McLean County Times

McLean County Board Health Committee met Jan. 31.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Health Committee of the McLean County Board met at 4:30 p.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center Building 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.

Members Present: Chairman Susan Schafer, Members: Randall Martin, Sharon Chung, Elizabeth Johnston, Catherine Metsker

Members Absent: Member Lyndsay Bloomfield, Hannah Beer

Other Members Present: John McIntyre, McLean County Board Chairman

Staff Present: Ms. Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Ms. Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Kyle Mueller, Office Support Specialist; Mr. Christopher Spanos, McLean County State’s Attorney

Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Jessica McKnight Health Department; Jason Tabb, Juvenile Detention Center; Suzanne Scott, Adult Jail Medical; Michael Donovan, Court Services; Don Knapp, McLean County State’s Attorney

Others Present: Zach Gettrich

Chairman Schafer called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Chairman Schafer presented the Health Committee’s January 3, 2022 regular meeting minutes for approval.

Motion by Martin/Chung to approve the Health Committee’s January 3, 2022, regular meeting minutes.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Schafer confirmed there was a member of the public present to speak. Mr. Zachary Gettrich addressed COVID numbers in the jail reported from jail staff as compared to numbers received in response to FOIA requests. He stated he also asked for vaccination number and wanted to make sure vaccines are being given to those who want to be vaccinated.

Ms. Suzanne Scott, Adult Detention presented her monthly report. Ms. Scott stated they are working on testing and vaccinations and are addressing FOIA requests as they receive them. Ms. Chung asked if there were any positive cases at the jail. Ms. Scott confirmed there were 9 in quarantine. Ms. Chung asked about testing procedures. Ms. Scott indicated that originally they were testing every three days and now are testing every 4 days on Monday and Friday. Ms. Chung noted numbers in the community are going down and wondered if Ms. Scott was seeing the same trend in the jail. Ms. Scott confirmed. Ms. Chung asked about the type of tests they were administering. Ms. Scott stated it was the PCR test. Ms. Chung asked if inmates are quarantined for 10 days and then released into population. Ms. Scott confirmed.

Ms. Johnston asked if there is education to inmates about the vaccine. Ms. Scott indicated they post a sign-up sheet when they have vaccinations available and they do get questions and at intake they are asked if they are vaccinated and if not why they are not. Ms. Johnston asked if she had an approximate percentage of those vaccinated. Ms. Scott stated she would want to consult her numbers before providing that number. Ms. Johnston noted two patients had to have respiratory treatment at the jail. Ms. Scott indicated they did not have to administer oxygen at the jail but sent them to hospital. Ms. Johnston asked if testing entire population. Ms. Scott confirmed all but those who have tested positive and quarantined previously.

Ms. Schafer asked about lawsuits. Mr. Spanos stated there are a couple of lawsuits by inmates or former inmates in the jail complaining about conditions at the jail. Mr. Spanos noted they had received a verdict from the Federal Court where the County had won one of the cases. He noted that the Judge wrote, “The Court finds that these steps taken by Sheriff Sandage and his staff at the facility were reasonable response to the Corona Virus and further finds that no reasonable jury could conclude otherwise; and while Groves L may have done things differently were he in charge of the facility and while he may believe that Sheriff Sandage could have and should have done more, that is not the standard. The standard is whether Sheriff Sandage actions were a responsible response to the threat posed by the Corona Virus to Groves L and the Court finds that it was.” Mr. Spanos stated decision issued today so Mr. Groves L will have 30 days to file an appeal. Mr. Spanos noted that they expect similar outcomes in the other cases. Ms. Chung asked how many other cases there were. Mr. Spanos responded he believed there were two or three more. Mr. Spanos also stated these were pro se cases brought by the inmates themselves. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any further questions; hearing none, she thanked Ms. Scott and Mr. Spanos.

Mr. Jason Tabb came forward and presented his reports to the committee. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any questions; hearing none she thanked him.

Ms. Jessica McKnight, Health Department Administrator presented her report and indicated numbers are still improving. Ms. Johnston asked if she knew of anyone besides Meijer that were distributing N95 masks. Ms. McKnight was not sure who else might be providing. Ms. Johnston asked about centralized contact tracing and how that was going. Ms. McKnight indicated not a lot of incoming calls but transition is going well. She noted they are focusing on outbreaks. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any other questions; hearing none, she thanked her.

Ms. Schafer indicated they would move next item on the agenda to the end in case they needed a closed session.

Mr. Tim Wiley, Nursing Home Administrator presented his monthly reports. He noted they continue to work on referral management, census growth, accounts receivable and turnover in staffing at the facility. He stated they have been able to hire several new staff members in January. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked him.

Ms. Cassy Taylor, County Administrator presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2021 Combined Annual Appropriation for Jail Medical. Ms. Taylor indicated this was a clean up item that is done annually to get ready for the audit.

Motion by Johnston/Metsker to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2021 Combined Annual Appropriation for Jail Medical.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2021 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for the Nursing Home. Ms. Taylor noted this was for upgrades to sprinkler systems required in response to a survey.

Motion by Metsker/Johnson to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2021 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for the Nursing Home.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance. Ms. Taylor noted this was to cover extra staffing needed at the Jail to assist with COVID testing and meeting all medical needs.

Motion by Martin/Chung to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance.

Motion Carried.

Under Other Business Ms. Schafer noted future meetings would be on the First Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

Chairman Schafer presented for approval bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical with a prepaid and fund total of $136,33.09.

Motion by Chung/Metsker to approve bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented the bills for the Developmental Disability Board for approval with a prepaid and fund total of $182,096.56.

Motion by Johnston/Chung to approve bills for the Developmental Disability Board as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented for approval the Nursing Home bills with a prepaid and fund total of $238,684.44 .

Motion by Johnston/Martin to approve bills for the Nursing Home as presented. 

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented for approval the bills for the Board of Health with a prepaid and fund total of $376,429.44 .

Motion by Metsker/Chung to approve the bills for the Board of Health as presented. 

Motion Carried.

Mr. Wiley, Nursing Home Administrator made a request under Section 108-43 F (2) (b) [3] of the McLean County Code to authorize Department Head to offer a salary above that identified in Section 108-43 F (2) (b) [2]. Ms. Schafer noted if there were questions they would need to go into closed session. She asked if there were any questions regarding the request; hearing no questions, she called the question.

Motion by Chung/Johnston to approve a request under section 108-43 F (2) (b) [3] of the McLean County Code to authorize Department Head to offer a salary above that identified in section 108-43 F (2) (b) [2].

Motion Carried.

Chairman Schafer asked if there was any additional business to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, she adjourned the meeting at 4:58 p.m.

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8593