The Sherburne County Board last week approved a restructuring proposal in Health & Human Services (HHS) that will likely improve the department’s efficiency and save money.

 

Last month, HHS Director Mary Jo Cobb asked the board to consider adding two new management positions. That was in part the result of the retirement of 35-year HHS veteran Kathy Landwehr, who had served as Community Health Administrator and Public Health Nursing Supervisor.

 

It was also based on the fact that six of the department’s 13 supervisors had  less than two years experience at their position. All 13 supervisors reported directly to Cobb, unlike other counties that have middle-management positions to cut down on the load.

 

Under that proposal, the county would have hired an assistant director who was also qualified to be the Community Health Services Administrator, and hired a Public Health Nursing Supervisor at a cost increase of about $23,000 this year and $91,000 in 2018 - if the county could find people to fill the positions.

 

Last week, Cobb said she had met with staff and Assistant Administrator Dan Weber about alternative plans.

 

“We came up with a plan that would offer more assistance to me and to the agency and would cost less,” she said.

 

Under the new proposal, one new position would be added and three others would be reclassified: The lead social services supervisor would be reclassified to a manager position. The current administrative services supervisor position would be reclassified to a manager plus community health supervisor, and Kathy Landwehr’s former position changes to just public health nurse. The only addition would be the need to hire a new child welfare position.

 

Cobb said the plan seems complicated, but with two managers, the structure should work better.

 

“It’s allowing us to make a lot of changes quickly rather than asking for new positions,” she said. “And we are eliminating the administrative services unit, which is our clerical support. We’re going to find a way to attach staff to the different social service units so we don’t need that supervisory position.”

 

The plan will actually reduce the 2017 salary budget by $6,000 because of retirements. In 2018, the budget will increase by approximately $65,000.

 

The board approved the proposal.

 

“The board will be anxious to hear how it’s working in six months,” said Commissioner Felix Schmiesing, “so we know whether we’ve done the right thing.”

 

The board approved a proposal for commissioning services for the Government Center expansion project by Halberg Engineering in the amount of $89,000.

 

The firm tests all the systems: mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, controls and electrical equipment to assure they have been designed, installed and maintained according to operational requirements.

 

The board approved the purchase of two 2017 Ford Fusions in the amount of $17,107.72 each for the county’s vehicle fleet. The vehicles will replace a 2007 Chevy Impala with 118,000 miles and a 2010 Jeep Patriot with 95,000. Both those vehicles need minor/major repairs and will be put up for bid.

 

In other action the board:

• Approved the payment of $413,369.44 to the City of Elk River for permits, plan check, state surcharge and sewer availability charges for the Government Center building expansion project;

 

• Approved a request by the Information Technology Dept. to spend up to $75,000 for Network Consulting to install the Cisco Voice-over IP Phone System to the most current version;

 

• Passed a resolution allowing partial reimbursement to townships and cities for gopher bounties up to $0.75 per gopher in 2017. Reimbursements in 2016 totalled $2,995.13;

• Set the Truth in Taxation meeting for Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.