NEW ULM - What to do with the impending loss of a 24-hour, 10-bed, regional mental health crisis center in Mankato is weighing heavy on the minds of area mental health professionals.
Brown County Human Services Director Tom Henderson told Brown County commissioners Tuesday that two weeks ago, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) decided to close the Mankato facility that serves 11 counties as of May 1, with the intention of saving $1.3 million a year.
"This is a big blow to the region," Henderson wrote in his board agenda notes. "We're working fast as a region to figure this out."
He added that the DHS "dropped the ball, losing too much money on third party reimbursements and decided to close the facility without much interaction with us."
Henderson said Brown County sends a handful of people monthly to the Mankato Crisis Center who spend a few days there or receive only out-patient crisis service.
Henderson said after talking with a state official, region directors and staff of Immanuel-St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato there is a plan to keep the facility open by privatizing at an estimated annual cost of $547,500.
Otherwise, patients would get more expensive stays at a state hospital or allowing them to wind up in a hospital emergency room.
Commissioners unanimously approved:
Brown County Fraud/Collections Agent Preston Cowing's annual report showed two 2009 criminal convictions totaled $3,062; seven administrative disqualifications, $2,114.70 and nine civil recoveries generated $16,569.20.
Since September 1994, the Brown County collections program generated $563,325.02 in Medical Assistance funds; $365,580.89 in recovered detox fees; and $180,838.85 in placement fees.
Total recoveries for the period were $3,244,866.53; of which $1.324,673.28 came back to Brown County.
The Brown County Evaluations/Detox Contract Addendum, using "Billing Buddies," a private billing firm (with 12 percent service fee) and raising the per diem rate from $255 to $320/day with a $65 daily discount for payment within 30 days.
The annual license bureau report showed 8,193 motor vehicle titles; 20,518 tab renewals; 7,503 driver's licenses; 1,722 boat/snowmobile renewals; and 1,101 game and fish privileges processed.
Revenues were down in all categories except game and fish fees due to fewer new car purchases, three local car dealerships that closed and online mail renewals.
Authorizing the county highway department to obtain bids to replace the fuel dispensing system used by the sheriff's department, Heartland buses, the highway department and other county vehicles.
County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens said completely replacing the worn-out, 20-year-old fuel system is estimated to cost $80,000; excluding tanks.
A resolution requesting a State of Emergency to receive state and/or federal assistance for 2010 flooding.
A resolution and letter of commitment for planning and executing a sub-grant agreement to update the county all-hazard mitigation plan.
Allocation of a 2010 AgBMP (best management practices) loan application for $300,000 in low-interest loans for farmers interested in implementing conservation practices to prevent or reduce runoff from feedlots and farm fields or projects that reduce existing water quality problems caused by agriculture activities or failed septic systems.
A proposed land acquisition by the State of Minnesota for a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) from Pheasants Forever was postponed to the April 3 meeting.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).