HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1526Surry and Yadkin merged in 1979. Swann was hired about three years
ago. Since that time, the agency has become one of the top ranked
in the State. Harding said if a merger occurred, Iredell would
have an asset in Swann's management. (Swann had previously
mentioned that before he came to Surry-Yadkin the fund balance was
$275,000. Today it is $1.8 million.) Harding said Swann had
brought success to their programs by:
1. Insuring certification of employees.
2. Productivity - 65% of employees' time is in direct billable
service (every clinical employee).
3. Technology - Eventually, there will be a central data base
where lap top computers can easily retrieve/send information
to emergency rooms.
4. Marketing - Surry-Yadkin has "rebuilt" rapport with area
schools, industries, hospitals, etc.
Harding also emphasized that State officials were advocating
a mental health catchment area of around 200,000. He mentioned
that at some point in time, the State might start putting entities
together to achieve this goal. (Swann said the Mental Health Study
Commission said the optimum catchment area would be anything from
175,000 to 275,000.)
COUNTY- NIDE FIRE DISTRICT FUND: MOTION by Commissioner
Stewart for the Fire Commission Chairman to negotiate up to a two -
cent fire tax increase for 97-98 with one -cent to be for capital
reserve (truck purchases) and the other cent designated for
operating expense. (All to be approved by the Fire Commission.)
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 1 (Johnson)
Commissioner Boone mentioned the possibility of lowering the
county tax rate.
ELECTIONS: McDaniels discussed the optic scan voting
equipment she was requesting. Also, $20,000 is needed for new
booths. State law requires one booth per 100 voters. The office
currently has 325; however, some are in disrepair. The equipment
will enable the elections office to list every item on one page.
Long lines will be eliminated since the equipment will be much
faster. The equipment reads any type of pen, and the ballots can be
inserted different ways. The half-time position is requested to
aid in filing, complying with the new NVRA requirements, and
eliminating overtime in the office.
I Blumenstein mentioned the BCCCP grant would be added
to this budget. Rabe mentioned the WIC budget would be reworked.
(The County will actually not have to fund as much.) Mr. Rabe
mentioned the new positions were basically funded from revenues.
The Computing Support I position is needed to keep up with billing.
Rabe added that if revenues decreased the new positions would be
eliminated. Commissioner Boone said he was hearing that if
Medicaid reimbursements were cut or frozen the positions would be
deleted. Rabe said it would be difficult, but it would be done.
It was mentioned that Bill Griffith, the Adm. Officer, and Susan
Blumenstein had been working on a computerized program that would
keep track of the indirect costs involved in grants. Rabe
mentioned the health dept. was computerizing more and more. It
will take about 35 computers to eliminate the "dumb terminal" in
order to take advantage of the State's system. Commissioner Boone
said some members of the health board were concerned about the
purchase of "proprietary computers" sold to the County when there
was no competition. Rabe said the County had to be a part of the
"State system."
A proposed salary study for the sanitarians was discussed.
Rabe reminded the group that most of the new employees in
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