Board of Supervisors hears presentation on mental health and disabilities services

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, August 31, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Coordinator of Disabilities Services Kim Waters, who reviewed the highlights of a meeting of the County Social Services (CSS) Board. Waters reported that Department of Human Services Director Charles Palmer gave a presentation to the CSS Board, making note of three recent significant changes to Iowa’s health care system - the mental health “redesign” that moved the state away from county-based services to region-based services; the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, which provides health insurance for low- to moderate-income individuals; and the modernization of Medicaid.
Waters said that Palmer hopes that the changes will lead to a health care system that is a “comprehensive, holistic, person-centered continuum of coordinated services that range from prevention to physical/behavioral health care as well as long-term care.” Waters also said that Allamakee County is fortunate to be a member of the CSS region, which offers “core plus” services that other counties are unable to provide, most notably services for victims of brain injury.
The Board also met with Head Custodian John Roe, who reported that the boiler at the Allamakee County Courthouse is in need of replacement and presented the Board with a bid for the boiler replacement from Vick’s Plumbing and Ventilating of Decorah. Roe said that the project could take as long as one month, which puts the completion time very close to the upcoming heating season. The Board directed Roe to seek more bids for the project.
In other business, Supervisor Dan Byrnes recommended that the Board consider joining a 28E organization to seek U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding for the Upper Iowa River watershed, which the Board agreed to move forward with. The Board also agreed to a $50 per month lease with Jane Regan for storage of medical records currently housed at Makee Manor and approved final payment of $4,747,861 to Mathy Construction for the section of the Mississippi River Trail project completed between Harpers Ferry and State Highway 76.