HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober_21_2003_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
OCTOBER 21, 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Sara Haire Tice
Absent: Commissioner Marvin Norman was unable to attend the briefing due to
a recent hospitalization for pneumonia.
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, Health Director Ray Rabe, Library Director Steve Messick, Tax
Administrator Bill Doolittle, Fire Marshal Chuck Gallyon, Emergency Medical Services
Director Lee Darnell, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Request from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) for Approval
of a Recommendation to Appropriate the Remaining FY 2003-2004 Juvenile
Justice Funding of $30,504 to Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare at $21,051 and
DonLin Counseling Services at $9,453: Carl Duncan, the JCPC Chairman and the
Chief Juvenile Court Counselor for Iredell County, along with Leigh Byers, a juvenile
court counselor, explained the council's recommendations on the usage of the
remaining state juvenile justice funding of $30,504. Duncan said that in May of 2003,
the board of commissioners approved the appropriation of $259,410 out of an allocation
of $289,914. He said the council, at that time, did not have a recommendation on the
remaining $30,504.00, and a request for proposals was advertised. Mr. Duncan said the
council met on September 9, 2003, and unanimously voted to appropriate the funds to
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare and Don -Lin Counseling. He said Crossroads
planned to provide youth substance abuse services, and Don -Lin planned to offer a
multi -family substance abuse treatment program (individual counseling along with
parent/child(ren) counseling). Duncan continued by saying Don -Lin was a for-profit
agency; however, the Juvenile Court Office could serve as the program manager, and
this was a permissible arrangement by the state. Mr. Duncan said this arrangement was
familiar to him since a for-profit agency had for many years provided psychological
evaluations on Iredell County juveniles involved in the court system, plus the fact that
Don -Lin already provided JCPC services in Alexander County using the juvenile court
office as the program manager.
Commissioner Williams questioned why Crossroads had been chosen since the
state's overall plan was to reorganize mental health authorities and convert them into
local management entities.
Commissioner Tice mentioned that the Counseling Center had been chosen for
many years as a provider of counseling services, and she asked why the agency wasn't
selected this year.
Duncan said the employees at Crossroads felt they could provide the services. In
reference to not choosing the Counseling Center, he said the council had decided to use
agencies that could provide "more intensive" services. Mr. Duncan said each year the
council prepared a risk and needs assessment. He said that after the needs were
identified, agencies were selected to provide the types of services needed. He said
JCPC funding was year-to-year, and the agencies providing the services were aware that
there was no guarantee on future funds.
Chairman Johnson asked if there had been any deficiencies in the Counseling
Center's services. He asked if the agency had adequately targeted the juvenile court
population needing assistance.
Duncan said obtaining juvenile justice funding was a "highly competitive
process." He mentioned that last year the Counseling Center had personnel problems
and there had been some "downtime."
Commissioner Williams asked if the Counseling Center's choice to not accept
Medicaid had anything to do with the decision.
Duncan said it was mentioned, but it did not weigh heavily in the decision.
Counseling Center Executive Director Mac Funderburk and Roy West, a
member of the Counseling Center's Board of Directors Speak About the JCPC
Decision: Mr. West gave a brief history on his association with the Center, and the
services that been provided in the past with JCPC funding. He said the agency had been
a JCPC funding recipient for the past 12 years, but this year, it was turned down and no
clear answer had been given as to why this happened. West said that pertaining to the
Medicaid matter, JCPC Consultant Dean Vick said this was an issue, but it wasn't a
prerequisite for funding. He said the Center didn't have a physician on staff, however,
the Center did counsel some Medicaid patients. Mr. West acknowledged that the agency
could not provide transportation or home visits. He concluded by saying he felt very
strongly about the Center's JCPC component, and that a $20,000 grant from the Sisters
of Mercy had been received as the local match.
Commissioner Williams asked why the Center was not receiving referrals.
Funderburk said one counselor resigned, but another individual had been hired.
He said no referrals had been received from the juvenile court counselors since May, but
law enforcement officers were making referrals. Funderburk said Medicaid clients were
served, even though the agency didn't bill for the services.
Chairman Johnson asked if the Center had fulfilled its obligations in the past
regarding the JCPC funding.
Funderburk said as far as he knew, all obligations had been met. He said there
had been one problem mentioned about the Center not following up when a client
missed an appointment, and it was requested that a letter be sent to the court counselors
when this happened. He said a letter could be sent, but the Center did not have the
authority to make the clients come for services.
Commissioner Williams said it was his understanding that through the state's re -
organizational process for area mental health authorities, 4800 hours of services were
offered to the Center, but the offer was declined.
Funderburk said 4800 hours equaled $384,000. He said the Center was not
interested in treating seriously ill patients. He said, "That's not our function."
(See regular minutes for more information regarding this matter.)
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: Various county department heads then
explained their requests needing action at the 7 p.m. meeting. A brief description of
these items may be found in the regular minutes.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing at 6:20 p.m.
Approved:
2
Clerk to the Board