Posted: 2/14/06
Public health clerical staff changes proposed
CJC meeting, forum set for March 14
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners heard about a proposed change in the clerical staff in the department of public health at their February 7 meeting.
A memo from public health director Linda Grupa and personnel director Tim Comstock stated that the accounting clerk position held by Cindy Melbostad would have added responsibilities and would be reclassified from B22 to B23. The hourly wage of B22 ranges from $10.89-$13.23, compared to $12.53-15.23 for B23.
The jobs of billing clerk and receptionist would be replaced by two office support specialist jobs, also both at higher job ratings. Current billing clerk Joan Breeser and receptionist Lois Egland will be eligible to apply for the new positions.
A third new position, called assistant office support specialist is also needed, the memo stated. The board approved this at a previous meeting. It would be rated B21, which is $10.44-$12.69 per hour.
Corcoran asked if this was all just calling the jobs something different and a way to jack up wages.
Comstock said there is greater responsibility in the new positions.
Many of the new duties stem from Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) requirements, Grupa added. Nurses interact with clients more and create paperwork that has to be processed, she said. ìItís tedious,î Grupa said.
ìI believe itís a cost effective solution,î she said of the proposed changes. ìI believe we have the staff to do it.î
Some counties are having public health nurses do the work, which is more expensive, Grupa added.
MSHO is a new program that combines Medicaid and Medicare funds with federal waivers to pay for acute and long-term care services. Clients in MSHO are assigned a public health nurse for care coordination. That work has led to the additional administrative duties which the proposed changes in Houston County Public Health are trying to address.
Comstock said he was giving the board the memo now, and would ask for approval at the February 14 meeting.
In other public health news, the board also approved adding Deb Rock as a roster nurse for helping with nursing home patients, to be used as needed.
Other business
ï The board approved a change in the Houston County Economic Development bylaws that expands the board from seven to nine members.
ï The board approved a $50 annual membership in the Center for Rural Policy and Development. Kelleher, who is on its board, went through some parts of the organizationís web site with commissioners, who used their laptop computers to follow along.
ï The next criminal justice meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 14 at 1:30 in the commissioners room in the basement of the courthouse. The jail planner and architects will be present to discuss more detailed plans of the proposed building. A public forum will be held that evening at 6 p.m. in the Caledonia Middle/High School auditorium.
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