The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, November 3, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ms. Fullerton, Ms. LaVigne, Mr. Metzger, Sr., Mr. Osborne and Mr. Stoddard.  Others present were Mary Ramp, Herb Holderman, Steven Scoughton, Jess Collins, Mary Ramp and Sandi Boulcher of the Northern Star Newspaper.  A quorum was present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from October 2008.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE VETERAN’S ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

          Mr. Holderman said that his office should be moving into the new Outreach Building in January 2009.  They will be the first office to move into the new building. 

          Mr. Holderman then informed the committee that his office has brought in $96,000 for their clients.  He feels that that figure will go up higher before the year ends, possibly around $130,000.

          They have put 25 clients in the healthcare system, which amounts to a tremendous amount of savings for those people.

          They have 15 people on the rolls for general assistance.  They have filed 32 claims so far this year and 19 claims have come back to them.  Fifteen claims have not been answered yet - with one of those claims going back to 1991. 

          Mr. Holderman feels that they will be able to hirer one more person after they move into the new building.  He has one person already hired as his assistant and one Veteran’s Service Officer, which is Mr. Steven Scoughton. 

          They have purchased a Ford Edge car in the beginning of this year, which already has 22,000 miles on it.  They average about 12 riders a month that travel to Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The vehicle is a 5-passenger car and they usually can fit one wheelchair in the car too.  MedVac takes their clients to Hines Hospital towards Chicago. 

          Mr. Holderman said that their drivers are all volunteers; they do not get paid.

          Chairman Rosemier asked Mr. Holderman if his funds have provisions to pay these people?

          Mr. Holderman said yes, that they could.  He could take it up with his board at their next meeting.

          Mr. Holderman said that his office is happy with everything right now and that the budget is fine this year.  They have 16 veteran’s organizations in the county.  They will have an Open House when they move into the new building in early 2009. 

          The committee suggested to Mr. Holderman that he think about saving some money for the purchase of another vehicle because of all of the mileage that his office has put on the new vehicle already and it’s not a year old yet. 

          Mr. Holderman thanked the committee for their suggestions. 

          The committee thanked Mr. Holderman for a very informative report.

SPECIAL ONE-TIME GRANTS FROM SENIOR TAX LEVY FUNDS

          The committee discussed the one-time special grant applications for the senior tax levy funds.  There were several applications that were received.  The last allocation for special one-time grants was done in the Spring of 2008. 

          The first request was from Barb City Manor for the purchase of an Optelec Video Magnifier.  The committee said that it was a very good request.  They committee agreed that the amount to be paid for the Optelec Video Magnifier was not to exceed $2,895.00.

          Moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to send the recommendation on Barb City Manor to the full board for approval.     

          Chairman Rosemier asked for the next items to be voted on individually instead of combined.

          The second request came from the DeKalb County Public Health Department for the purchase of one Pro-Time Analyzer, two laptops, one computer and one printer in the amount of $7100.00. 

          Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to purchase a Pro-Time Analyzer to the full board for approval.

          One of the other requests from the Health Department is for two laptops. 

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full board.

          The request for a desktop computer and one new printer was Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. LaVigne and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full board.

          The third request came from Hospice.  They are requesting the purchase of a new easel in the amount of $170.00.

          Moved by Ms. Fullerton, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval.

          The fourth request was from Elder Care Services.  They requested the amount of $8100.00 to cover the costs for three new laptops and five portable printers. 

          The committee agreed that they would like to see more details for this request.

          The next request came from the Family Service Agency.  They are requesting 12 handheld devices, a scanner, a Wii System, one television, a new dvd player and staff training.  The amount that they requested was for $8,174.00.

          It was moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to award grant monies for items #2, 3, 4 and 5 totaling $5186.00 for the purchase of 1 new Wii system, a television, a new dvd player and staff training.  The first request from Family Service Agency for 12 handheld devices has to come back to the committee for further discussion.  The committee would like to see more information on this item.

          The next request came from the Kishwaukee YMCA for a senior walking passes program in the amount of $6300.00. 

          The committee decided that this item should go into the annual process scheduled to begin in the month of March 2009.

          The last item up for consideration for a special one-time allocation was Opportunity House.  They are requesting $650.00 for the purchase of two wheel-chair height tables. 

          Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Metzger, Sr., and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                Respectively submitted,

                                                _________________________________  

                                                Chairman Robert Rosemier

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary