Lynn Patton sworn in as Board of DD member

Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst swore in Lynn Patton this week as the newest board member of the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Patton was appointed to the board by the Highland County Board of Commissioners last week. Patton joins Linda Allen, Deb Tissot, Sam Snyder, Cheryl Lyle, Karen Adams and Leo Kuhn on the board.

The board had three open seats at the beginning of 2012 after board members Gary Buchanan, John Fittro and Megan Filson left. 

During the meeting, interim board superintendent Fred Williams said, "We are happy to finally have a full complement of board members." 

Williams reported that he had been trying to work out a scenario in which the Highland County and the Fayette County Boards of DD would be able to have a joint meeting.

Williams, along with business manager Lori Moore, and Service and Support Administrator Renee Guess, are working for both boards. A joint meeting had been suggested in order for the boards to discuss shared services and other matters. Williams said that he was having a hard time organizing a way in which both boards would be able to conduct their separate business at the same time.

Following discussion with the Highland County board members it was decided that during July, when Highland County does not normally hold a meeting, they will join Fayette County for their monthly board meeting, July 10 at 5:30 p.m.

The board then voted to move its regularly schedule June meeting from the 19th to June 12 at 6 p.m., in order to avoid a conflict with KAMP Dovetail. 

During the financial report, Moore reported that they had received "one final invoice" regarding attorney fees for $14,000 with their ongoing litigation with the board's previous superintendent. The invoice will be paid through the contingency fund. The bulk of the fees are being covered by the board's insurance. 

Also during the financial report, Moore presented a breakdown of the range of Individual Option (I/O) costs for Highland County compared to other counties in the state, based on fiscal year 2011.

There were a total of 48 I/O waivers in Highland County and 16,653 statewide. The average cost of waivers in Highland County was $40,424 and the average cost was $59,972 statewide. The total enrollment in Highland County's programs is 185.

The administrative costs of the programming, based on 2010 from the "un-audited costs report" the costs were $3,647,406. The total general administration costs were $694,966, program supervision costs at $139,766, with no Medicaid administration costs noted. 

Administration was 19 percent of the total costs and 23 percent of the total costs including program supervision. 

The state "administration of total general and administration costs" were 9 percent, and the state administration percentage of total general and administration including Medicaid administration and program supervision was 16 percent. 

Williams said, "I think this shows we have been frugal. We have to protect health and safety, but that we're not offering Cadillac services. Maybe we're not as heavily challenged with people requiring 24-hour support.

There are three people within the county who require $80,000 to $90,000 each for services. The board asked some questions regarding specific numbers and additional information, and Support and Safety Administrators to weigh in. There was discussion regarding the numbers, and what it meant for the county. Some SSAs then began to ask their own questions regarding the numbers and reporting. 

Williams said, "I would ask the employees to remember this is the board conducting business, not the staff conducting business with the board." 

At the end of the meeting, the board voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel. The board asked Williams, Moore, and Service and Support Administrator Renee Guess to join them in the session. 

In other business: 

• Williams reported that a new vocational trainer, Tammy Maynard, had been hired and began on May 7.

• The Hills and Dales end-of-year picnic is scheduled for May 24, with the last day of school May 25. 

• Bus drivers Anna Ritter and Matt Bryant were recognized for their participation in the area's "bus rodeo" which tests their knowledge and skills on a written test, and their driving skills. Bryant placed 11th, and Ritter placed 7th, which qualifies her for participation in the state rodeo on May 19.