KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT

MAY 11, 2004

The regular meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court convened at Independence at 9:00 a.m.  Present at the meeting were Judge-Executive Ralph A. Drees; Commissioners Adam Koenig, Barbara Black and Dan Humpert; Deputy Judge Executive Scott Kimmich; County Attorney Garry Edmondson; Assistant County Attorney Brandon Voelker; Treasurer Ivan Frye; Human Resources Director Joe Shriver; Emergency Director Ed Burk; Police Chief Bill Dorsey; Information Technology Director Fred McKinley; Special Projects Director Ralph Bailey; Jailer Terry Carl; Public Works Director Joe Murphy; County Engineer Charlie Meyer; Court Reporter Cathy Johnston; and Guests.

The invocation was said and the pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Black.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Judge Drees asked the court for the approval of minutes for April 27.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion to approve the minutes with the correction given earlier to the clerk; seconded by Commissioner Black.  The minutes were approved by unanimous vote.

DELEGATIONS

Judge Drees announced that a presentation was to be made by the Fire Chiefs Association, Chief Paul LaFontaine reporting:  A letter had been prepared on behalf of the Advanced Life Support Committee and passed out to court members wherein a number of recommendations had been made.  The committee's work is winding down and looks forward to coming into a meeting soon to present the recommendations to the court.

Judge Drees read and presented a Proclamation for Nursing Home Week to Sue Raschford and the CEO of Baptist Village.

North Key Community Care-Dr. Ed Montel, CEO, reporting:  Northern Kentucky Mental Health Mental Retardation Regional Board was once known as Comprehensive Care Center providing mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse services, and prevention services for eight counties in Northern Kentucky.  In particular, the board is a safety net as far as delivery care for seriously mental ill individuals.

An accreditation was done in April and North Key came through with only two minor deficiencies.  Semi-annual board training has just been conducted and board representatives were there from all eight counties, with Kenton County having the most present because it is the most populated of the eight.

A substance abuse study was presented at the training which is a significant need in Northern Kentucky and there is a relatively strong need for in patient residential care.  Crisis stabilization services for adults was also presented that is a new service for Northern Kentucky and their address is 814 Madison in Covington.  This service is available 24 hours per day to intervene with adults having crises problems and services can be presented within one hour, which can be  worked with in cooperation with emergency room services to get people into in patient care, if necessary.  A presentation was also made for employment rehabilitation services for the seriously mentally ill, and a large number of people rejoin the work force through this program.

Mr. Jim Thelen, who has been on the board for years and years, will be taking over the responsibility of the chairmanship in June.

Commissioner Black asked if there was not a facility off of Kyles Lane for treatment and Mr. Montel answered that in patient psychiatric treatment was still offered there for children through adolescence.  There is not a treatment there for the treatment of substance abuse issue itself but there are a number of intensive out patient programs for adolescents that has been successful.  Over 50 percent of the patients stay clean for over one to two years after this treatment.

The item most needed now is a short in patient or residential stay that will get people off of what they are using and will make them much more accessible for the out patient intensive program.  Patients now have to be sent to Lexington or Louisville for in hospital stay.  One of the problems continues to be funding issues.

Judge Drees asked if the general revenues shown for December 2003 was for the end of the year and Dr. Montel said this was the middle of the fiscal year.  Approximately 3,500 individuals beyond that number are being served as far as Kenton County is concerned.  Judge Drees then asked if the total of 2,077 patients was the right number of patients being served.  Dr. Montel said he was looking at the mental health total and some of these would be for services going on throughout the fiscal year and this figure would not be doubled but it would be more than 2,077 for the full year.  Judge Drees also asked how many people could be housed in the facility at any one time and Dr. Montel answered he expected as far as Kenton County was concerned, it would be approximately 12 to 15 individuals.

The total number of visits of 22,961 as of December, 2003, is shown on the last page and this will give an idea of the volume and where the higher volume of services is used.  The highest number of visits for individual therapy was 5,660.

Dr. Montel introduced Dr. Dennis Walsh to the court who expanded on the statistics that were given.  Mr. Walsh said that on the front page of the handout the number of services was also broken down into race, age, race, income levels, etc.  He further stated there were two persons on staff that are fluent in Spanish.

He further stated there is one telephone number to receive calls where there is a team of personnel to take the information and triage with the caller around the serverity and acuity of the persons needs.  If someone needs to see the person immediately, the crisis team is called in and someone sees the person right away.  It is always tried to schedule a person within two weeks.

One of the critical needs is medication, both affording it and having the psychiatrists and nursing practitioners able to see the persons in a timely manner.  There are nine prescribers for the eight county region for outpatient services and there are another two psychiatrists working in patient with the children and intensive patient service.

There is also an intensive outpatient program for drug and alcohol abusing children and adolescents; primarily, adolescents who work closely with Judge Grothaus in the drug court so that there is the force of the court behind the referrals.

There is an addictive program with Kenton County schools based in Dixie Heights High School and there are about 15 youths who have emotional disturbances remaining in the school and are getting a treatment program in combination with their education five days a week.

There are also school-based therapists in about 28 schools who have the presence of a therapist that goes out to the school to see the children in the school setting.  This is accessible to the teacher and the students because it is hard to access the parents because of the hours being between 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A specialist to work with the deaf and hard of hearing was also hired in the past year and we are trying to get this word out to the public.  More and more suicide prevention programs, which is the number two cause of death for youth and young adults 15 to 34 in the state of Kentucky.  There are  also programs that work with gatekeeper education who can be any member of the community that comes in contact with other people such as a scout leader, minister, police officer, etc.  This program trains gatekeepers in about one and one-half hours enough so that they understand the warning signs of suicide until professional help can be engaged.

Police chiefs and mental health and substance abuse professionals have been worked with around crisis intervention teams that are also a great need.

Commissioner Humpert asked if people who are getting out of jail are referred to North Key?  Mr. Walsh answered that some referrals were received from the jail of people returning to the community.  There is also a psychiatrist that goes to the Kenton County Detention Center twice a month to see inmates and treat them for mental illness.  Commissioner Humpert said he felt the largest percentage of people in jail have either drug, mental health or alcohol problems and that everyone that is let out should be referred to North Key for a diagnosis.

Mr. Terry Carl answered that in some cases this was done and Commissioner Humpert said that if it this was done, why isn't the number on the statistics larger than 125?  Mr. Walsh said maybe this is because they were not put in the proper area of referral and maybe they were going from service to dropping off to nothing if they did not hook up with North Key.  A new position that is now being recruited for is called the jail liaison to work with the jails and the transition of people back into the community.

There is also a grant in the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati who wants to fund a needs assessment for the entire eight-county area to develop programs and fund services for mentally ill substance abusers.  This will help to divert from jail mentally ill people who may need treatment but do not have criminal charges and also reentry programs for persons who have been incarcerated.  It is predicted that services will be doubled to the Kenton County Detention Center starting the first of June.

Commissioner Humpert said he thought this should be one of our highest priorities of doing the reentry program with respect to the mental health, alcohol and drug abusers so that there will not be a front-door-back-door policy at the jail where they go out one door and come right back in another door.

Chief Dorsey said he agreed with what Commissioner Humpert was saying and the two agencies have collectively worked to try to get a bill passed in the legislature that would provide for this type of service.  Unfortunately, the jail is not where they need to be; they need long-term care or psychological assistance to get off the dependent drug, but the legislature will not pass the bill.  When the bill was changed and the public intoxication law came to be AI or PI, public intoxication from public drunkeness which is what the old law was, the state mandated there be toxic centers that the police would take intoxicated people to other than the jail.  It is pointed out that the state does not have such centers.  The law was passed but the centers were not funded, so people that are not of a criminal nature are taken to jail because there is no other place to put them.  Everybody has agreed this is something that is important and needs to be funded but we just don't seem to be getting any money for it.

Commissioner Humpert then asked if some of our dollars go for this service?

Dr. Montel answered that the statistics do not reflect services that are delivered by transitions which is one of the most significant providers of service to folks with substance abuse problems.  There is a detox program plus a lot of other services that are delivered to individuals who have a criminal justice background.  These services can be provided but it does not necessarily mean that people will avail themselves to them unless it has been dictated through the court system.  We have a homeless outreach program and we try to coax them to come in for services, but some just do not want to do this, so sometimes this has to do with personal freedoms and those types of issues.

Commissioner Black asked if there was a continuing program during the summer for educators being taught the signs and symptoms of suicide.  There should be some type of program that would bring these people together during the summer and other times.

Dr. Montel answered that a good opportunity is when in-service days are offered.

Finance and Budgets

Mr. Frye announced that the claims list had been presented to the fiscal court for the month of April.  There being no questions, warrants would be issued and the claims paid.

Old Business

There was not any old business to come before the court.

New Business

 HANDOUT NO. 04-31-Authorize Judge Ralph A. Drees to sign proposal for converting two systems at the Kenton County Garage and Transit Center, Ralph Bailey reporting:  There is a problem with the video system at the parking garage in that it is too old from a technological standpoint and it is also worn out.  The cameras are constantly moving and go to the office to be viewed by security officers.  If a car gets hit or something happens in the garage, the entire tape has to be reviewed of which there is one tape for each day.  Since the cameras are moving all of the time, there is always a blurred picture of what is going on in the garage.  Also under the current system, one of the multiplexers is completely broken and it would cost approximately $2,025 to replace the multiplexer and the other one is need of repair so this would take a total of approximately $3,500.  There is a problem with the cameras that are in operation with the old system, and it would cost $500 - $600 to have the cameras repaired and a new one would cost $1,500.  This is something that would have to be looked at in the future as to an economical way to either repair the cameras or buy new ones.

On the new system that is being proposed, the camera would rotate and if anything happens at a particular site, the camera would stop and record the incident.  Also if an incident happens in the garage and the approximate time was known, the tape could be viewed at that time and day and would immediately go to that area.  This would better help serve the citizens in the point of safety.

Judge Drees asked if the funding amount for the new system was in the current budget.

Mr. Bailey said there is a bond and there is money left in it that would cover this expense.  Mr. Frye said there is approximately $100,000 left in the bond for the purchase.

Commissioner Koenig made the motion to approve the purchase; seconded by Commissioner Black.  Unanimous approval was given on roll call.

HANDOUT NO. 04-32-Surplus computer equipment from the Kenton County Clerk's Office, Fred McKinley reporting:  Thirty machines were replaced in that office and permission is being sought to surplus these by offering them to the public schools, and if they don't want them, to put them up for public auction.

Commissioner Humpert asked if these were all Gateway computers and the size.

Mr. McKinley answered that most of them Pentium II 350, with 128 MB RAM that may be good for training.

Commissioner Black asked if the computer systems works would be purged.

Mr. McKinley said yes and they would have only the operating system which is what they had on them when they were purchased.

Commissioner Black made the motion to approve; seconded by Commissioner Humpert.  Motion was unanimously approved upon roll call.

HANDOUT NO. 04-33-Authorize Judge-Executive Ralph A. Drees to sign contract for recycling services with Environmental Recycling, Inc., Brandon Voelker reporting:  This is a recycling program that will not cost anything for the county.  This is a company that is already coming in to service Boone and Campbell Counties.  This will also save an employee of Kenton County from draining Freon all day, because this gentleman will do this job and pay us for each ton of scrap we provide and is comparable to a rate we are currently getting

Commissioner Koenig made the motion to approve with Commissioner Humpert's second.  Approval was given upon roll call.

Ordinances

There were not any ordinances presented to the court.

Resolutions

No resolutions were brought before the court.

Executive Orders

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 04-34-Appointment of David Matthews as Dispatch Manager, effective May 11, 2004.  Commissioner Humpert moved for approval of the appointment; seconded by Commissioner Black.  The motion was unanimously approved.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 04-35-Appointment of various seasonal maintenance positions for Public Works Department, effective May 7, 2004:  Commissioner Humpert made a motion for approval with Commissioner Koenig's second.  Following roll call, the motion was unanimously approved.

Citizen Address

There were no citizens present to address the court.

Staff Reports

Deputy Judge-Executive Scott Kimmich-Asked for authorization for Judge Drees to sign an agreement with Thelen Associates for geotechnical work on a retaining wall on Kyles Lane.  The total cost of the contract for geotechnical is $5,199.

Attorney Edmondson said we would be paying one-fourth of this amount.  Mr. Kimmich said the contract would be endorsed for the entire cost and we would be repaid 75 percent of the cost.

Commissioner Humpert made the motion to approve with Commissioner Koenig's second.  Upon roll call, the motion unanimously carried.

Deputy Judge Kimmich said a town hall meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday at Indpendence.  There will be an election on this date and this may continue until after 6:00 p.m. with vote counting and the courthouse will probably be in use.  It was asked that this meeting be cancelled with the court's approval and the press will be notified.

Commissioner Koenig made the motion; seconded by Commissioner Black.  The motion was unanimously approved.

Human Resources Director-Mr. Shriver said he was very pleased with the appointment of David Matthews who comes here from Hamilton County and has 30+ years experience at their dispatch center.

County Attorney's Report-No report.

Commissioners' Reports

Commissioner Humpert-No report.

Commissioner Black-No report.

Commissioner Koenig-Stated that he would like to commend the staff for a job well done at the golf course.  Last Friday the outing was held that is held every year and all three courses were filled.  They were all set up and in good shape.

Executive Session

There was no executive session.

Adjournment

Commissioner Black moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Humpert.  Adjournment of the court was unanimously approved.