08-13-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--August 13, 2002 2481 DEPARTMENT HEADS--PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ RECESSED MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN BUDGET SESSION AUGUST 13, 2002 MEETING TO ORDER Vice Chairman Scott Wagner reconvened the budget meeting at 8:30 AM on August 13, 2002, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse, with membem present as follows: Donna Schneider, Robyn Sorum, John Meyer and Scott Wagner. Aloe Wieland was absent. Aisc present were County Auditor Michael Montplaisir and accountant Deb Ness. RECESS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD MEETING AND BUDGET REVIEW The board recessed at 8:35 AM for a Social Services Board meeting to review the 2003 budget. RECONVENE AT 10:00 AM, Further budget review Commissioners present at 10:00 AM were Donna Schneider, Robyn Sorum, John Meyer and Scott Wagner. Aloe Wieland arrived later in the meeting. Aisc present were County Auditor Michael Montplaisir and accountant Deb Ness. County Treasurer Charlotte Sandvik was present. She said due to falling interest rates, she projected $150,000 for the interest income line item, which is a decrease from 2002. The overall budget increased by approximately $4,000 compared to last year. Mr. Montplaisir said $16,000 was budgeted for recommended computer upgrades. Fargo Cass Public Health Mary Kay Herrmaen, Heidi McLean and Melissa Perala were present from Fargo Cass Public Health. Ms. Herrmann reviewed the services provided to the county and the jail. She distributed revised budget figures including cost of living raises for employees. The county budget increased by 5.8% from last year, while the jail health budget increased by 65%. The majority of the increase in the jail budget is due to adding three part-time jail nurses to work evenings and weekends. Ms. McLean said inmate population increases have made it difficult to complete certain tasks, such as health assessments. The jail is accredited through the National Commission on Correctional Health and must follow 69 standards to keep their certification. The certificate protects the county from a liability standpoint. She said additional staff will help make better judgments and may lower the number of emergency room visits that are being made unnecessarily. Mrs. Schneider said three part-time staff salaries would cost the county $90,425. She asked how many additional hours a nurse is needed. Ms. McLean said the total would be an additional 29 hours per week. Mrs. Schneider said this seems Pike an expansion of services rather than maintaining current services and with this difficult budget year, she will not support expanding services. Ms. Herrmann said without the extra staff, the jail would lose their correctional health certification. Mr. Wagner asked to see the Icg showing services provided to prisoners each month.