Committee forwards request to authorize monthly prepayment to Eaton Center for nursing services to full board

The Sheriff asked the committee to allow the county to prepay the Eaton Center monthly for nursing services rather than pay after services are rendered. The request was prompted after the vendor submitted quarterly vouchers with a short turnaround that the sheriff said made it difficult for the contractor to meet payroll. The sheriff told the committee that county voucher policy currently requires payment after services are rendered and that the proposed exception mirrors how behavioral-health contracts are prepaid. Committee members debated the general principle of prepayment and whether the county should hold funds until services are confirmed. One member said vendors should carry payroll until services are supplied; another member and the sheriff said historical and operational practice with other vendors has included prepaid arrangements and that lack of prepayment could make it difficult for the vendor to provide services. The sheriff described the Eaton Center arrangement as contractor staff who perform nursing in the county facility rather than county employees. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the request and a proposed exception to the voucher policy to the full board for final approval. Committee members directed staff to consider a true-up or reporting mechanism so the county only pays for shifts actually provided.