Council on Aging and Disabilities Meeting — Minutes

Council on Aging and Disabilities Minutes June 12, 2026 8:30 AM St. Croix County Service Center - Room 171 & 172 1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin Call to Order Council on Aging and Disabilities (COAD) Chair Darci Strutt called the May 8, 2026 meeting of the COAD to order at approximately 8:30 AM. Roll Call PRESENT: Paulette Anderson, Joan Detloff, Carol Hajicek, Danielle McIntosh, Bonnie Richert, Amy Schneider, Darci Strutt, ABSENT: Wayne Roen, Bob Swanepoel, Others in attendance: Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Strategist Genevieve Palazzolo, HHS Lead Finance Specialist Ashley Vanasse, Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Supervisor Amy Roemhild, ADRC Administrator Kristin Newton, and HHS Director Bob Rohert, Compass IL Ashley Lien, Compass IL Samantha Lotts, Compass IL Bobbi Craig. Approval of Minutes COAD Chair Strutt asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions to the minutes. With no changes suggested, the minutes were accepted as presented. 1. Minutes of Previous Meeting — Friday, May 8, 2026 Public Comment COAD Chair Strutt opened the meeting to public comment for items on or off the agenda. No public comment requests were submitted today. Info/Discussion Items 1. Financial Report for April 2026 HHS Lead Finance Specialist Ashley Vanasse shared the ADRC monthly financial report. Vanasse shared contributions are lower this year than last year. Most likely due to a decrease in meals provided and that consumers are struggling to pay suggested contributions. ADRC Administrator announced that ADRC is reevaluating how we accept payments and how we send out our contribution letters. Discussion and questions followed. 2. COMPASS IL Presentation Compass IL Samantha Lotts shared they serve 10 counties within Western Wisconsin. They are Medicaid providers and work with IRIS and Inclusa. Compass IL Personal Assistant Services program provides assistance to adults and children with disabilities. Help can range from simple personal needs, supportive home care, respite, to complex personal care. Compass IL's goal is to keep individuals in their home. Compass IL Director Ashley Lien gave an overview of Compass IL. Lien shared that Compass IL has 5 core services; Information and Referral, Advocacy, Independent Living Training, Peer Support, and Transition. Compass IL also helps with individuals being released from jail and prison. Compass IL Transportation Director Bobbi Craig shared that Compass IL provides rides in 42 counties. Compass IL provides transportation for medical, recreational, work, and crisis services for mental health transportation. Compass IL can cross county lines and state lines. Compass IL transportation is volunteer-based. Cost depends on what each county sets up. Discussion and questions followed. 3. Communicable Disease Update HHS Public Health Strategist Genevieve Palazzolo shared a communicable disease update on Measles, Hantavirus, Ebola, ticks, respiratory, heat and air quality. Palazzolo shared that there has been no new Measles activity in Wisconsin since January. Most individuals with Measles are unvaccinated. Palazzolo also shared that the Department of Health Services (DHS) is monitoring the Hantavirus outbreak related to a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic. There were no passengers from Wisconsin on the ship and Wisconsin currently has no known cases. The risk to Wisconsin residents is low. Hantavirus is a rare family of viruses, usually spread to humans by rodents. It can cause a severe respiratory disease in people and early symptoms can look like the flu. Wisconsin DHS monitors information coming from international and national experts. DHS is also monitoring Ebola. Ebola symptoms start like the flu. It is a serious, life-threatening virus that can cause outbreaks. It spreads through contact with body fluids of infected animals and people. There is little risk of Ebola in the US due to the outbreak in Congo. Palazzolo shared tick season had an early peak this year. So far, St. Croix County, we have had 5 emergency department visits this year. She also shared how to prevent tickborne illness. Respiratory activity is low in the Western Region. No indication of the summer COVID-19 wave yet, but it is still expected and has been larger than the winter wave in recent years. The Cicada variant (BA.3.2) has been circulating for some time without making much of an impact. The growing variant is XFG, which is still a descendant of Omicron. Lastly, Palazzolo shared heat-related illness has been low to moderate this week. As summer continues, it's important to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity, sun protection and use A/C when indoors. Recently, Public Health was awarded a grant and has partnered with local libraries in Baldwin and Hammond to put out flags representing daily air quality. This is an asthma prevention initiative that can benefit everyone. Discussion and questions followed. Request for Future Agenda Items COAD Chair Strutt asked if there were any suggestions for future agenda items. COAD Chair Strutt suggested we have a reminder of COAD purpose. COAD Chair Strutt also suggested Kitty Rhoades update. Announcements COAD Chair Strutt asked if there were any announcements today. ADRC Administrator Kristin Newton announced: COAD does not have a meeting in July and the next meeting will be Friday, August 14th. ADRC is currently recruiting for a Volunteer Coordinator. The Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resource (GWAAR) has asked St. Croix County to host our next nutrition training, and it will be at the Hudson Government Center next week. The Senior Picnic is next Friday, June 19th, at Park Building in Hammond. ADRC is discontinuing the Monster Mash Bingo Bash and looking to create a different event. The Men Shed is having another event in August. The Farmers Market vouchers are available until the end of October. St. Croix County Fair is coming up and ADRC will have a booth. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is starting June 16th. Connection Café for Brain Health is currently being held in Baldwin and New Richmond. HHS Director Bob Rohert announced: ADRC Administrator Newton and ADRC Supervisor Roemhild attended the HHS Board meeting to request another ADRC Specialist. HHS hired Diana Martinson as a new Executive Administrative Assistant. COAD council member Amy Schneider announced that St. Croix Therapy is having a gala to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Thursday, August 6th. Date of Next Meeting The COAD does not meet in July. The next COAD meeting is Friday, August 14th. 1. Date of Next Meeting - Friday, July 10, 2026 Adjournment COAD Strutt called this June 12, 2026 meeting to adjourn at approximately 9:41 AM.