McLean County Health Committee met May 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Members Present: Chairman Susan Schafer, Members: Carlo Robustelli, George Gordon, George Wendt, Randall Martin, Catherine Metsker and Sharon Chung (all via remote attendance)
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present:
Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator; Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary; (In-Person) Ms. Jessica Woods, Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division (remote attendance)
Department Heads/ Elected Officials Present: Ms. Jessica McKnight, Health Department Administrator
Others Present:
Chairman Schafer called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum. Chairman Schafer presented the minutes from the April 6, 2020 regular meeting for approval.
Motion by Chung/Robustelli to approve the minutes from the April 6, 2020 regular meeting.
Motion carried.
Chairman Schafer confirmed there were no members of the public to appear before the Committee.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez presented the McLean County Nursing Home monthly report including areas they will be focusing on during recruiting for a new director and information on COVID- 19. She indicated Ms. Taylor is physically at the Nursing Home most days but only on the Administration side of the facility and she and Ms. Dreyer do not go so we continue to limit people entering the facility. Ms. Rodriguez indicated Ms. Dreyer is working on financing and Ms. Michelle Butler the new HR manager is working on recruiting for the nursing home. Ms. Schafer thanked her for information in the memo. Mr. Robustelli also thanked her and asked why limiting testing of employees to those who are exhibiting symptoms. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they have thought about testing asymptomatic employees, but we have to work around keeping the facility manned and individuals tested then have to be quarantined while they wait for results. She also indicated we also have agency staff and sending them for testing would limit their abilities to fill their contract role at other facilities. Mr. Robustelli indicated he understood the complexity but felt we should be doing everything we can to prevent the spread. He stated we have testing capacity and felt that we need to focus on prevention. Ms. Schafer indicated the only way we could do that is to have a machine that will give you an answer in 15 minutes and have employees tested each time they report to work and only enter if get a negative result because other tests take too long.
Ms. Metsker agreed with Chairman Schafer because person can get tested and walk out the door and get exposed to the virus. She indicated she agreed with Mr. Robustelli but felt that we would be testing and still not controlling the situation. Ms. Schafer asked if someone can be tested more than once. Ms. Rodriguez confirmed they can. Ms. Metsker thanked the staff for their efforts to keep the residents and other staff safe.
Mr. Gordon thanked them for the executive summary asked how they are working on Blue Ribbon panel recommendations. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they had a virtual meeting with the Blue-Ribbon Panel. She indicated one of their recommendations was improvements to the nursing home and they are currently working on life safety codes and getting those fixed and updated and working on physical changes suggesting. She also indicated the Panel recommended moving away from agency staffing and they have been and continue to work on increasing in house staffing.
Ms. Chung asked about timeline for hiring a new administrator. Ms. Rodriguez indicated the goal is to have individuals selected for second interviews by June 1st. Ms. Schafer asked about admissions and the census numbers being down and if there is a correlation to COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they have noticed an industry trend for fewer admissions. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any further questions, hearing none, she thanked them for the report.
Ms. Schafer indicated that Ms. Michelle Welch, Adult Detention and Mr. Jason Tabb, Juvenile Detention had reports in the packet. Ms. Rodriguez indicated she has been checking in with them regularly, so would be happy to answer any questions or could get them on the phone should the members have a question that she could not answer. Ms. Schafer asked if there were any questions, hearing none, she thanked them for the information.
Ms. Jessica McKnight Health Department Administrator presented for action a request for reclassification of positions in the Health Department. Ms. McKnight indicated the Finance Director resigned and they wanted to split the duties between the two account specialists already had on staff and promote them and then utilize some of funding to add a behavioral health specialist to help with community initiatives.
Motion by Chung/Martin to recommend approval of the Position Reclassifications.
Motion Carried.
Ms. McKnight presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Amending the Funded Full Time Equivalent Position Resolution for FY 2020.
Motion by Gordon/Chung to recommend approval of a Resolution Amending the Funded Full Time Equivalent Position Resolution for FY 2020.
Motion Carried.
Ms. McKnight presented the Health Department’s monthly reports to the Committee. Ms. Metsker indicated we have seen an uptick in COVID numbers and asked if that was because we are able to test more or truly seeing more cases. Ms. McKnight indicated it is hard to determine but had highest numbers of testing in the last few days and as we increase testing will see more positive results. Ms. Schafer asked about who can get tested. Ms. McKnight indicated any essential employee, or first responder or health worker can go for testing without symptoms and others can go for test if they are having symptoms. Ms. Schafer asked if they are keeping track to see if numbers are more first responders or general public. Ms. McKnight indicated they only received the total number and would reach out to inquire about breakdown of that number.
Mr. Robustelli thanked them for use of social media to push out information and asked how they are getting the word out to County employees and the general public. He asked if we could reach out to individuals who were working from home who had expertise in marketing to help. Ms. McKnight indicated they have been getting the word out to all county employees about testing. She indicated externally they have been utilizing environmental health department relationship with grocery stores and restaurants to get the word out as well as social media. Mr. Robustelli offered to help them try to get the word out. Ms. Rodriguez indicated she had been interviewing for a couple of interns as social media influencers to assist in this area. Ms. Schafer indicated Connect Transit is working on a walk-up clinic at the site to take individuals who depend on public transportation. Ms. Metsker asked about getting more specific statistics such as retested individuals, essential employees and health employees. Ms. McKnight indicated she would ask them if they could provide further information. Ms. Metsker asked her to confirm this is a regional site so not all tested are from McLean County. Ms. McKnight confirmed.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator presented her recent employment activities report. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any questions, hearing none, she thanked her.
Chairman Schafer confirmed there was no other business.
Chairman Schafer then presented for approval the Nursing Home bills with a prepaid total $235,754.75.
Motion by Metsker/Robustelli to approve prepaid bills for the Nursing Home as presented.
Motion carried.
Chairman Schafer presented the bills for the Developmental Disability Board with a prepaid total of $1,164.33.
Motion by Gordon/Chung to approve prepaid bills for the Developmental Disability Board as presented.
Motion carried.
Chairman Schafer presented for approval bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical with a prepaid total of $27,312.18.
Motion by Robustelli/Metsker to approve prepaid bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical as presented.
Motion carried.
Chairman Schafer presented for approval bills for the Board of Health with a prepaid total of $69,126.43.
Motion by Gordon/Chung to approve prepaid bills for the Board of Health as presented.
Motion carried.
Chairman Schafer asked if there was any additional business to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, she adjourned the meeting at 5:07 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7315
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