NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners will learn May 25 that a number of Brown County Public Health (BCPH) programs that were reduced, altered, or suspended due to COVID-19, are gradually returning.

Board meetings are held in the law enforcement center training room until further notice. Zoom access is available by calling Brown County Administration at 507-233-6600.

Karen Moritz’ BCPH update reads that in-person universal contact and targeted family home visiting, WIC (Women, Infants & Children) certification office visits and SCHA (South Country Health Alliance) care coordination annual assessments are returning.

In addition, public health is accepting additional referrals for targeted home visiting and public health nurse clinics.

All interactions with clients in the home or office will continue to be done with personal protective equipment in place including medical grade surgical or N95 masks.

Moritz will provide a COVID-19 situational update Tuesday including Brown County by the numbers, case investigation, contact tracing, and vaccination information plus current COVID-19 stay safe guidelines and restrictions in place.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A family facilitator report and 2021-22 school year contracts.

• Annual reports from the South Central Community-Based Initiative, Mental Health Local Advisory Council, Bridge on Center, and adult and children’s mental health program review.

• BCPH to DocuSign the Influenza Project Grant Agreement Amendment. A $10,000 grant was originally received as a critical part of COVID-19 response work in November 2020. The grant was retroactive for work completed back to Sept. 15, 2020. Public health was able to expend $7,238.16 of the original grant.

With the COVID-19 vaccine available at the end of December, influenza vaccine promotion was suspended. BCPH requested to be part of an extension of incoming flu season funds to June 30, 2022 to receive the remaining $2,861.84.

• Annual agreements between BCPH and Little Sprouts Learning Center, Sleepy Eye, new to BCPH daycare consultation services. Little Sprouts provides daycare for infants and children plus has a pre-school program.

• Consider options to remotely monitor the law enforcement center and courthouse fire panel. Option 1 would install an IP dialer for $1,908.83 that requires a $40 monthly fee. Alarms are sent to Johnson Controls, then forwarded to a pre-determined contact list until someone responds. Option 2 is installing a $3,240.93 Safelink card with no monthly fee. Alarms are emailed or texted to a list and can be remotely accessed.

• Extending to Sept. 15, 2021 the allowance of vacation time accrual to exceed the 200 hour limit due to vacation requests denied for employees whose position duties and department staffing needs are directly impacted due to the COVID-19 virus, as approved by department heads and human resource director.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).