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Commission Minutes—July 27, 2022 5608 SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN BUDGET SESSION JULY 27, 2022 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Chairman Rick Steen called the special meeting to order at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, with all members present as follows: Rick Steen, Duane Breitling, Jim Kapitan, Mary Scherling, and Chad M. Peterson. Also present were County Finance Director, Brandy Madrigga; County Administrator, Robert Wilson; Senior Accountant Sarah Heinle; and Accountant Gerald Jenson. Ms. Madrigga said the Finance Office made the changes the Board approved at yesterday's meeting and provided a copy of the updated budgets to each Commissioner. She said the budget deficit is now at approximately $4.53 million. 2. FARGO CASS PUBLIC HEALTH Desi Fleming, City of Fargo Director of Public Health was present to review the 2023 budget request. The request for Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) Operations budget is $983,094 and the FCPH Jail Nursing request is $664,602. Ms. Fleming said the operation budget includes an 9.8% increase that incorporates a 3.5% cost of living adjustment, employee step increases, an increase in health insurance, and no change in services offered by FCPH. Ms. Fleming said the contract between FCPH and the County should be updated to include the Harm Reduction program and other services not included in the current contract. Mr. Peterson asked if the FCPH employee salaries were evaluated as discussed in previous months. Ms. Fleming said a consultant is evaluating the salary steps and is considering extending the upper pay range. She said FCPH has been struggling to recruit and retain employees as other health care entities are offering bonuses, modified hours, and higher wages. Mr. Wilson said he, Ms. Fleming and Jail staff have had discussions recently about a 10% supplemental pay for nurses working in the Cass County Jail. He said this will be an upcoming discussion and consideration for the Board at their next regular meeting on August 1, 2022. Ms. Fleming said the Jail nursing staff positions are all currently filled which took time and effort to fill and now the concern is to retain staff. She said the new Jail Nurse Supervisor is doing great work and are fully Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) complaint. Mr. Peterson suggested the County's salary consultant, Gallagher, complete a salary study evaluating FCPH Jail Nursing salaries. Mr. Wilson said he would be happy to reach out to the City of Fargo and Gallagher to get a salary study completed. Mr. Steen said the FCPH budgeted amount given by the Finance Office of $983,094 does not match the documents provided by FCPH which list an amount of $933,115. Ms. Heinle said FCPH submitted changes to their budget after the deadline. She said the budget number is correct, their supporting document numbers are incorrect. MOTION, passed Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to amend the changes submitted by Fargo Cass Public Health. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. MOTION, passed Mr. Peterson moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the 2023 preliminary budget for Fargo Cass Public Health Operations and Jail Nurse as amended. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.