Posted: 12/21/04
Public health commissioner visits county, lists priorities
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Senior citizen issues, minority disparities, and rising health care costs are four of the main concerns of the Minnesotaís Department of Public Health State commissioner Dianne Mandernach talked about them at the Houston County Board on December 14.
She is trying to visit every county in Minnesota, and has reached half of her goal, she told the board and about 15 people in attendance.
Itís hard to make changes in a four year term, she said, but there are some important issues now. They include:
ï Senior citizens: The state is not prepared to meet the needs of baby boomers, Mandernach said. There are work force concerns with them too, and not a lot of support for the care that needs to be given. Transportation to health care facilities is a key issue too.
ï Minority issues: Some parts of the state have big influx of Hispanic people without the infrastructuree to handle them. The Minneapolis School District alone is dealing with people who speak 87 different languages, Mandernach said.
ï Rising health care costs: Mandernach said she and the five other state commissioners have formed a health care cabinet and are meeting frequently to discuss this.
Mandernach also talked about the upcoming legislative session, which starts on January 4. She reiterated the governorís pledge of no new taxes, and noted that there is a budget shortfall. She said she could not say what the budget package would look like, but the agenda will be focused because there will be a bonding bill.
After Mandernach spoke, Donna Buckbee of Rushford gave her a copy of 7,000 signatures on a petition asking for an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Heartland tire burning plant in Preston.
Third District Commissioner Ann Thompson encouraged Mandernach to keep the State Community Health Services Advisory Committee. This is an advisory group with representatives from county health services boards. Thompson is the alternate on the board, which Houston County shares with Fillmore County.
The purpose of the group is to consult with, and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Health on community health services in Minnesota.
ìThat is one of the things I am very committed to,î Mandernach responded. ìI do value that input.î
Lloyd Swalve, the administrator for Caledonia Care and Rehab, said he liked the fact that nursing homes can appeal findings that state public health surveyors make to an administrative law judge.
ìItís a good process, absolutely,î Mandernach replied. But she added that she does not have the final say, that it goes before another board of appeals in Chicago.
Before the meeting, Mandernach visited with community members and county officials informally in the basement of the courthouse.
Coroner fees approved
In other business, the county board approved a new fee schedule for a county coroner. Houston shares a coroner with six other counties: Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, and Scott. The board appointed Dr. Lindsey Thomas to a one year position of county coroner, and approved a one year contract with Regina Medical Center in Hastings.
Access system approved
Commissioners also approved a $9,760 purchase of a new controlled access system to the courthouse so that employees can use access cards instead of keys to enter the building.
It was recommended by personnel director Tim Comstock. The benefit of this system is that if a card is lost, it can be deleted out of the system and become useless if it is found by another person, unlike a key.
The access card will also have a photo ID of the employee, and the system could be expanded if controlled access were added to other areas of the courthouse, Comstock wrote in a note the board.
A Homeland Security Grant will pay for $4,000 of the purchase.
ï The board approved a wetland application from La Crescent Township to widen and raise part of North Pine Creek Road in section 5 of La Crescent Township. The plan calls for a 30-foot-wide surface between County Road 6 and Golfview Road. The current road is about 20 feet wide.
ï County engineer Allen Henke reported on a La Crescent City Council meeting on December 13 about a Highway 14/61road project and bridge repair in the city.
La Crescent City Council voted 3-2 on December 13 to approve the plan with conditions. It includes a Walnut Street connection and would provide highway access to Main Street. North Second Street would remain as-is.
Henke said the main focus is to improve the Third Street intersection and improve the bridge.
Time is running out, because the bridge is failing faster and faster, fourth district commissioner Dave Corcoran said.
ï Several board members endorsed a plan from the Association of Minnesota Counties to raise $1 billion for a transportation funding package. Its main source of money would be a 10 cent gas tax increase over two years. Houston County would receive about $700,000 from such a plan.
Thompson suggested holding a public meeting to publicize the countyís needs and concerns with its roads.
ìThe legislators arenít going to take our word for it,î Henke said. ìTheyíre looking for grass roots suggestions before theyíll take action.î
Kelleher said he gets requests to fix up particular roads. ìWeíre not getting enough money to do that,î he said. ìAn ambulance ride from Houston to Hokah , I think someone should sue because thatís cruel and unusual treatment.î
Highways 16 and 76 are particularly bad, commissioners said.
ï Thompson said the jail study committee would be presenting its recommendations for a new jail at the December 28 meeting.
Board passes 2005 budget
Houston County commissioners have certified the 2005 levy at $5,841,000, a 6.56 percent increase over the 2004 levy of $5,481,253.
Voting at their December 14 meeting, commissioners also adopted a budget of $18,533,541, which is 3.1 percent reduction from 2004ís budget of $19,119,153.
Commissioners put in an extra $2,500 to fund volunteer driver, senior nutrition, and caregiver programs administered through Semcac.
The new budget includes a new quarter-time position for an ag educator in the extension program. The board eliminated funding for the ag agent last year. Commissioners heard several objections to that decision over the past 12 months.
Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher asked that the new ag. funding be contingent on a proposal from the extension service showing how the money would be spent.
Third district commissioner Ann Thompson said extension workers might want to bring in people with certain areas of expertise, or set up a yearly schedule.
The budget often fluctuates, especially in highway funding, auditor Pete Johnson said on December 15.
The highways and streets, expenditure went from $8,307,243 in 2004 to $7,475,354 in 2005, a 10 percent reduction, but that could change, depending on state aid projects, he said.
On the revenue side, the county lowered its fines and forfeits amount from $53,500 in 2004 to $18,000 in 2005, a 66.4 percent reduction. Thatís due to the State of Minnesota taking over Court Administration.
No one from the public was on hand for the unanimous vote.
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