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Price County Health & Human Services Board Meeting Minutes Date: April 8, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Courthouse County Board Room 101; 126 Cherry St; Phillips, WI 54555 Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Paula Houdek, Committee Chair Roll Call Members Present: Joe Baratka, Paula Houdek, Sally Huml, Robert Kopisch, Suzanne Ocker, Patricia Stephan, Gerald Swenson, Dennis Wartgow Members Excused: Nicole Kulwicki Also Present: Krisan Bastil, Health and Human Services Accounting Assistant; Kayla Borgen, Children and Youth Division Manager; Brian Ernst, County Chair; Dawn Griesel, Aging and Disability Division Manager; Keri Hammond, Health and Human Services Fiscal Administration Division Manager; Beth Moore, Economic Support; Chana Rymarkiewicz, Behavioral Health Division Manager; Sarah Reese- Socha, Health and Human Services Director Items For Discussion and Possible Action 1. Public Comment and Communications: None. 2. Vouchers – Krisan Bastil: Motion Baratka/Stephan to approve the vouchers in the amounts of $205,256.94 for February and March 2026 (Period 13); and $401,347.88 for February and March 2026. Motion carried. 3. Minutes from February 11, 2026, Meeting: Motion Swenson/Wartgow to approve the February 22, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion carried. 4. Committee Appointments a. HHSB: Sally Huml (term 6/1/2026 through 5/31/2029): The appointment was recognized. 5. Subcommittee Appointments a. Price County Nutrition Advisory Council (terms 5/1/2026 through 4/30/2028): Robin Nielsen, David Schmidt, Dani Hoffman: The appointments were recognized. b. Price County Transportation Coordination Committee (terms 5/1/2026 through 4/30/2028): Patricia Stephan (County Supervisor), Marty Stephan (City of Phillips Alderperson); Jason McMillan (Transportation Provider); Susan Stanke (Consumer Advocate through 4/30/2027): The appointments were recognized. The City of Phillips Alderperson seat is dependent upon the Spring 2026 election, and an alternate may be appointed. 6. Public Health Unit – Tiffany Palecek a. Quarterly Report: The quarterly Public Health Activity Report was presented and is on file. Palecek was excused. 7. Children & Youth – Kayla Borgen (Moved up from agenda item # 8) a. Quarterly Report: The Price County Placement Statistics; 2026 Qtr. 1 Placement Types and Costs; and Annual Placement Costs reports were presented and are on file. In 2026, for quarter one, 21 children were placed in out-of-home care, and 38% of those statistics are drug related. Price County’s annual placement costs for 2026 are $154,953 less than last year. It’s a struggle to find local foster homes. There is a funding source Price County received to keep 15 children in homes, who would have been removed without it. There were 66 Child Protective Services referrals in quarter one, and 26 of those were provided with services. HHS Director received a letter recognizing the agency’s successful effort, exceeding at least 95% of the children in care have had caseworker contact at least once monthly. Discussion on increasing cases of children and youth referred to the County for services. 8. Aging & Disability / Senior Services Unit – Kris Mabie, Dawn Griesel (Originally agenda item # 7) a. Aging & Disability Quarterly Report – Dawn Griesel: Presented the Aging and Disability Unit Quarter 1 Report 2026 including Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for ADRC Specialists, the Dementia Care Specialist, the Disability Benefit Specialist, and Adult Protective Services (APS). The report is on file. The Memory Café / Support Groups under the Dementia Care Specialist has been well attended and a new group is in the works at the Park Falls Public Library. Adult protective services has been busy, receiving a lot of referrals, many of which are complex cases requiring a lot of staff time and attention.  Note: At 9:30 a.m. Joe Baratka joined the meeting in person. b. ADRC Governing Board Update – Dawn Griesel: Iron County hired an ADRC Specialist at end of March, as Price County had been covering their department in the interim. Financials appear to be good and standard. There are openings on the board. There will be a conversion in ADRC billing for Medicaid in July 2026, and the entire unit has received training. c. Woodland Enhanced Health (WEH) Service Commission – Dawn Griesel: Discussed changes being made at the Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center. Further discussed combining two adult male units to create one coed unit in order to open more female beds. Houdek attended a WEH rate-setting, Ad Hoc committee meeting held on February 24th. There were no recommended changes because funding is adequate at this time. Further updates will be given in August. d. NAC Update – Kris Mabie: The last meeting was held on January 29th. Peggy Kahl is the new Park Falls site manager substitute. The financial report was presented and is on file. Two new Nutrition Advisory Council members were recommended for appointment. A majority of the dining sites have satisfactory reports. The next meeting will be April 23rd in Brantwood. e. COA Update – Kris Mabie: The last meeting was held on December 8th at the Park Falls Peace Center. The financial report was presented and is on file. The Phillips Café received the meal contract bid at $5.45 per meal in January 2026, with a suggested contribution of $5.25 for congregate meals and $5.75 for home-delivered meals. Discussed the Senior Living Expo and senior programs such as the Edmund Fitzgerald presentation and the Fall Color Ride. There are currently five volunteer drivers, and the 8525 transportation grant was completed. Memorandums Of Understanding (MOUs) were sent out and returned for rental agreements at nutrition sites. The next meeting is scheduled for April 13th at the Normal Building. f. Senior Services Quarterly Report – Kris Mabie: The Senior Services Quarterly Report for 2025 was presented and is on file. For the 4th quarter, 72 people received home delivered meals, 167 people participated in congregate dining, and a total of 1697 meals were served. A volunteer luncheon for volunteer drivers for medical appointments and home delivered meals will be held at Maries on Fayette on April 21st. g. TCC Update – Patricia Stephan: The last meeting was held on April 6th. New appointments were recommended. TCC representatives have been reaching out to Butternut and Fifield for funding, as both frequently use the BART service. Fifield donated funding in 2026, and Butternut is considering donating in 2027. Routes have been constant and busy. Free rides will continue for Veterans and free rides will be offered for kids aged 17 and under. Children under 6 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or responsible party. Fuel cost is not an issue now. The County discontinued communication with the original vendor for the electric bus ordered between two and three years ago. There was a discussion on the comparison between electric and gas-powered buses and vehicles. The biggest hurdle to overcome regarding electric bus for public transportation in our area is the ability to maintain heating for passengers. Discussion on electric vehicles and excess electric energy required when there is rain, wind, drag, or rough terrain such as snowy and icy road conditions. The County approved ARPA funds and has through the end of the year to use them on the acquisition of a bus. Discussion on purchasing a gas bus, instead of electric, to be in compliance. Discussion on ground level buses and their handicap accessibility versus standard buses with steps. 9. Behavioral Health Unit – Chana Rymarkiewicz a. Quarterly Report: Presented Behavioral Health Unit Reporting: Crisis Calls 2026; Behavioral Health Programs; and Children’s Service Programs Currently Enrolled; and the reports are all on file. b. Request – New Position Social Worker CLTS (Children’s Long-Term Support): There has been a request for up to two (2) new social workers positions to handle at least 71 cases open now; whereas the state indicates up to 20-25 cases should be allocated per worker. Currently, there is one caseworker for all 71 cases. The new position would be funded by both state and federal reimbursements. Social worker qualifications are required for the position. Motion Baratka/Kopisch to request up to two (2) New Position(s) for a Social Worker CLTS (Children’s Long-Term Support). Motion carried. 10. Economic Support – Beth Moore a. Quarterly Report: Moore was excused. 11. Fiscal and Administrative Unit – Keri Hammond a. High-Cost Placements Reports: The High-Cost Placement – Children and Youth report, and the High-Cost Placement – AODA report were both presented and are on file. 12. Director Report – Sarah Reese-Socha a. Agency Updates: The new Children and Youth social worker position was referenced above. Price County Health Officer, Tiffany Palacek was appointed to the Rural Health Program Transformation Advisory Council as an advocate for health programs in rural counties. Palacek was one of 23 chosen out of 194 applications from 62 counties. b. Personnel Updates: The ADRC Specialist retired, and Health and Human Services will accept applications through April 17th. 13. Next meeting: May 13, 2026 14. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 10:19 a.m. by Paula Houdek, Board Chairperson. Respectfully Submitted by Meredith Hueckman, County Clerk