ADRC changes A resolution ….

ADRC changes

A resolution taking the first step in dissolving the ADRC of the Northwoods and bringing those services back in-house as part of existing county departments launched a discussion on if the county should be looking at significant mergers between departments.

The ADRC of the Northwoods as it exists now is a partnership between Taylor County and Forest County as well as the Forest County Band of the Potawatomi tribe. Forest County is undergoing a merger between its departments and is looking at withdrawing from the ADRC. Board member Catherine Lemke who serves on the ADRC board said they felt it was time to just end it as a stand alone entity and roll it into being part of the county’s Commission on Aging office. The action to approve a resolution giving the intent to withdraw is the first step of a process that will take until the end of 2024 if not longer. COA director Jenn Viergutz said it made sense for local ADRC services to be in the commission on aging since they serve the same population and are currently in the same office spaces.

Mildbrand asked about the funds the county had contributed to assist with cash flow for the ADRC in the past. The ADRC operates through state and federal grant funds. There is a several month delay in costs being submitted to when the government reimburses for this. Each county contributed into a fund to allow the ADRC to cash flow. A portion had previously been returned but about $75,000 currently remains in that fund. “When will we get that money back?” Mildbrand asked.

Bub explained that after the entire process is completed and the bills are all paid, Taylor County will get its share back likely sometime in 2025.

County clerk Andria Farrand noted the entire process is expected to take 16 months, but they are hoping to have it completed by the end of 2024.

Board member Ray Soper noted that one of the first things he voted on when he first joined the county board was for the creation of the ADRC. Soper is not running for reelection and said that one of the last things he is doing as a county board member is voting to dissolve it. The justification for both votes was the same, with it being in the financial best interest of the county to do so.

Board member Lori Floyd questioned if Taylor County should be looking at consolidation like Forest County is. That county will be combining its human services, commission on aging and ADRC together. Floyd in the past has advocated for creating super-committees overseeing multiple areas.

“It might not be a bad time to combine those agencies,” Floyd said, suggesting there would be savings with fewer committee meetings and working between the departments.

“I don’t think it is a good idea,” said human services director Suzanne Stanfley. She noted that human services is already a “huge” department and that she could not imagine bringing in ADRC and commission on aging into it. A practical reason she said it would not work is simply not having the space in the existing human services building for it.

She also explained that while people have the same titles from one department to another, the jobs they do in each department are not the same. Likewise there are different funding streams and reporting requirements for the different departments.

Floyd said she felt now was the time to look at it.

Thums noted that the county is looking at consolidation with the ADRC going under the commission on aging under an existing department head.

In the end, board members voted unanimously to approve the intent to withdraw from the ADRC of the Northwoods.

In other business board members:

 Approved on a 9 to 8 vote selecting from two virtually identical options for a mission statement. The only difference between the two is the words “fiscally responsible” as part of the county’s commitment to provide high quality service. This is part of the ongoing strategic planning process for the county. In the future the board will be asked to weigh in on a vision statement and specific aspects of the plan.

 Approved a resolution recognizing former board member Dan Makovsky who died on December 13. Makovsky served 9 years on the Taylor County Board serving on a number of committees during his time on the board.

 Approved changes to the ordinance for conditions of employment for the circuit court to increase authorized work hours to 40 per week. Board member Rod Adams questioned why the county did not just bring them all up to 40 hours per week for new hires. The county has a mixture of 40 and 35-hour week positions.

 Approved an ordinance change to shift the payroll and benefits position from the clerk’s office to the finance department while keeping a percentage of the employee’s time for elections and other projects. This does not change who is in the position and that they will be shared by both departments. A board member asked about the status of the airport, Zenner said that it is currently being covered by part time staff as the committee decides what to do in the future.

 Approved changes to the language for the coordinated services team committee in the human services department to bring it in line with state laws.