Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met Aug. 11.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM) Members Present: Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Mueller and Snyder Members Absent: Morris

Also present: Jeff Whitbeck, Keri Gale, Kenton Schafer, Maureen Berkowitz, Bart Hagston, Jennifer Lindsey

Approval of Minutes

I. 20-5156 Approval of June 9, 2020 Minutes

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Snyder, to approve the June 9, 2020 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Animal Control

II. 20-5157 Animal Control Monthly Update

The County Administrator communicated to the committee that the Animal Control Officer had been working on the following items:

1. Networking with local vets to streamline rabies tag reporting. 

2. Completed numerous training initiatives. 

3. Working with State’s Attorney on animal welfare 4. Working with 6 dog bites for the month of June Health Department & Solid Waste

III. 20-5158 Jackson County Health Department

Gale reported the following:

1. 361 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Jackson County thus far; 19 deaths; 317 patients released from isolation; and currently 25 active cases that are being monitored 

2. Number of COVID cases in Illinois is rising due to people being in more close contact with each other and from citizens not following Public Health guidance to help reduce transmission. 

3. The Health Department is working on hiring 14 people to take on the department COVID duties. This staff will be paid with a state health department grant which is in effect until 05/20/21. The County Health Department is re-submitting the grant application based on updated guidance from the IDPH. Mueller questioned whether the Health Department had any COVID related videos posted on their website for the public. Hagston replied that were basic videos like proper hand washing techniques and proper use of masks that were from external sources, but no videos made by the County Health Department.

IV. 20-5159 Solid Waste Enforcement

Gale reported the staff had conducted the following: 14 open dumping site visits; 4 re-visits to existing sites; 2 new site visits; 1 site closure which had 60 cubic yards of waste removal; 10 citizen complaints; 1 land fill inspection. V. 20-5160 Solid Waste Fund Update

Gale notified the committee that there was no update this month.

VI. 20-5161 Recycling Program

Gale reported that Kassidy had completed some debris recovery management response webinars and that the department had completed the waste hauler licens ing for the 2021 year.

Emergency Management

Ambulance Service

VII. 20-5162 Ambulance Monthly Claims in the amount of $74,295.02

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Comparato, to approve the Ambulance Monthly Claims in the amount of $74,295.02. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Mueller and Snyder Absent: 1 - Morris

VIII. 20-5163 Director's Report

Schafer reported the following: Monthly Claims: $74,295.02 Accounts Receivable Cash: $408,861.23 Activity Report: 787 patient care reports for 758 incidents for EMS. 20 Livery transports.

Other Information: The expenditure on the last line of the Ambulance GL report $49.500 to Stryker Medical is for the purchase of 3 power stretchers. The department chose to purchase this much needed equipment because of the discounted price. The stretchers were demonstration units used by their sales team and were offered with full warranty and already compatible with the departments power load systems at a savings of $3,300.00 per stretcher. The Ambulance department had sufficient money budgeted to cover this equipment. There is one unit left in the fleet without a power stretcher. Stryker Medical holds a sole source letter which exempts the Ambulance department from the bid process for this particular equipment.

IX. 20-5183 Mutual Aid Intergovernmental Emergency Medical Services Agreement

Schafer shared with the committee the following information regarding this agenda item: This agreement has been approved by Mr. Turk. The Ambulance department needs to sign this agreement to allow to be legally part of the GEMT (Ground Emergency Medical Transportation) payments from the Medicaid program. GEMT is a federally funded program which is administered through The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Service, commonly known as Medicaid. This money is specifically earmarked for government owned and operated EMS agencies.

The department submitted its first Medicaid cost report last year, the reimbursement increase is based on the departments cost report. The Ambulance department will be paid the full amount of the current fee schedule for GEMT reimbursement. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Service will invoice the Ambulance department quarterly for 50% of the money reimbursed through the GEMT program. GEMT money is funded directly from the federal program, and 50% is returned from the provider to the State to offset costs to the State for administering the program. California implemented this program in 2010 and it has been very successful for their providers. The Ambulance department will cautiously anticipate to see a 20% increase in funding from this program.

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Mueller, to approve the Intergovernmental Emergency Medical Services Agreement. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Legislative

Citizen Comments

Old Business

New Business

Executive Session

Adjourn (5:28 PM) Erbes moved a nd Comparato seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

https://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/Home/Components/MeetingsManager/MeetingMinutes/ShowPrimaryDocument/?minutesID=5270&isPub=True&includeTrash=False