customer Service program and involuntary discharge proceedings.

Various committee reports are to be provided as applicable.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Park District –

A meeting is scheduled in the Algonquin Village Hall for residents of Woods Creek Watershed to learn about the planning process and provide input early in the development of the watershed plan being undertaken by the Park District.

Wednesday Government Meetings

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24—

8:15 a.m. – Community Development Block Grant Commission –

Meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning has been cancelled.

8:30 a.m. – Natural and Environmental Resources Committee –

Scheduled for Wednesday morning has been cancelled.

 7:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Operating Board –

Meeting at the Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

Sharon Chewning, Valley Hi Nurse Liaison is making a presentation to the Operating Board.

The budget for FY2011-2012 is to be reviewed by the Board, followed by consideration of room rate increase and a Resolution authorizing the increase of the daily room rate at Valley Hi.

A number of topics are to be discussed including an 11.2% Medicare Rate Cut, the State Medicaid Reimbursement Delays, Involuntary Discharge proceedings.

Old business matters for consideration include Medical Director Recruitment Status, Customer Service Program Development, and Inter-Governmental Transfer Agreement.

Busy Tuesday Morning For McHenry County Board

The McHenry County Board is meeting Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. in the County Board room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Recognition for Bill Dwyer

A special recognition is being presented for approval, for former County Board member Bill Dwyer who served on the Board from December 1992 to December 2000. Dwyer, as Chairman of the Transportation Committee, was instrumental in the development of the Rakow Road project.

He was also co-founder of the Crystal Lake Gala, a leader in the formation of the McHenry County Better Road Coalition, the group of concerned McHenry County leaders organized to insure that McHenry County receives its fair share of State and Federal road construction funding.

Dwyer also received the Crystal Lake Jaycees Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service and the Carl Wehde Community Service Award.

Appointments

A number of appointments are being presented for approval, including James P. Kennedy and Jodi A. Borck to the Valley Hi Operating Board with terms expiring June 2013 and 2012 respectively

Board of Health Appointments

Five people are to be appointed to the McHenry County Board of Health including Aurel E. Goglin, Mary J. Foszcz, William A. Stinson, and David R. Banaszynski, with terms to expire June 30, 2014. William E. McNerney is being appointed for a term to expire June 30, 2012.

Ethics Commission Appointment

Two appointments to the McHenry County Ethics Commission include Cherie R. Rickert, and Thomas B. Spencer, with both terms to expire February 1, 2013.

Grant For County Workforce Investment Area

The Board is to consider acceptance of an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant of $1,841,614 for the County Workforce Investment Area to be allocated among three programs including $551,289 for Adult programs; $650,860 for dislocated workers program and $639,465 designated for Youth programs.

Low Cost Housing

The Housing Commission is recommending a reserve of $125,000 for McHenry County Habitat for Humanity. This along with the authorization for the County Board Chairman to execute an agreement with the McHenry County Habitat for Humanity for the purchase of land and construction of a single family residence in the county which will provide low cost hosing.

Continued Mental Health Funding Agreements

McHenry County Mental Health Board receives various continuation funding agreements, however, they have various fiscal year dates that do not coincide with the county’s fiscal year. A routine acceptance of an “emergency appropriation” is required in order to use the grants totaling $2,515,559.  This funding provides for teen programs, community services, child mental health, DCFS programs, AmeriCorps, and ISBE.

“Kids Can’t Buy “Em Here” Program

A $6050 grant is being received from the Illinois Liquor Commission for a “Kids Can’t Buy ‘em Here” Tobacco Program. The funding is being provided the Health Department to be used for educating tobacco retailers on minimum-age tobacco laws and how to enforce those laws through compliance checks with underage teenagers.

This grant allows for an educational opportunity between retail vendors, high school students and the Woodstock/McHenry Police Department on the availability of tobacco to the underage population in the County.

The grant has an enforcement component, but there is also a strong educational activity with the retail vendor prior to the compliance check. This is the third year for this program and has been expanded from the  City of Woodstock to include the City of McHenry with 55 retailers of tobacco product overall.

Funding for Veterans Dental and Eye Care

The County Board is being requested by the Veterans Assistance Commission of the County to accept a Veterans Lottery Grant of $35,000. This will be used for the continuation of the Veterans Dental care and restorative eye care programs for low income veterans in the County.

Grant Acceptance To Provide Mobile Veterans Office

The County Board is also being asked to approve acceptance of a $7,228.96 grant from the McHenry County Community Foundation. This is being applied to the costs of renovating the VAC High Top Van into a mobile office to assist those veterans unable to travel to the Woodstock VAC office.

Software Backup

The County Board is being requested to approve an expenditure of $42,803 for Symantec Software Maintenance and Support for another year. This is a necessary item in order to keep the county’s computerized systems functioning.

County Audit for Fiscal Year Ending November 30, 2010

The county audit has been completed by the audit firm of Baker, Tilly, Virchow, Krause, LLP and the CAFR presented to the County. The County Board is being requested to act on the request of the Finance and Audit Committee to accept the audit and file a copy with the Illinois State Comptroller and the County Clerk.

New Director of Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

Director of the Workforce Investment Board, Carl Marten, retired last year. Concurrent with this retirement there was discussions regarding the possible reorganization by folding the WIB board into the States. This was occurring on the Federal level. As a result, McHenry reclassified the WIB Director as a part time position until further clarity was available. In the Interim, Marten agreed to a contractual part-time position.

The Federal agency is now focusing on funding rather than structural change in the organization. As a result, the County is reclassifying the position of the Director of the WIB to a full time position at a pay grade of 12E rather than the previous Grade of 13E.

The 12E grade classification has a minimum salary of $57,450 which would be the salary for a new director. The salary and all benefits are funding from the available proceed s of the Federal Workforce Investment funds. There is no local funding required for this position.

Old Valley Hi Building

A contract with Gavers Excavating for the demolition of the OLD Valley Hi Nursing Home is also to be approved by the Board.

McHenry County Board Committee Meeting Monday

MONDAY, JUNE 27

8:30 a.m.—Management Services Committee of McHenry County Board—

Meeting in the Conference Room of the County Administration Building,

667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The Committee is to interview five individuals who have expressed an interest to serve on the County Ethics Commission. These include William Hauck, Scott S. Logan, Cheri R. Rickert, Thomas B. Spencer, John J. Donahue. A sixth individual, Connee Meschini is unable to attend for the interview.

A number of resolutions are to be considered by the Committee. Two of these relate to the IT Department and involves an agreement with Symantec for Software Maintenance and Support. The other concerns a five-year Network Server Lease with Cisco Capital Leasing for Cisco Network Services.

A salary adjustment is to be considered for a network engineer in the IT Department and a

Contract is to be considered with Gavers Excavating for the Demolition of the Old Valley Hi Nursing Home Facility.

Additionally, there could be a discussion regarding Open Meetings Act, and a demonstration is scheduled for an iPad demonstration.

Discussion by the Committee is slated regarding a future tour of the jail.

Demolition of Former Valley Hi Nursing Home Building

Requests for Proposals were solicited for asbestos removal and demolition of the abandoned Valley Hi facility that served to house the elderly for many years until the voters approved a referendum for a new building in 2000. This new facility is located on the southeast corner of Nelson and Hartland Roads and is also on county-owned property that had been acquired many years ago when caring for the elderly was accomplished on the "poor farm."

That was a farm where the elderly could live when they no longer could do the farming to support themselves. Everyone that was able to do some chores pitched in to keep the farm going and at the same time had a place to reside.

Since nursing home patients moved into their new home, the facility located on the west side of

Hartland Road

has been utilized for storage. That is becoming a problem due to the age of the building and the decision was made to demolish it.

Newly Formed Valley Hi Operations Board Meets First Time

The operation of Valley Hi Nursing Home, the McHenry County-owned nursing home is slightly changing. The first meeting of the newly-formed Valley Hi Operations Board was held Thursday. The Board consists of five citizens selected by the County Board on the advice of the Valley Hi Committee. The new board includes Dallas Larson, Peter Michling, Victor Narusis, Lynn Ryan, and Joanne Hanrahan. This group will meet again to select officers and set meeting dates along with any other necessary business.

The idea to form an Operations Board began many months ago when the contract with Revere Health Care was coming to an end. This company had been retained to put Valley Hi operations on a more professional footing. The nursing home, which had its beginning over 100 years ago as a "poor farm" which allowed citizens to have a place to be taken care of when they reached an age of being unable to farm and care for themselves.

At the beginning of the farm operation, those who could do some chores did so but they also had a place to live. That practice still remains in place, except there is no more farming. In 2002 McHenry County voters approved a referendum to build a new more efficient nursing home. Several months ago a new administrator, Tom Annarella, was hired to oversee the facility. Valley Hi Nursing Home is now in the nursing home market and this is what the Operations Board will be working with. The idea of an operations board came from DeKalb County which initiated this idea for a county owned nursing home.

McHenry County Board Seeks Applicants For Newly Formed Nursing Home Board

The McHenry County Board is accepting applications from individuals interested in appointment to the newly created VALLEY HI NURSING HOME OPERATING BOARD. Seven two year positions are available. Expertise in the healthcare field is desired but is not an exclusive criterion for membership on this Board.

Application forms are available at the County Board office, Room 209, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 334-4221 or at the County’s website listed under County Board appointments. Completed applications should be returned to the County Board office no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2010. If mailing your application, certified or registered mail is recommended. Mailed applications should be sent to the following address: McHenry County Board, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock IL 60098.