By Sara Strong
Seniors who can’t afford to an assisted living facility or who can’t hold out to get on a waiting list might have another option.
Lutheran Social Services asked Rock County for a contract to provide assisted living services to residents of the Centennial Apartments in Luverne.
The Board didn’t object to the contract in principle, so Family Services will start the process of working on a contract for the Board’s final approval.
LSS already provides a similar service in Nobles County. It contracts for the care providers and gives residents a choice to accept services and to specifically choose the ones they want.
Assisted living through LSS would provide a higher level of care than the home care that’s currently provided through Nobles-Rock Public Health, but residents could still use Public Health if they chose.
Bonnie Fredrickson, director of Nobles-Rock Public Health, said "It’s good for people to age [where they
are] rather than move to get services."
Her only concern with LSS providing assisted living is that Public Health may lose up to $8,000 per month from clients it now has in the Centennial Apartments if they chose another option.
No matter who provides it, assisted living costs more than home health care, but would still prevent nursing home placements, which are the most costly alternative.
LSS and Rock County Family Services asked the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, which is building an assisted living facility in Luverne, if it would consider this move competition.
With a strong community need for assisted living, the Mary Jane Brown Center wouldn’t object.
With Family Services consenting to the Centennial contract with LSS, it can revoke the contract if it finds that services aren’t adequate for residents.
County wages/hires
The Board of Commissioners approved a hiring freeze, anticipating the worst in state budget effects.
It also discussed the proposed state legislation freezing wages of state and public employees.
The wage increase freeze wouldn’t apply to elected positions, such as auditor/treasurer, recorder and sheriff.
As employees retire or leave positions vacant, department managers are asked to make due without the position filled. If it seems impossible, they will have to formally request to fill the position with the County Board.
Public employee union members organized a meeting Tuesday night regarding the salary freeze.
Corrections
The good news in Community Corrections is that numbers of people on probation is holding steady with the population increase.
The Rock County Board of Commissioners voted to pass a two-year Community Corrections plan at its Tuesday meeting.
In a joint meeting with Nobles County, Rock County got an update on Community corrections.
Both counties will see an increase in the next few years in the 20 to 29 age group, which is the group that commits the most crimes. Even if most of the crimes are misdemeanors, the system will be busy.
Juveniles are becoming a bigger concern for corrections as well. In the last two years, there have been 200 and 165, respectively, on probation in the counties, but through a special diversion program, more are avoiding probation.
While in custody, the goal is to stave off future offenses.
There will be more teachers in the jail, offering life skills classes and special women’s programs.
He said that risk assessment there can help criminals and victims. "That assessment tool will allow us to put the most resources in those with the greatest risk of re-offending — it’ll give us a bigger bang for our buck."
Although the majority of crimes are misdemeanors or DWI and drug convictions, minorities make up a disproportionate amount of the local jail system.
Eighty-six percent of the population of Nobles and Rock Counties is Caucasian, but 48 percent of the probation population is made up of minorities.
Community Corrections looks for continued involvement with the Collaborative groups in both counties, which have appeared to help in crime prevention.
In other business Tuesday, the board:
Asked to get a report from Sheriff Mike Winkels on suspect pursuit policies.
Three officers, Evan Verbrugge, Jeff Wieneke and Ken Baker were involved in an accident Dec. 29 while chasing a stolen vehicle on a gravel road. Reduced visibility from road dust was a factor in the crash.
Damage to the squad cars ranged from $480 to $3,200.
Saw a fee collection tally from the License Center. Rock County collected $77,097 in license fees in 2002 and the state of Minnesota got $2,256,180 collected in Rock County. Rock County’s License Center was noted for being one of the most accurate in the state.
Approved asking a district representative and senator to change the county recorder position from elected to appointed. The current recorder, Jere Ohme, approves of the legislation.
Proposed a lease agreement for land used in the Continental Western Group expansion. The lease will go to the Luverne Economic Development Authority for approval. The county set the lease on its .39 acres at $1,000 per year. There is an option to sell at the 10-year mark for $10,000.
Approved the purchase of filtering software for the Internet and e-mail. The software blocks certain Web sites and personal e-mail accounts (such as Yahoo! or Hotmail) not located on the county’s server. In the past, viruses have come through this type of Internet use and the filter will help stop that.