NEW ULM - The Board County Board unanimously approved 2010 and 2011 assisted-living contracts for seven county facilities Tuesday.

Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson told the board the contracts were designed by the State Department of Human Services (DHS) as a uniform way to provide uniform assisted-living facility rates across the state as of Jan. 1.

"We are guessing the overall effect will not change the amount of money flowing to assisted-living facilities for public-pay clientele," Henderson said. "The general trend is rates for clients with emotional, behavioral, and more serious service needs will rise. Those not in need of many services may see lower rates."

The contracts have incentives for clients with many needs and disincentives for those without needs or with fewer needs.

"They want assisted-living facilities to provide intensive care for people to keep them out of nursing homes," Henderson said.

The contracts will be used at Ridgeway on German, Ridgeway on 23rd, Orchard Hill, Prairie Senior Cottages and Oakview Apartments in New Ulm; Countryside and Ross Park in Sleepy Eye; St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield and Brickstone Manor in Comfrey.

"We're an assisted-living-rich county with lots of openings," said Henderson. "Assisted-living in Minnesota is growing by leaps and bounds."

Commissioners also:

Received an advisory committee report on the adult protection program. Team members include Brown County Public Health Nurse Gloria Pearson, Tricia Niebuhr of the Brown County Attorney's Office, New Ulm Policeman Chris Moellenhoff, Brown County Sheriff's Deputy Leah Krenz, Bernie Epper of Brown County Victim Services, Jill Drake of St. John Lutheran Home, Springfield; plus Brian Smith, Jackie Nesvold, Lisa Langer, Barb Dietz and Dick Embacher of Brown County Family Services.

Embacher, the program supervisor, said the protection team is the voice of the community.

Last year, Brown County Family Services investigated allegations of 42 adult maltreatment reports.

Three cases were substantiated, 16 were inconclusive, nine were false, four were not able to be investigated and six are pending.

Received a report on the 2009 holiday projects and the Coats for Kids Project from Support Services Coordinator Bob Apitz.

Contributions from businesses, organizations, families and individuals totalled $54,350 for the benefit of 406 county households and more than 1,000 children, adults, disabled and elderly people.

The Coats for Kids Project value was a 46 percent increase that benefitted 64 more children and teens than in 2008.

"It shows the community and county stepped up in tough times," said County Board Chairman Richard Seeboth.

Learned in Henderson's report to state legislators Dennis Frederickson and Paul Torkelson that 140 Brown County general assistance medical care recipients, many of whom are chronically-ill, would lose benefits due to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment of the $400 million state program.

Henderson said eliminating the program will result in many adults losing medications and medical care, which could cost local and state taxpayers more than what was saved by cutting general assistance medical care in the first place.

Other legislative concerns included the need for a statewide property tax system, tax system simplification, road and bridge funding, not supporting road and bridge weight restriction exceptions, maintaining MS 375.37 (Soldiers Rest used only for veterans and spouses) as originally written on March 10, 1917 with regard to providing burial plots without charge for space, opposing Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) rule revisions, supporting landfill operators groups and Solid Waste Administrators Association positions against viewing all landfills the same and new siting and location standards.

Brown County Zoning Administrator Laine Sletta said the MPCA rule changes would drive small demolition landfills in Brown County out of business.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).