HomeMy WebLinkAbout20233417.tiff MINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
September 18,2023
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter at 6:30 p.m.,Monday,September 18,2023,at the Weld County Administration
Building,1150 0 Street,Greeley,CO.
ROLL CALL:
The meeting was called to order by President James Welch.Councilmembers Nancy Teksten
and Trent Leisy were present,constituting a quorum of members.Elijah Hatch and Cindy
Beemer had excused absences.Also present was Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Teksten made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by
Councilmember Leisy and carried.
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTATION:
Approval of August 21 Minutes
Councilmember Leisy made a motion to approve the August minutes, seconded by
Councilmember Teksten,and the motion carried.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
Michael Burson,County Coroner
Mr.Burson explained how for the last 40 years,the county has been conducting business out
of hospital morgues.In 2021,the county opened its own coroner's office which has made the
department much more efficient.Mr.Burson said his department now operates as a regional
medical examiner's office.
His department handles autopsies from about 23 different counties in Colorado and Wyoming.
The department earns some revenue from those services.
The department has been able to streamline practices and move to an electronic medical
records system since the new facility opened.Staff was increased from 10 employees to 13.Mr.
Burson said there's a high rate of satisfaction within his staff.
With the increased population growth,the coroner's office has experienced a 31 percent
increase in its caseload with autopsies increasing about 21 percent.
Mr.Burson said this year has been relatively violent within the county,requiring more
autopsies.In recent years,the number of autopsies had decreased.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS:
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11/27/23
Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
There were none.
Bills
Councilmember Leisy made a motion to approve bills,it was seconded by Councilmember
Teksten and carried.The bills were paid as follows:
o Weld County Phone Bill for August$25.00
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation,the meeting was adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
October 16,2023 Co cil President James Welch
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Council ecretary Linda Kane
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Coroner's Office Update September 18,2023
I. Introduction
II. Goals for the office:
a. To continue to improve the efficiencies within the office
YEAR Reported Hospice Total Autopsied % September
Autopsied
2015 567 782 1347 169 30 126
2016 582 844 1426 191 33 141
2017 676 746 1422 227 34 163
2018 678 694 1372 253 37 189
2019 723 658 1381 265 37 198
2020 895 763 1259 241 29 192
2021 1006 896 1902 277 19 193
2022 907 864 1771 256 21 195
2023 549 606 1155 180 33 180
III. Improvements since 2020:
a. New facility opened in Spring 2021
i. Decreased time to autopsy and thus improved community experience
ii. Provide morgue services for 20+outside CO and WY counties
1. -$40,000 revenue generated annually
b. Subscribed to Electronic Medical Records system—CORHIO
i. Allows investigators to look up medical histories as soon as possible after death
occurs instead of waiting on medical facilities to send/fax pertinent records.
ii. Increases efficiency of triaging cases---e.g.,autopsy vs.no autopsy
c. Increased our staffing to better serve the community
i. 2020:10 total including a part-time admin person(Carl Blesch)
ii. 2023:13 total including two new morgue positions(1 FT;1 PT)
IV. BOCC recently approved acquisition of a records management system specific to the
coroner's office.
a. Will allow us to perform real time statistics on our caseload
b. Will allow for easier records production for appropriate requests
i. District Attorney
ii. Law enforcement
iii. Family
iv. CORA
V. Participating is various grant projects:
a. Suicide prevention(CDPHE)
b. Death summaries for the Weld County health department
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