HomeMy WebLinkAbout20102819.tiff Minutes
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
October 18, 2010
CD 10A2010 p. li, 12
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with'tl're vve1d county
Home Rule Charter, Monday, October 18, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at the Weld County Centennial
Center, 915 10th Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by President Perry Buck. Vice President
Don Mueller, Councilwoman Ginny Buczek and Councilman Charles Tucker were
present, constituting a quorum of the members. Councilman John Kivimaki was excused.
Also present was Judy Griego, Linda Perez, John Kruse, Aretha and Deborah Allmee and
Karla Ford, Council Secretary.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Buczek made a motion to approve the
October 18, 2010 agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilman Tucker and
carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilman Tucker made a motion to approve the
September 20, 2010 minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mueller and
carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
Weld County Human Services Director, Judy Griego, along with Linda Perez, Manager of
Employment Services and John Kruse, Manager of Assistance Programs, were present to
give the council an overview of the department.
Ms. Griego distributed information regarding the Human Services Strategic Plan. This
was developed due to the merger of the Department of Social Services and the
Department of Human Service which was effective June 1, 2008. The new vision is to
create a culture that empowers people to improve their quality of life. The plan also
includes a Mission, Core Values, Human Capital Management, Communications,
Contingency Planning, Accountability and Transparency and Customer Focus.
Ms. Griego discussed some of the major changes within the organization since the
merger. One was consolidating the business/fiscal offices. This has been completed and
a very comprehensive budget was submitted. The office has also been recognized at the
state level for the budgeting and accounting practices. Another key change is the mini-
bus transportation system. The Medicaid transportation broker function went to Public
Works. In June, 2011, the Medicaid transportation broker will be absorbed, monitored
and managed by the State Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Weld
County will be part of a regional broker system that will handle all Medicaid transportation
for Weld County and other surrounding counties as well.
The Board of County Commissioners decided in December 2009 that the Regional
Migrant HeadStart Program needed to be moved outside of county government. The
transition of the program to CDI was very smooth. The program has more opportunity for
growth and will be able to align itself with more early education agencies.
2010-2819
Weld County Council Minutes
October 18,2010 •-
Page 2 of 3
Ms. Griego personally meets randomly with employees of Human Services to talk about
how to provide better services within the community. The department is concentrating on
how to keep quality workforce and how to make programs better.
John Kruse, Assistance Programs, distributed two information sheets regarding
Assistance Programs. He discussed the total number of Medicaid recipients in the county
from November 2007 through August 2010 —Weld County has had a 50% increase since
November 2007. As health care policy and finance continue to raise eligibility for
Medicaid, more and more people are coming in and applying, which creates long lines.
CMBS (Colorado Benefit Management System) is how eligibility is determined. This
system is very labor intensive and inefficient. It can take 45 minutes to one hour to input
one case. This system will be one of the priority issues in the upcoming legislative year.
In response to Councilwoman Buczek, the eligibility for a family of four for CHP Plus
(Children's Health Plan Plus) is approximately $52,000 and $22,000 for a family of four for
Medicaid.
Mr. Kruse stated that there will be a major expansion of Medicaid in 2012. Childless
adults will be eligible if up to 100% of federal poverty. There will be a buy in for elderly
and disabled up to 450% of federal poverty. More and more people will be covered by
Medicaid and the department will have to look at how to sustain benefits with a faltering
system.
Mr. Kruse also discussed the Weld County Public Assistance Benefit Expenditures from
State Fiscal Year 2005 to 2010. Areas of impact are the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families which had a 138% increase, Child Care has gone down to 21.5%, Low Income
Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) has gone up 105.2%, Adult Financial has gone up
59.4% and Food Assistance has gone up 215.3% since 2005 for Weld County. Adult
Financial includes aid the needy disabled, old age pension, adult foster care and home
care allowance. In response to Councilman Tucker, the county can't tell the client what
type of food they can use the EBT cards for. This is per federal level.
Linda Perez, Employment Services, distributed the 2009 Annual Report for The Weld
County Workforce Development Board. There have been a few growth areas including a
13% increase in job seekers and 46% increase in individuals seeking unemployment
insurance. Due to the increase, the department has increased program options for
reemployment services. The department has also been working with the people on the
state extended benefits, which is 99 weeks of unemployment. Some of these programs
will be ending this year. The department is currently working with retraining, more
extensive job seeking to help increase skills to get people back into labor force.
Employment First is a food stamp program that ensures all able-bodied food stamp
recipients are looking for work or working in public sectors. This is to help improve
employability. This program has had a 61% increase.
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) — This is a public assistance program
with a 178% increase which aligns with the increase in other assistance programs.
Individuals on public assistance are required to participate in a work program. The
department works hard to get these individuals back in the force and be self sufficient.
Clients can only receive public assistance for five years.
Weld County Council Minutes
October 18,2010
Page 3 of 3
Ms. Griego stated the department is an unfinished work within the county structure. They
will continue to evolve and look at new ideas and alternatives. The department will be
working with the Board of County Commissioners in the next few months as everyone is
gearing up for the next legislature session.
Councilman Mueller wanted to commend Ms. Griego and her staff on a job well done
even during the hard times the county is facing.
NEW BUSINESS:
Coordinator Reports
Councilman Tucker attended a dairy meeting. Information regarding the new Leprino
plant was discussed.
Upcoming Meetings
The council was invited to the Town/County Dinner on October 28th and the 2011
Budget meeting on November 2nd. Councilman Mueller and Councilman Tucker will be
representing the council at the budget meeting.
Payment of Bills
Councilman Mueller made a motion for the bills to be paid with the subtraction of John
Kivimaki's Mileage.
Mileage for Councilwoman Perry Buck $ 10.56
Mileage for Councilman Don Mueller $ 9.36
Mileage for Councilwoman Ginny Buczek $ 30.72
Mileage for Councilman Charles Tucker $ 18.72
The motion was seconded by Councilman Tucker and passed.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation the meeting wa djourned at 7:48 p.m.
1 / //577-° 0
November 15, 2010 Perryick, Council President
Ka la Ford, Council Secretary
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