Supervisors approve agreements with mental health providers
The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a number of program participation agreements with local medical and mental health services providers during its regular meeting Tuesday.
The Mary Greeley Medical Center participation agreement for fiscal year 2012-2013, which begins July 1, is a continuation of the current agreement with Community Services of Jasper County. Community Services Director Jody Eaton said there will be no changes to the agreement. The hospital provided Jasper County with involuntary and voluntary mental health hospitalization and involuntary substance abuse treatment.
The participation agreement with Progress Industries also was approved by the supervisors. Progress Industries is a non-profit private organization providing residential and vocational services for children and adults with special needs. Progress Industries CEO Dan Skokan told the supervisors that Progress Industries had a $12.3 million budget this year, with 87 percent of it going toward salaries and wages.
A participation agreement was approved for Optimae Life Services on Tuesday as well. Director Connie Wright said the organization has been open in Newton for a year now, and is currently serving 52 clients. Optimae specializes in outpatient therapy and medical management, supported community living and day habilitation, serving the chronically mentally ill.
In other action Tuesday, the supervisors:
• Declined a request from Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott to add a temporary clerk to the office to fill in various hours while employees are on vacation or on sick leave. Supervisor Denny Stevenson said he was afraid of the consequences on other departments.
“I get it, but I wonder if this is going to open up a can of worms,” Stevenson said. “I’m just not sure where this starts and where it stops.”
Stevenson said he was concerned about how the supervisors should treat potential requests from other departments, for example, requests for replacements for a couple of weeks, or two or three months, and the number of requests from departments that the supervisors would need to address on an ongoing basis.
“I look at this on an individual basis, but I respect what you’re saying,” Parrott said.
• Approved a bid from Brooker Corp. of Newton for an air conditioner replacement at the County Annex Building for $2,557 after a $100 rebate.
• Approved a bid from CDW Government Inc. for a HP Laser Printer for $3,499 for use by the Jasper County Treasurer’s Office.
• Appointed Jackie Sparks to the Jasper County Board of Health.
John Jennings can be contacted at (641) 792-3121 ext. 425 or via email at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.
