Thank you. Uh, good morning everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Cook County Public Health and Human Services Board to order on this Tuesday, December 16th at 8:31 a.m. Um first item is uh approval of the
consent agenda which includes includes our meeting agenda minutes financial report abstracts and bills. Appointment advisory council member reappoint of community health board member resignation of Nancy Deming. Approve the hire of Grace Grenager as public health
and human services director. Approve extension of outofclass appointment for Andrea Dbor. Approve extension of outclass appointment for Andrea Orest. Is there anything on our consent agenda anyone would like to pull or any change
to our meeting agenda in general? Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I' I'd like to pull item H just for discussion. A little more noteworthy than consent agenda. >> Okay. Any other items?
>> Any other changes? Any uh motions? >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the one item H pulled. >> Okay. >> And support. >> Thank you. We have a motion and support. Any further discussion?
>> Hearing or saying none. All those in favor? >> I >> I. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Uh we'll uh move uh right into director's report and maybe we'll um talk about item H right
away. Take it. >> Captain, please. All right. This is going to be my last meeting as an interim director. So, I want to take a moment first of all to congratulate today's work
um stepping into this role and thank her for doing that. And I wish you the best and um offering my support during the transition period. I uh want to thank Nancy for their work uh over the years,
not only with the child care program, which has made a big difference in our community, but also with the children services and um helping through the transition period which was challenging and um all the
work and support that you have provided me and your team. Thank you and all the best. with the new ends and um I hope our professional lives cross soon near future. So thank you. Um
I do have couple updates from the public health team but before I get into that I'll speak about um couple updates on um as an organization we have a new children and family services workers started at the
beginning of the month. uh his name is Daniel and we're glad to have him just hit the ground running if you want to say that. Uh we have another worker starting at the end of the month. Um also on
children and human services team we do uh we did complete another round of interview for beh supervisor and we are hopeful to be able to report to the board and the community and our team
this week on what the next steps are going to be in that process. I have some updates from the public health team which I'm going to um brief to the board now. The winter preparedness campaign ended in early December. Andrea to the
emergency preparedness coordinator partnered with the care partners to bring preparedness education information about the campaign to senior launches at P Grove the hub and ground porridge. One of the attendees from the hub was the winner of the raffle prize. The goal is
for the campaign to become something that occurs annually in late fall to remind and encourage residents to prepare for winter. An article will go out on boreal this week recapping the campaign and its messaging. The resource director website continues with partner
agencies and the commun and the communications community reviewing local designs this past week and providing feedback to the vendor. The name of the site will be drive together at Cook County Community Resource Guide. The next steps include obtaining photos for
the site and populating resource information into a spreadsheet that will become part of the site itself. We are still on track to launch the site in late spring and early summer. Rosio Rivers, youth prevention coordinator, is working with the local
businesses across the county to create a community connectedness scavenger hunt for middle high school aged youth in the second half of the winter break. The idea is that participants need to reach out either in person or over the phone to
participating businesses to ask a question about mental well-being. After asking the question, the businesses will give youth a word. In in the end, the word can be unscrambled into a message about the prevention. The initiative will also include a
celebration at the end of the winter break and arts and crafts activities with the art colony and North House. The mobile crisis response service continues with Sar Eisenrike now fully trained in. While we have had some calls come in,
we're also coordinating opportunity for her shadow at Brightwater formerly human development center where there is a higher call volume as complement to her training and on boarding. the next two months a peak respiratory illness season and our
up-to-date vaccination rate as a county for both COVID and influenza is 19.6% 6% which is among the highest in the state but still very low nationally um our vaccination rate for influenza is
the lowest that it's been in decades. There is still time to call the clinic to schedule a COVID and oral flu vaccine. Raising our vaccination rate is an important way we can reduce rates of serious negative health outcomes this season and lessen the strain on our
medical system. Don't forget to wash your hands and stay home if you're sick during the holiday season. With that, I am going to take a minute to thank the board for their trust in me um and appointing me an interim director over this transition period and
administrator Reena Rogers and Kristen um Treble Hoverma for their trust and support during the period and um thank all the PHS team members for their hard work over the last six and a
half months or uh since June. Um, we've come a long ways. I feel like I'm leaving the department in a better state than I found it or then it was um I when I was appointed as an interim director and our work does not stop today. It
just begins. We have a long ways to go but um we have a path forward and we're going to follow it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Pair >> chair Mills if I can make a comment. Absolutely.
>> So, Plowman, I know you said this is your last uh formal meeting as the interim director, but I'm hoping that you will come to the January meeting as well so that we can share some comments and celebrate with you at that time. And I just want to thank you for your
comments today. And um for anyone anyone who is there and anyone who is listening also share that um Plummet has done an absolutely fantastic job in the interim role um and we're so um lucky to have had him in that space. But I'd also like
to share a little bit more when we're when I'm able to be in person in January. >> Thank you. Yeah. Um I want to express my gratitude for for what you've done plumbing. Um very difficult time for for
the whole organization as well as the whole department and um the strain that everyone felt through the transition and still feels um with staffing issues and just uh navigating um navigating all the challenges. um just really appreciate
your leadership and your steadfastness um and and your um your willingness to listen too. Um just really appreciate that. >> Same with Nancy. I want to appreciate your work with with the county and our community. um incredible impact and um
just grateful for for all the work that you've done and the bridges you've made and the opportunities you've created for for our our community and um and just the opportunities we didn't even know we had um without your guidance. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. I came down
this morning. I just wanted to come and to thank each of you personally um for for being a part and investing um in what we were doing with childcare in our community. Uh it amazes me the things that we were able to accomplish and
coming here for that was the whole reason that I was you know committed and happy to be here and but we couldn't have done that without the board of commissioners being in agreement and standing behind us. you guys. You all have done an amazing job and and it was an honor to be able to represent Cook
County all across our state and and national organizations. As I talked about um what we did and we could never have done any of that without your back and let you know how much um how much I appreciate and how much that local team would mean to every one of you. Thank
you. >> Um we still have item H here. Commissioner Gamble, would you like to tee that off? the on item major. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think uh given the significance of of this department and
its service to our community um I I think I mean it's significant um huge um and when uh when we find that there's um there's issues that need to be confronted which is a healthy thing to
do a difficult thing to do a challenging thing to do and and it it introduces into our community questions and and uncertainty and things that that we don't know foundationally. Uh because it is such a significant department and so
I I think the process that we've gone through in bringing in uh grace, it would be good for the community and for us to appreciate the diligence that we did in that process and choosing grace in the
position. And so I was looking for some of that narrative that would help to communicate to the community. Um just the process we used in in wanting to be sure that we're good stewards of transitioning and putting a person in
the position that we have the confidence and the trust in. Uh I think the significant beneficial thing to the community is the fact that Grace comes with the experience. we know her as an individual and it helps to underscore
um the reasons that she has been uh offered the position and has accepted. So that's that's what I was looking for some process to give background to that because there's been so much public exposure. I I think that that
foundational information would be helpful. >> Yeah, I'm I'm happy to provide a little a brief summary. Um so um uh through the transitions uh and with
having an interim director um it it was um I'd say um pretty pretty important to say the least and um just um very pressing to to find leadership and to
find uh people to to be able to fill fill the position and lead lead the department. And um we had a and feel free to interject with any other other ideas there, but um Commissioner White and I were were able to sit on a number of the
interviews um and the we we posted it first round um and found some great candidates and moved them on to um the second interview. And through that process, we had some candidates um who dropped out. And then um at the end of
the process um but not all at the end of the process um the hiring committee um decided that um for what the department needed at this time and into the future um it it was not ideal but we decided to
repost the position. And um and during all this, we had outside um consultant help to to help us um better navigate some of the challenges and if there's any restructuring we need to do and in adjustments and just a overall evaluation which the whole board should
be aware of um um Megan's work. Um and then uh I missed the first interview on the second round of interviews. Um, so did not know Grace had applied um until um she told me frankly uh right before
our community health board meeting and and I I said that's some of the best news I've heard in a long time. Uh thank you so much for doing it. I was frankly a little surprised considering it wasn't in she didn't apply the first round and just knowing uh life situations and that
sort of thing. Um but I was pleasant very pleasantly surprised and then um for the the second interview I was present and and Grace was an outstanding candidate. Um she has uh proven leadership within the organization within the community. She has strong
community trust. um very uh data driven and um and matterof fact and um not afraid to um confront difficult conversations uh especially demonstrated during during the pandemic and a lot of
the challenges there. So um has >> jump in now if you're >> Yes, please. Yes, go right ahead. Pass. I was only part of the second interviews for each round and there was an overwhelming
we all came with biases for grace which we because we had all in our past little lives interacted and depended on this woman to help us for the school board. I was speaking as a former school board
person and uh how we depended on uh grace to help us make decisions as a board during COVID and there's the that whole time period has left left us all with post-traumatic stress
disorder but we would look forward to Grace showing up to give us numbers data like you said and I wasn't the only person who had interacted with her and uh to person. Who else would we want? I mean, it was
so we've set the bar. You've set the bar really high and that's your fault and that's uh we are grateful for that and our expectation is just of course it will continue. So whether or not you have twins
now um I'm done having twins in this lifetime. Uh although that was one of the things that did give me some pause. They're quite young and thankfully now sleeping a little bit more than they were in the recent past. So um thank you for all of
your kind words. Plan um Commissioner White, Commissioner Gamble, Commissioner Mills. I appreciate all the trust that you've put into me to step into this position. Um you know it's a big position. I think reflecting on it and reflecting on, you know, whether this is
the right time in my life and whether I'm the right person to fill the role, I really came down to the very simple uh belief that I want our department to do a good job, which sounds very basic, but I mean that is what was at the heart of
me putting my application in. I to me doing a good job means creating a a supportive workplace where employees know the work that they're supposed to be doing and do that work with pride every day. Um, and that we are able to
provide a consistently high level of service to our community that's rooted in both what is required of us by state statute, but also in just a deep respect for the community at large and all of the people that we serve. So, that's what drove me to apply for the position.
I'm very um excited to be stepping in in the new year. So, thank you all. >> Thank you. >> No, go ahead, Commissioner Selvin. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to express on behalf of our community,
the the incredible trust they have in you and the work that you've done in the past, and we know that the past is the best predictor of the future. And uh I've gotten many calls and many emails with people who are absolutely elated
and so we are thrilled along with the community to welcome you into this role. >> Okay, Mr. White, would you >> Well, I was going to say yes. I mean, she you are a known entity for those that pay any attention to the posit to
the positive things that happen around here. And now I guess I'll throw this in here. I want to apologize personally to the West End people for not responding to their letter. Um, I was operating assuming that the protocol for the
county in an situation like this would be like the school district did where the board would uh discuss the topic and then the board chair would speak >> for everyone on the board. one voice
passing along along the board's intent and decisions and it was also compounded by the fact that we were cautioned repeatedly that this was very confidential. There were legal it was a
legal matter and we were not to join the public fray or the public conversations because we don't know what's going on and literally I still don't know all that's going on and it's irrelevant. I don't need to. I
just know that we now have good leadership. I believe this board needs to sit down and decide what to do. Another time when everyone when a letter comes to every board member, uh, often I often I reply, but
in this situation might sound lame, but it was true. It was a it was a legal situation and we were not to talk about it. So apologize to the West End, but that's that was my reasoning. And um
it's not that you don't count, it's just that we had that's where I was coming from. But to that end, Grace should kind of balance out my mistake cuz I voted for Grace, everyone. I
So that's it. >> Commissioner Gabble. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I would just say that um challenging things as we know there's a lot of challenging things that come our way in life and sometimes we try to um walk away from
the responsibility entrusted to us when it comes to having to address things and do it in a in a professional and and yet a a caring way. And um I think it it's it's very appropriate to step back and
and look at this experience and learn from it. Um the fact that we have an interimm director, Reena Rogers, who was willing to address this issue, having her many years of experience and coming in, she
had no responsibility to have to step forward and um uh she could have very easily uh had had a lot of reasons why she wouldn't address it, but her commitment to the community and her lived experience in the position that
she served here for many years and previously as interimm director that uh she was willing to do that. So that's significant that it was addressed um and confronted during what we were going through in in our leadership and that uh
Kristen coming in with so many things had to pick that up and plowman willing to step in and his background understanding given his financial role. There are many things that if this was a book club reading this story, we would
discuss it and understand thoroughly what made this outcome what it is. And it should teach us as a community when there are difficult things. We can be professional and compassionate, but we need to address them and we need to look at our strengths and our
vulnerabilities. we brought in capable people that could help inform us so that uh we can we can move forward and um avoid the things that that were part of our our experience as a community. So, I
would I would just um acknowledge all of those that had the significant role in stepping in and I would also acknowledge the community's patience when there's no awareness, just the bad news without all of the
challenges that come in trying to work through difficult things. So um I think that's why we should pause and just just recognize what have we learned and what is our outcome and what is our hope for future in a significant department in
our community. So >> chair >> Roy >> and I want to confirm that indeed the buck stops at the commissioners we are ultimately responsible for what goes on here. we are and the fact that we didn't
know, you know, means something was going ary that we should have been aware of somehow. So, um, that said, indeed, you have a problem out there, call any of us.
I will say that I don't always know where my phone is and I don't always answer it in a timely manner, but I will get back to you and I would prefer I mean you don't have to call me, but you can connect me with me any way you want, but I need to know what's going on and
how the how the constituents how the people that pay my salary, how they are feeling about things. It doesn't mean you're going to get your way, but I will listen sincerely. Commissioner Sterling. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, welcome
aboard. Uh, we got the news when we were down at AMC and now we're in a room of hundreds of people and when I read it went, "Yes." They all looked at me like, "What?" I had to explain a little bit.
Anyway, it's just um I'm appreciative of the fact that you had to consider a lot and that's your family, you know, and um your talents you already know and we know your talents. But um in consideration of everything that you made the decision on as I go to the West
End townships, there's a big yes there too. They're very, very thankful and happy. >> Thank you. I appreciate all of your kind words. We should probably approve uh item H here. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> I've been waiting since the consent
agenda on >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the hire of Grace Granager as our public health and human services director. >> Thank you. We have a motion. Is there support? >> Support from Frank. Uh further
discussion. We've had a lot. >> All those in favor? I >> I. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you, Grace. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Here we are. We went through some
staffing updates. Any further agency updates? Oh, went through those. We're on to items for board action. We have taken some significant action today already. Item A is a resolution adopting federal merit system principles and practices. And I don't know if Tom and
Allison, you want to um touch on this. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> All right. Um yes, so this is a a big um action that we've been actually waiting
several years to get to this point and accomplish. We're almost there. this is just the next step. Uh so I just want to give some background. So the uh the resolution today is adopting basically an exit a discharge from the
Minnesota merit system. So the Minnesota merit system um in essence has replaced part of the duties that we the human resources department does for the public health and human services department.
um what they take on that we don't do for public health and human services um is basically the posting the recruitment and some of the selection process for applicants for PHS positions. So the
Minnesota Merit system um we have to work with to submit a request to post positions. they have to approve that request and then they actually create a posting and their postings go through um what is it governmentjob.com. So people
tend to see our jobs uh posted on our county website but even within those postings it directs people to apply through the Minnesota merit system um not directly with with our internal application uh portal. So we direct
people to a different site and then from there the applicants are screened by staff with the Minnesota merit system to confirm determine if they meet the minimum qualifications for those positions. Uh the state has their own kind of set of minimum qualifications in
addition to what we have listed in our own job descriptions for those specific positions. So again, people are being kind of um screened in or screened out whether they meet those minimum qualifications. And then in addition to that, those individuals that meet the
min uh the minimum qualifications as screened, some positions also have an actual exam, um a test that they have to pass. Um I remember when I took the test, it was protoed here in the commissioner's room, but now everything is online. Uh, and then once individuals
pass that test, which we, the Cook County HR department, has no idea where people are at. We don't know who's applied. We don't know what candidates there are. Um, we get a list of what's called referred candidates after that
entire process. So, we're really um excluded from most of this of this process until we actually get that list of final candidates. Um that has created some barriers in the past. Um we have
found that some applicants have been screened out with the Minnesota Merit System uh staff saying, "Well, they don't meet their minimum qualifications." And we only know this because people reach out to us and say, "Hey, I believe that I do meet the
minimum qualifications, but I received this email." So, in those instances, we can actually work with the Minnesota Merit System in coordination with the applicants to confirm, yeah, with more information, they do actually meet the minimums because some individuals that could be great great candidates may get
screened out. And we've actually had some individuals that we've hired that initially were screened out by merit. So potentially losing qualified candidates because we have an external entity screening those candidates. We know some people just don't test well. I mean we hear kids that just get
test anxiety, especially as adults. How often are we actually doing a test these days if we're not actually in school? So some individuals uh especially because it's timed um that they either don't finish the test, they have the testing anxiety. So again, we have qu uh really
quality um candidates, qualified candidates that are potentially screened out um because of the exam as well. Um and then just the fact that we're completely removed from the process when we're hiring county staff. It just it it it just feels a little weird sometimes
to have uh the outside entity, the agency and other HR staff in essence kind of working with the candidates that we're ultimately going to be employing. Um so with some of the barriers that it's created um and those were just kind of a highle overview of some of them in
addition to the fact that it costs money. So, the uh kind of annual cost actually continues to increase as more counties are withdrawing from the merit system. Right now, we pay almost $18,000 that comes out of the PHS budget a year.
Again, that is has been increasing steadily year after year um just for the work that the Minnesota merit system does, which is work that HR, we in HR already do for all of the other departments. So why are we paying another organization to do the work that we are already qualified and doing for
other departments and that we can be more handson with? Um, so the given all of these things that have been kind of in place and consistent over the last several years, even before I was in this role, there had been discussion by
previous director McIntyre of of the desire to exit the Minnesota merit system and have everything in-house by our HR department. So when I stepped into this role, Leah had started the process, Leah Extramm, uh, the previous HR director. I took over um having
actually seen and having dealt with the merit system in my role up in public health and human services. So there is a pretty substantial process to exit the Minnesota merit system. Um so I started the paperwork. Um there's a lot of paperwork. There's a lot of submission
of our our employee handbook, bargaining unit contracts, our our policies, our processes, all of those types of things because they're ensuring that we have the um checks and balances in place to be able to actually take on the role
what they do, but confirming and proving that we are able to do all of that recruitment process um inhouse for public health and human services. So, I submitted all of the paperwork in December of 2024 because then you have to have a year to
actually work with the Minnesota Merit System and its staff to go through all the paperwork, documentation, have meetings, things like that. Um, so over a year time frame, um, working with them to confirm that we have have all of the points in place to be able to exit. So,
for the entirety of 2025, I've been going through that process with the Minnesota Merit System staff. And now, at this point, what they're doing is they're giving us what's called a provisional approval to exit the Minnesota Merit System starting January
1st of 2026. The provisional approval just means um we're still doing some cleanup of our internal processes and past hires with the Minnesota Merit System. So, we're just trying to clean up a few extra things. Um, so this is the first step in the actual final
approval which should happen in 2026 for January 1st of 2027. So the provisional exit basically still gives us the leeway of we're taking everything on the Minnesota merit system is kind of in the background and can assist us if needed.
And then at the end of the year they would actually like to do an audit of all of the final work that we did. So, there'll be a small extra charge and that's listed in the item for board action. Instead of paying the $18,000, we'll have to just pay for the time that it takes them to complete this audit,
which they estimate to be upwards of $2,500. Um, but yeah, otherwise it's a great first step in something that we've been looking to do for several years. Um, and I want to also mention so usage of the
Minnesota merit system is dwindling. There's only a roughly a 20 Minnesota counties left using the Minnesota merit system. So, as you can see, with many counties pulling out of the merit system, it's kind of one of those I don't know if aging entities that it's
going to be probably phased out at some point as more counties take this on inhouse. And so, we're looking to do that and kind of joining the ranks of other counties that are are taking charge of their own internal processes and hiring for public health and human services.
Thank you, Pl. Anything you wanted to add there? Any >> Yeah. Any questions from commissioners, thoughts? It's been quite a process. I think it's been talked about since I've been here. Um just takes a long time as you um explained very well. Thank you.
Um if there's no question Oh, Commissioner Gamble, please. Yeah, I just I make a motion uh adopting the resolution for federal merit system principles and practices and thank Allison for the detailed summary. When I
look through the agenda, uh we have another item here. um if if we as a board don't have a committee the whole discussion or some opportunity to really understand the nature of some of these things, we can have things on the agenda that come before us that we're voting on
that we know very little about. Uh for those that have sat on the board previously and had discussions, we sort of followed that journey, but uh um I do appreciate the the detailed explanation and u therefore make the motion to adopt the resolution. Thank you, Commissioner
Gamble. We have a motion. Is there support? >> Support. >> Thank you, Commissioner Svin. Motion and support. Further discussion hearing or seeing none. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Moves on to item 4B, the renewal of purchase of service agreement with AOA for employment and training services. Am I to provide some background?
>> Yes, please. >> Yeah, we have this contract with AUA yearly. So, we're just asking uh the board to renew the contract. Um they provide services um for which they invoice our agency. We report those expenditures on a quarterly reports to
Department of Human Services and receive reimbursement. So, and annual amount is set by the Department of Human Services. So, um just following that guideline. >> Thank you. Good. Any questions there, >> Frank? Please.
>> Um are these two programs that are listed in the contract, are these the only services that AOA provides? >> Correct. Then my understanding is that effective July 1st of this coming year
that the D the DWP program the diversionary work program will be phased out. So that's only is going to leave the uh Minnesota family investment program left Minnesota family. Next year we will be eliminating the DWP language
from the contract but as of this year it will remain for now. >> And the total amount um budgeted by PHS for the family investment program forgive me if it's not the exact name of the program uh is
21,500 less administrative fees and so on. That is the amount that we going to we are paying AOA and getting reimbured from the um Department of Human Services. But the contracted department of the a lotment we receive from the
Department of Human Services is higher because they allow us to claim our administrative fee too, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. But that's roughly $20,000 is the amount available to expend in this Yep. >> family support program. family. >> That amount has remained unchanged for
several years now. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thanks, Frank. Any other questions? Commissioner Gav. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a note in in reading through this contract page 25 and it might appear different on the
original, but on under item D, which is at the top of the contract there, uh it for me the the J does not appear. So if if the original document has the J on there, it's it refers to job counselor,
but it it's uh the the J is >> says OB counselor. >> The is it? >> Well, we have OB. No, I'm just kidding. Yeah, I'm sure that's correct. >> Yeah, the lob counselor. Yeah. Okay, I see. Yeah, if it's a term I didn't know. A lob counselor just sort of throws it
out there and >> whatever counsel comes to mind at the time. Yeah. Anyway, just noting that if on the original we've got that for whatever reason. The other thing is that that that um contract amount 21,500 and then there were some additional
charges that were uh for administrative and some other things which I think amounted to 2000 something. If if page 39 shows the financial breakout on that uh before get to page 39. However, on
page 46, it says under the county responsibility and given the fact this is something that we do annually with AOA that the county shall purchase and pay for all necessary supplies required for electronic health recordkeeping and office operations. Uh
I'm just wondering if what that that cost is sometimes in contracts when things aren't identified uh when you've had a history with it, we'd be able to look at and say this is what it is. So the true cost overall in this contract relationship is this. And I don't expect
you to know what that amount is. But but it would given the fact that we've had this renewed annually, it would be interesting to see overall cost and what our obligation in that regard, what that looks like. When we look at the uh um
the the financial uh accounting that appears on page 39, um it says that the AOE contract amount is $21,500. Underneath that, it says $35,149
for 2026. And then there's a breakout that shows that. I'm just wondering if there's any further explanation to help us understand that. >> Yeah. So yes, the amounts that are going to be paid for to AOA for the 21500 that
are highlighting in red. The rest of the items are going to be paid by DHS directly to our agency for administrative um in a in a formal administration administrative payment. So the total amount that's going we are going to pay to AOA is 21,500.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you, >> Commissioner Gamble. Any any other questions? Could I get a motion, please? Go ahead. >> I'll make the motion to renew the purchase service agreement with AOA for
employment and training services. Is there support? >> I'll support. >> Thank you, Commissioner Stoley. Motion in support. Any further discussion? >> Hearing or seeing none. All those in favor? I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously.
Item C is the renewal of purchase service agreement with Greg Barner wilderness outpatient treatment program. Uh give a little overview there. >> Yeah. So the wilderness with patient treatment program is a license that the county holds to provide um comprehensive
assessments and group treatment to clients in the community. We contract that work with uh Mr. Barney to provide those services to clients. It is um um my recommendation that I I to
I've included in the 2026 budget is to increase the contract by 2.75%. similar to what um cola um adjustment was to um employees and the reason behind that is um that there has no been
there has been no increase to the contract since 2021 >> and that in conversation with Mr. Barney it's my understanding that his liability insurance cost and other expenditures increase and that he is responsible to
paying those costs. So I agree that um um you know an increase is is warranted and that's my recommendation to work. >> Thank you. Any questions there? >> Yeah. Um how much is the contract for? Is there a specified amount?
>> $85,23. >> Thank you. >> That will be in 2026. Yes. >> And that is for assessment only or that also covers >> group treatment. and group treatment, >> comprehensive assessments and group treatment.
>> And in the past, how many uh clients has >> uh that's that information is on um um annual report? I can look that up um in a moment here. >> Thank you. I'm just wondering so what happens if there's a
an outlier year where there's many fewer or many more? it has remained fairly steady amount and I think if if I was in a position to predict >> okay >> I'm going to say that we're not going to see a decrease I hope we see a decrease
in in um clients seeking services but I would say that that's very unlikely um but I can find that number here in a moment um I just have to look that up >> thank you very much >> Greg Greg's presented to the board before I I can't remember the last time
but he it was after COVID and he kind of explained a lot of the challenges that that he's had with clients during CO and then after and just navigating all that and um the the impact that he saw once
they were able to meet again was substantial and so he expressed that but my memory I can't remember exactly but it it fluctuates pretty you know a lot um I think there is upwards of 20 at a time sometimes and sometimes six at a
time for the group. I don't know total number of clients. Um that's just off the top of my head. >> It's fairly stable. >> Uh I well uh the average I think is pretty stable. Yeah. And Chair Mills, if I can jump in just
briefly and also outline that in the contract, it states >> um that he will provide the individual pre-treatment support consultation with public health and human services and other services to be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. And if
if there is a significant increase in clients, we would have discussions with him about the contract. Um and and same thing if there was a decrease, we you know, we can always um have discussions to see if the contract could be or should be amended um based on the the
situations at hand. So I I agree that it's it's probably it's likely to be pretty typical year after year. Um but if there were substantial increases or decreases, we would be having conversations. >> Thank you, Kristen.
>> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I make a motion to renew the annual purchase of service agreement with Gregory Barer for the wilderness outpatient treatment program. >> Thank you, Commissioner Gamble. We have a motion. Is there support? Commissioner, >> I'll support. >> Thank you, Commissioner White. We have a
motion and support. Any further discussion? Plan, you had a a numbers. >> Oh, yeah. Let's do it. So, in 2024, 52 comprehensive assessments were completed. >> Um 12 people participated regularly in
group treatment sessions. Um and there were 32 treatment co people clients participating in a treatment coordination provider for our staff but they work um um very closely with uh Mr. Barner in many of those cases to
coordinate and make sure that we find the best um option for our clients. Now I should add um that we are able to build for um those services to to offset the contract amount. Thank you.
All right. Any other questions before the vote here or discussion? Then I'll call the vote. All those in favor? >> I >> I. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. And that moves us down to committee
reports now. Starting with the active living steering committee. Commissioner White. Um unfortunately they have scheduled the last two months their steering committee um happens at uh coincides with this meeting so I haven't
attended >> that is that makes it difficult eh >> um arrowhead economic opportunity agency commissioner >> um that meeting will be tomorrow thank you uh arrowhead health alliance
>> I just did that one too And um the primary decision that was made um financially everything sound but there was a consideration to hire uh an administrative assistant, someone to help. Um and it was decided um not
knowing what the future economic situation will be to just hold off. Um and the administrator was fine with that. Yeah, it's just him. And so he does have somebody that does a little bit, >> but they were talking about hiring
>> and the decision was made >> maybe not. We should just hold to see how >> life develops because of the feds. Okay. So, >> thank you. >> Um, Mr. Chair.
>> Yes, please. Um just with regard to uh the AEOA meeting tomorrow, >> um actually we the public health and human services advisory council has invited Mark uh to address us at our next meeting. Have not yet heard have not yet had a response or or at any
other meeting in the future. That's >> that's uh convenient for him. Have not heard her have not heard a response back. So perhaps you could pass that on and saying we would very much like to have a briefing from him. >> I shall. >> Thank you. That's the new director, right? Y
>> Yeah, we haven't we haven't met him as a as a a board yet either, but um >> Well, I think it would be beneficial for them to come up and for him to come up. Um they had representatives come and spend time at the hub >> earlier this year, but he is the new
director, >> I think it's director, um I think it would be beneficial. >> So, >> yep. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh, in the past we've had the director here annually, and I don't I don't remember what time of the year that is, but I'm
sure once he gets his feet under him, he'll be he'll be up here, but virtual options sure are handy. Yeah. >> Uh, let's see. That moves us on to Arrowhead Regional Corrections. Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,
probably one of the shorter meetings that, uh, I've attended with U. Arrowhead Regional Corrections, but uh we did um uh board action. We did authorize um an agreement with uh the Duth Bethl Society for Chemical
Dependency Programming. Uh for many years, NERK has made available licensed outpaging for residents while they are at NERK. And the Duth Bethl Society continues to have licensed chemical dependency counselors appropriate services to
provide. And so groups are conducted for 4 days a week for the general chemical dependency clients and the mental health recovery group meets twice a week which deals with the dual diagnosis issues. So a lot of this from a public standpoint
being aware that um when we have um individuals who are participating at programs at Nerk uh this is one of the programs when it comes to chemical dependency program and so the contract was approved with the Bethl Society to
continue that. Uh the other agreement was with the um uh to provide psychological services for juveniles participating in the 30-day evaluation program. This was a program that uh began in 2019 and then was uh
discontinued uh because of population issues at the at the center. But uh since its inception 2019, there's continued to be a need for this program. So they brought it back in. The other thing they we discussed is that St.
Louis County is launching a new program to help veterans involved in treatment court find healing through music. And so the initiative which is funded through the criminal forfeite proceed proceeds
will be used um for music therapy to support veterans coping with trauma and post-traumatic stress. The other thing we discussed is there's been an increase across the state of Minnesota in female sex offenders among juvenile population.
And speaking to the population, uh those numbers, if you look historically, we have seen that um let's see in this packet here, a significant decline in the occupancy
numbers for the Arrowhead Juvenile uh corrections center. The highest uh occupancy for capacity that we have at the center was 1999 at 88%. So what what these figures are telling us is that the
number of individuals served in the Arrowhead Juvenile Center the highest we are at 88% of capacity in 1999. The lowest has been in recent years
which is 2023 2024 was 35%. So that's um you know over 50% drop and 2025 we're at 39%. So in discussions, why are we seeing that significant drop? Part of it is uh
the way that we we deal with offenders and um the uh restorative justice program is a program that can address that. But uh understanding these figures and that's why we track them helps us to know from the standpoint of our our
occupancy and using the facility to its maximum potential. But just understanding the changing landscape in my first term as commission sitting on uh the arrowhead corrections board. Uh we were experiencing these drops in
numbers from the 1990s and um we were looking at maybe converting some of our facility into child care, but we thought the mix would might not be parents might be inclined to want to send their kids to a corrections center for child care.
But uh it it's just in response to what we see in changing numbers. So >> probably depends on the kid really. >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Um >> Yes, please. >> We have a meeting this coming Friday. >> Yes. Yeah.
>> In uh child care solutions subcommittee, Commissioner Starley. Well, I look forward to a new year with um somebody to work with and um we've made great strides. You know, it's just opened up a little daycare in the West End at the
Birch Grove School and had more fair wages for the uh employees and better distribution of of products. So, we're we're on a good foot and we can move forward with that. Well, I really appreciate your your um participation in
that group and just hearing about the collaboration between the different providers. It's it's really huge and just uh making them all um better able to provide for our community. Uh community health board, I gave just
the brief summary of our annual meeting last meeting. Um but just to reiterate, it went through a lot of the we we had our annual um lunch and um went through um just some of the accomplishments throughout the year. Uh the changes um I
don't think there is anything too too significant to to share there. no doctor's uh report, which is one of my favorite parts, but um I'll I'll give updates there and um when when I hear them. Uh the Cook
County Local Advisory Council for Children's and Adult Mental Health, right? >> Okay. We had a very good meeting. Um we had a lot of the things that we've talked about in the past have now come to fruition. Like at in Grand Portage, the they have harm reduction machines. I
don't know if you remember we talked about this kind of like a refrigerator you can take out things and there's one at the car wash they've talked about where people can have privacy to access is a big thing and also not freezing I don't know but so it's really exciting
to see these things actually happening now after a couple years of talking about them that's great >> and we're very happy to have Grace uh joining us >> and in let's
And um also in Grand Portage, they have a families eat free night. I think it's a night, but there's uh dinner at the event center on Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 and people can come and eat for
free, which again is a very helpful and nice um program to have. And then Andrea in the mobile crisis um is piloting services um for protocol and partners
and they're sharing things with learning from the University of Wisconsin Superior to see how they're doing and the mobile crisis team um is working on things and there'll be more in January about that.
And let's see, talk to uh well Sarah Eisenrich, mobile crisis responder. They've averaged 10 calls a year and in Duth they get up to 10 calls a day. So that just shows you the difference in what we're what we're
working with here. And we're also working to increase awareness. and Rosioar who is a youth presentation coordinator visited GES and ISD at the at the lunch tables
during lunch at a table and students can come and talk to her and have privacy and there's been a real positive reaction from the youth on that and one thing they're doing during the school break is having a community scavenger hunt and encouraging the students to
visit or call up to four or five businesses is in four different areas. Grand Marray, Grand Portage, West End, and I don't know what the fourth one was, but >> what >> I bet you was up the trail >> maybe. Yeah, maybe Gun Flint. Um, and
connect close to home, meet people, and have those are all protective factors for people. If they having an issue, they know where to go, who they can trust. And that that's been going well. And North Point has been working too with students and we'll probably do more
during winter break. And I say North House has some activities for children too. I think maybe during school breaks, I'm not sure. So I thought it was a very productive meeting and and uh it's as I say it's really
exciting to see these things actually taking place. >> Thank you. Yeah, I forgot to comment when um Pomman would mention the scavenger hunt, how much I loved scavenger. I still do actually. Yeah, >> scavenger hunts. That's a lot of fun. So, I'm glad they're taking that format
and >> yeah, >> that you'll have good success there. >> Uh thank you. Uh moving on to the restorative justice, Commissioner Gamble, >> and we meet tomorrow. >> And uh Council on Aging, Commissioner
White. Oh, well that's um back to the hub. Um they are still very much hoping that the board will uh consider them a uh an asset that we cannot do without as
a community. um they have they're going after grant funding and they are always accepting and receiving donations from community people. So they're doing quite well and maybe Ann
knows the total number I I don't have my notes in front of me of veterans that were fed. >> I don't have that information. I had a report as of the end of or right before our November meeting, but I do not have the final number. um the auxiliary where
that information would be >> uh shared cancelled their meeting this month. >> Oh, okay. So, there's a lot. >> It's a lot. And and they had uh >> it was 67 as of the Friday before um Thanksgiving.
>> Okay. And I do know that the uh foot care clinic and the chair yoga uh continue to grow health iss you know and uh the one day they had only one nurse to do the foot care clinic and they had
40 people. So it was >> that's just five an hour then right? Sounds like hand cramping to me. But anyway, and you know, like Yeah. So anyway, um so they continue to move
along and there are more people every month when I go in there for the meeting, there are more people playing cards and it's quite noticeable cuz they're usually quite rockus. I mean it's a serious card games and
it's at this point it was only eight people in one corner but one time there were two different corners of the facility and I don't know what they were playing but um everybody still had their clothes on so it wasn't strip poker but anyway um
it's it's a place where people really feel comfortable to drop in and socialize which is good for everyone's health. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Uh, Emergency Preparedness Committee, Commissioner Sullivan. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so just to
remind everyone that, uh, this group along with many of our partners have been working really hard this year on revising our hazard mitigation plan. And that's the process of preparing for natural disasters um to reduce loss of life and also loss
of property. And so we do this every five years. University of Minnesota assists with this process and right now um there's been a a a public comment period and it has been sent on to the
state and to FEMA. Once we get the thumbs up from then then it will be approved by resolution by the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council, the RTC and the county board. So that's where we sit with that. So we're in on
hold and waiting. >> Thank you. Comm. >> Yes, please. Uh, >> Commissioner Sullivan, um, the hazard mitigation. I think this is an opportunity in case somebody a person in the county has not heard about the
tragic loss of a building off the Arrowhead Trail, off the Gunfl Trail because the fire engines could not get in. They could not get in the driveway >> because of snow. >> Yeah, >> because of snow. but they couldn't get
in. And so >> that will be something that likely will be discussed at Firewise because one of the things we do um countywide talk about through the Firewise program is making sure that your property is accessible that there's a 12 to 14 foot
wide clearance for fire trucks to get in and uh so certainly that will you know be something that will be discussed and will be emphasized with the public. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner White. >> Uh, healthcare planning committee,
Commissioner Stolia, >> we've not met and um, we have always been hosted by the clinic >> and they're they've gone through a big transition with all of their updating and everything. And I really miss it because we have a report from the
hospital, violence prevention, Grand Portage. So, I think um after the holidays, I'll stop by there and just see if they've totally canled it. I don't know that, but if they want to review it again, I'm I'm totally u supportive of that because that's the
way we understand what's going on in the health area. Yeah. In the in the county. So, I will review that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh any No news? >> Nico, I'm going to say no. Uh we're not meeting until um January.
>> Okay. >> But because we were down at um AMC and I go to the public health human services um committee, we had a lot of discussion on um an area that
we need to help our legislators understand. One is the technology and that'll be an ongoing thing I think for a long time. But just um an area that um I've not really talked a lot about here, but that's the African-American
um family preservation and child welfare disproportionately um act that uh we need to have a process in that training uh resources that are sufficient for all of our 87 counties.
And uh at that meeting, we really sourced things out, re reworked words, uh voted for it, amended it, went back to the drawing board. And so that's something, you know, in the future when we go down to the legislation that will be part of part of a discussion there
that I'll I'll get written up a little bit different, but um it really affects um families. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. relative to NATO. Commissioners maybe saw the bulletin that was posted yesterday on
securing the secure rural schools funding >> which is significant and uh so how that affects our our budget looking at that because included in that is not just moving forward but it's also retroactive. So there's some money that
that would be coming in 2026. I think it's what 45 days after enactment that we should be able to see some revenue there. So that's another significant thing. >> Thank you. >> Uh anything from Nemojet, Northeast
Minnesota Office of Job Training? >> No. Uh that meeting will be coming up uh this this week. >> Okay. >> As well on the same day. >> Okay. And Northshore Collaborative did not meet. Um we've paired that meeting
down to our organizational meeting at the beginning and then just two meetings after that. So just three a year. Um that was to try to um I guess simplify our process and to
really respect um kind of the firepower that that goes into that meeting and and what we're trying to what we're trying to do there. um largely giving local grants out uh that support um children uh kind of
that's the focus um public health and human services advisory council. Frank, >> yes, thank you. Um we all members of the of the advisory council recently received a survey uh re-examining our role re-examining our
processes and we're going to um look over the results of that survey uh at our next meeting first Monday in January. Um, and because of the reorganization of the
public health and human services department, we thought that this would be a good time for us to take a further look at our at our role to see what we can do um to be more proactive as an advisory council rather than just an information exchange council.
>> Bravo. >> And as I mentioned before, we we've uh also started a program. Hopefully, it will be uh be beneficial of inviting external people in to to brief us on uh
on possible actions and possible recommendations that uh that we can make. first one being the head of AOA and another one in the future um would be a uh emergency room physician and and
professor at University of Maryland who uh is in charge of their teleaalth medicine programs also to be my nephew. >> Perfect. >> Um >> full disclosure. Uh so um he has agreed to uh to give us
an address on on current current uh activities uh going on in tele medicine. He's basically in charge of the tele medicine program for the entire state >> and it's uh >> Wow. >> Very exciting. >> Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's excellent. I'm happy to hear hear that. Yeah. There used to be kind of regular presentations
at that meeting. So I'm sorry to hear that went away, but happy to hear it's it's coming back. Um any is that you're good? Yeah. >> Okay. Um, food access council. Um, I only caught the last like 10 minutes of
that. Unfortunately, it over overlapped with the general government >> committee. Um, if Yeah, if you've got some info that >> Yeah, I was there. >> Sure, Grace. Thank you. Yeah. Um the Vital North Foundation, which was
formerly known as the Northshore Healthcare Foundation, is exploring a application for um a food a 5-year food access grant. And so, um that grant is supposed to be like a partnership grant. And so they'd be looking to involve
different other agencies, nonprofits in the community doing food access work. and they're just doing sort of a visioning on what kinds of things they'd want to include in their application. So, they're reaching out to um organizations like the food shelf,
the snacks and packs folks um Graham Portage with the elderly food nutrition program. So, right now it's just them with some support from the ship coordinator and just seeing who might be interested in uh participating in the joint uh application. we wouldn't be
applying, but we're helping be part of the conversation essentially um to see who's interested in what a a joint application might look like. So, it's a large 5-year grant that could be used to improve food access initiatives. And we talked quite a bit about that at the
last meeting. >> Vital North is that I I can't remember, did they have a different name before? >> Northshore Healthcare Foundation. >> Okay. >> So, their new director, her name is Anna Kerad Barrett. So she'd be the one applying for the grant. Um so that's
that was the discussion basically. >> Thank you. Um that did trigger a topic that uh I went to at AMC and that was about uh prescriptive diets um or food
as medicine is two different programs. And it was it was something that was brought up at the North uh Northwoods food project and I hadn't really heard much about it. The prescriptive diets are more for people who um have you know
heart issues or one with kidney issues or you need low sodium or you have celiac disease all these you know uh restrictions that uh you have on your diet. you can um basically have made to
order meals on wheels type situation. um food delivered um to to provide the you know for or accommodate for for you know the difficulties that people are having and the interesting thing is it's a
straight up prescription from medical professional and so how that plays into Medicare and Medicaid and insurance is is part of that conversation and then also kind of uh
related to that program as the food as me as medicine I guess movement um and that's talking about the difference it can make when people eat healthy food we often hear about this food causes cancer this food causes cancer and all that and and focusing on what foods you know
would be would would keep people healthier longer and so >> uh the emphasis of these conversations is largely towards the our elderly population trying to keep people in their homes longer to keep them healthier longer uh stronger, longer. Um
but it was just a really interesting conversation and ties in I think to the food access council and just how we can give more people more access to healthy food. Um it was it was pretty exciting and um
also kind of related to that uh was another um I guess it's a supplementary uh insurance program um that I hope that we'll look into. It was kind of a sales pitch and Allison was there. Um so she was a little more disappointed than I
was. I was also disappointed but then I was like okay maybe this is appropriate for us. But basically what what the argument was is this program um gives uh more take-home pay to employees and it's a separate almost like a vibba where you
can use this insurance first if it's if you don't want to work towards your deductible. Um, and I was asking about prescriptive food and and food as medicine and if that plays in as something they hadn't really considered yet, but just thought that could be
another tool or another option. So, just wanted to touch on that. Not that I have any more substance to it, but just the concept. Yes, please. Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. uh food. Um
if historically when you look um the nature of food and its impact on on health and wellness um our society uh given exposure to marketing and all of the things that are
sort of the flash in the pan but not substantive when it comes to creating um a a diet that helps you be healthy. And so at the point that we're born, we begin to die and we either contribute to
a process that elongates, you know, uh provides longevity to life. But that food is a huge environment is another huge element. And but if you look at the typical diet and you look at people can get up in the morning, grab a can of Coke and a Snicker bar and that's their
breakfast. And then we wonder why as we age we're suffering. It's it's it's choices. Um we with Ruby's Pantry, which was a great, you know, uh intent to provide food for individuals. And when
we did an assessment on that program, whether or not it would have benefit in Cook County, there's significant benefit that Rubies provides, but it's predicated or dependent on the food that comes from suppliers that they're
willing to donate. And uh I've seen over the years that that I I the question of whether it's food or not is is a huge element. If we get significant boxes of
chips and things that are really not nutritious, if you have people that are in need and can't afford to buy, you know, the healthy food, organic food, um the food that's nutritious in nature,
then uh they're they're hungry. And when they get free things and it's not healthy, then that contributes to the problem that we're experiencing. And so when when uh in in my role as as a manager in
subsidized housing, we have someone that's graciously donated three chairs shares. So we picked that up and they've been willing to donate five shares. And I'm just wondering that amount of money though, if I took that money and were to
buy healthy food, it'd be less but more when it comes to contributing to wellness. So when we see an anxiety, when we see depression, when we see attention deficit, a lot of this is is an issue that is stems from poor choices
in what we consume. And I think we have a role in trying to inform in that regard, but also in the options that we have in providing, we should try to look at at things that are are healthy. >> Yeah, absolutely. I will say that there
are members from the Ruby's Pantry organizing group that attend that food access council regularly and there are a few of those individuals who have been looking specifically at how to uh increase um fruits and vegetables that
are available. Unfortunately, there's not there's not a lot of choice involved when you sign up for Rubies. You sign up for Rubies and the food that they get is the food that that they're able to pass along to the community. But there are people who are involved in that effort who are really looking at increasing the
availability of fruits and vegetables. So um there are some people behind the scenes who are really committed to trying to uh improve access to to produce specifically. So uh just wanted to give a give a shout out to those folks who are showing up to the food
access council regularly. It's a really very passionate group of people. Um, and you know, anyone is welcome to to join that group. Uh, meets every month. Um, gosh, I want to say it's the first Wednesday. Um, and it's been at higher
ed. So, yeah, lots of good conversations about food. >> Yeah. All right. Well, anything else for the good of the order? >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Commissioner St. Oh, Frank. Oh.
Go ahead. All right. Just another um little story about uh health. When people choose to get up and have their Coke and Hershey bar, that's their choice. But when they're born with a genetic defection, >> uh Sunday night on public on 60 Minutes,
a little girl has genetic defection. And there are all kinds of testings going on and she needed one miracle drug. and they're always coming up with new drugs at a cost of a million dollars or better. >> But fortunately, the story ends good
because people pitched in and um she was able to get the tiniest little injection that would then enable her to walk >> and to live beyond two years. >> Wow. But the cost of that and then the
narrative is we all need to be prepared for the cost of these types of testing and the uh results that are coming out from laboratories that they have the solution just the money that's involved
in it for people. So you know it was a very happy and how it affects insuranceances. >> Exactly. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. >> Yeah. So that's a happy ending. How about Frank? What is your story? >> Um, well, two things. One that directly
related to food, and that's the uh the food shelf right here in the courthouse. And I was just um I think it's a great idea. Uh and I was wondering if that is going to continue and uh and if so,
and uh well, that's it. Is it is this an ongoing thing or is there a sunset on it or what is the uh what is the plan? So, we did put out a media release letting people know that it's continuing through the holidays. Um, so it's right now it's planned to sunset on January
2nd, so the first Friday of the new year. Um, I think we could certainly have a discussion about, you know, if and when to bring that back or how to run it in the future, but at this point it was just scheduled to be for kind of the holiday season. And the reasoning
was originally because of the interruption for SNAP benefits, but then it kept going just because, you know, it takes significant work to set something like that up and after it was up and running, we wanted to recognize that there's an increased need around the holiday season for for food. So, just to
keep it up um through the new year was our plan, but we could certainly have more conversations about that uh >> going forward. Uh well, >> how much of a burden is it on the staff to maintain maintain it ongoing?
>> At this point, we have a staff that checks at least once a week to make sure there's nothing in there that's open or expired and or perishable because we don't have the ability to keep anything perishable on site. We don't have refrigeration or anything like that.
>> Um and so it doesn't take a whole lot at this point. It's just one staff person checking in and making sure everything is is organized and acceptable for the public. So >> So what so who would make the decision to
continue it? Um and what kind of input if any would you need from the board or >> Well, it was so it was a departmental effort. Um, I would imagine it would be probably myself, the facilities staff,
the administrator, um, maybe the Matt team. Um, so that's something we can revisit in January. >> And there's been no particular problems with rodents or anything like that, you know, mice getting into the food or not to my knowledge. >> Not real. It doesn't sound like it's a
it's very burdensome. >> No. And is there any way to not you well I guess monitor to see how much food is coming in and out? I mean is this something that's actually being used? >> I mean I think part of what makes the staffing burden low is that we really aren't monitoring that. So
>> it would be we would have to think through the logistics of doing something like that. But at this point it's just um kind of anecdotal and based on you know people checking in on how much is there at the beginning of the day and how much is there at the end of the day. So that's about as
>> sophisticated as our tracking has been. >> It sounds like the kind of thing that could be very helpful at a minimal expense and min minimal staff staff time. >> Yeah. I mean it's something we can definitely keep talking about when the
new year comes. >> It's the kind of thing though that if it stops right now a certain number of people are aware that it's here and are using it. If that stops it, they're not going to come back again
to to uh so or what I'm saying is if the decision is made to continue it, it should probably continue and not have a discussion and then start it up again February 1 because then you'll kind of have to be restarting everything all over again as far as public outreach and knowledge,
>> right? I mean, I think we can com. >> Thank you. Um, so I just wanted to just jump on that point real quick and say I think from our perspective it would be helpful to hear from the PHS board if this is something that you would support
us continuing. Like Grace had mentioned, we put this in place because of the the transition with SNAP and the federal shutdown and wanted to make sure that the community members had support during the holidays with the intent to shut it down after January um 5th. and we have
heard some positive comments about it, but it would be helpful, I think, as we continue discussions about um if we will continue and what that looks like to hear from the board. The other piece that I would mention is um Grace and I had a conversation about what other
groups might want to weigh in on um what our future looks like for uh food access. Like she's mentioned, there are several groups working on it. And so how does what we've been providing at the courthouse fit into that overall plan as well?
>> Thank you. >> Well, I mean from from my part, I think we should continue it because it seems like a very low burden and and it's providing a good service. Um but very open if there's reasons to not continue it as well. But it seems seems it seems
harmless and beneficial to continue. Uh Frank, >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that the uh that the board would recommend to the department um to continue and to report back if there are any other considerations after
two three months something like that. Um it's not a very good motion well draft. >> We got we got the I think we have the idea of it though. Thank you. >> Maybe come back at a quarterly basis. >> Okay. So, I'd second that motion um with
coming back with some information at the end of the first quarter of 2026. >> Okay, we have a motion on support. Commissioner G, >> question is the motion uh to propose that we continue it or to evaluate it to come back with a recommendation. >> No, to continue it.
>> Okay. >> And then evaluate it. >> And then evaluate quarterly. Yeah. Which is actually my next for the good of the order item. But >> this Yes, please. If I could offer um a friendly amendment to the motion, um I I would appreciate if it could be that PHS
has the ability to explore the continuation of the um popup food shelf or whatever we want to refer to it as and continue and and that the board supports the continuation if feasible.
That way we're looking at if if there are any barriers to continuing it um that we haven't explored at this time, but then it's very clear that it's the support of the board or that the board supports it continuing. >> Yeah. Um uh okay, Commissioner Gamble.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I would agree with that. That's why I was looking for the clarification because I think at this point we introduce it in response to an identified need and we should evaluate what we learned from that >> and then and do an assessment so that
>> as opposed to just moving forward what have we learned and then coming with a recommendation based on our findings that would help inform that decision and then we can like with a lot of new programs just evaluate it on a quarterly basis as we move forward. But I I would
personally be more comfortable with an evaluation based upon what we learn and then come with a recommendation to this board. >> Um Frank, are are you comfortable with Kristen's recommended amendment? >> And yes, and I understand that that
would mean that it does continue. Um and looking for evaluation and feedback and I'll have comments about that after the motion. Thank you. >> Yes, that's fine. >> And uh Commissioner Selvin, you had seconded. Are you comfortable? I'm comfortable with that amendment. Okay. So, we have an amended motion uh with a
second and further discussion. Commissioner White. >> So, we're saying we're going to keep it going past the first of the year. >> Yeah. The second is when it was >> the second. So, we're going to keep it going until public health has an opportunity for an assessment of the
program and then they will they essentially make the decision where it might be tweaked and then we vote for it. >> Well, yeah. And we're just we're just recommending that they do all this. So, yeah. >> Yeah.
>> I think >> it just gives us the flexib Yes. Then it gives us the flexibility um to make sure it's uh we didn't do a thorough analysis on is it in the right place in the building and um and just some other factors that if we are planning on
continuing it past a few weeks which was the initial intent we want to have the flexibility to look into those so that if we need to make changes um but I think we can do that and also um you know look at continuing it until the next board meeting and then bring a
recommendation on what that what that means longterm and what our recommendations are. But I I can't see Grace since I'm virtual, so I want to make sure that she supports this as well. >> I think it would fit very well with Christina Matson's role as the ship
coordinator since food is one of the areas that is in the ship coordinator's role. So, she'll be the person that I'm bringing this to to talk through what an assessment might look like. Um, I don't know that we can have some pieces of the assessment by the next board meeting. We
might not be able to have a thorough assessment done, but I mean, we can at least bring the pieces that we have and the plan for going forward to the next board meeting. >> That sounds great. Yeah, I think I think all our intentions are are pretty well understood here. Uh, Commissioner Gamble, you had something? Yeah, I was
just going to say and and for the public that's listening or however we want to maybe communicate that that those that have participated if we just get feedback from them as an element of that you know evaluation. >> Yeah, I think
>> a little uh a little box with a form feedback forms. Tell us what you think. We're considering extending this and what do you think? >> That sounds great. All right, we've got a motion and a second and then we amended the motion
and that was uh agreed upon by the the maker and the second. Uh we've had some further discussion. Anything else? >> All those in favor? >> I >> I those opposed motion passes unanimously. Thank you. And before uh
Frank again, Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you. I was just going to ask and it's sort of a similar thing relative to the courthouse. I just wonder if you had any >> uh feedback on the vending machine. >> The vending machine we tabled uh because
of staff capacity. So the staff that was working on the vending machine project has that's Andrea or she's largely shifted her efforts to supporting the mobile crisis response project. So, we had a plan to revisit that in the winter months. Um, and so that's still the
plan, but we haven't done any additional work since we brought it back. We've just been >> hadn't heard anything, so I just >> Yeah, we've put it on hold >> for now. >> Thank you. >> So, we have some maybe new data point potentials up in Grand Portage. Um, >> yeah, it's very exciting to know that they're their uh public health vending
machines are operational. So, we'll definitely learn from what they're seeing up in Grand Portage. >> Great. Thank you, Commissioner Gamble. Uh, Frank, you had another >> I did. I did. Thank you. And it kind of ties in with with what Commissioner Gamble mentioned, too. In public health,
when you whenever you start a program, the best way to do it is always to build in the evaluation before you even start the program. I mean, that's a tenant, that's a foundation, build in the evaluation. Um, and I was just wondering with regard to the wilderness
outpatient thing. Um, >> has there been any any kind of evaluation of effectiveness? Last year there were 12 aside from the assessments there was also 12 I'm going to call it treatments uh participants
uh through the program and historically has there been any kind of evaluation of the effectiveness of the program? you look at like, you know, uh relapses, that kind of thing. Um >> I I believe I believe so. Um yeah, when Greg gives his presentation, he he goes
through different cases and what clients are saying and and you know, >> yeah, >> people coming back or not and how it affects their lives. But, you know, there's a certain level, but also some hard number evaluation. You know, 12 people, you know, well, within the next year, four of them were arrested for
drug violations. not uh hopefully not. Um and typically, you know, a five-year relapse is uh is common in assessing effectiveness of of drug rehab programs. >> We can have we can look into have uh Mr.
Barer do a presentation again. Yeah. >> In the coming months. >> Thank you. Sounds great. Thanks for the question. Anything else for the good of the Well, then we're adjourned. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Right behind >> Are we starting the board meeting at 10:30 then? >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay, sounds good. I'll have Jana call me back then. Thanks.