Rusk County Human Services opens HHS board seat, discusses difficult placement and staffing; board approves routine items

Rusk County Human Services discussed procedures for filling a forthcoming vacancy on the county Health and Human Services (HHS) board, staffing transitions, and a difficult placement for a youth at Lad Lake during its regular meeting. Board members also approved several routine motions, including posting letters of interest for the HHS vacancy and an amendment to a residential contract.

The board agreed to post a public call for letters of interest to fill “Mary’s spot” on the HHS board after staff advised that county ordinances require opening a seat to countywide applicants rather than routinely reappointing the same person. Under the described process, the county clerk will publish a notice with a roughly two-week deadline; submitted letters will go to the county clerk and then to the committee on committees for interviews and appointment if more than one applicant applies.

The posting process was moved, seconded and approved by the board. The meeting record does not list the mover or second by name, and no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

Board members heard a lengthy case update about a 15-year-old placed at Lad Lake who the presenter described as repeatedly leaving the facility, causing property damage and handling fireworks. Staff said Lad Lake — described in the meeting as about 4 hours and 10 minutes from the county — recently gave notice to remove the youth and the county is pursuing emergency short-term placement with a relative while seeking a longer-term option. Staff characterized the youth as resourceful, difficult to redirect and previously denied by multiple facilities before an earlier placement at Lad Lake; the presenter said this is the youth’s second stay there.

Staff noted potential placement options could include in-state treatment foster homes or, if necessary, out-of-state residential facilities, and that out-of-state placements would likely be more expensive. County staff said they are also considering transition to adult services when the youth reaches age 18. The presenter said the county had contacted statewide providers and received limited responses and that finding a suitable, long-term placement is expected to be “very, very difficult.”

On contracts, the board approved an amendment to a contract with Sunlight Assistive Living to reflect a second resident placed at that site; the amendment was moved, seconded and approved. The presenter indicated the amendment only updated the contract to add the additional individual and did not identify other changes in services or rates.

The board also approved continuing HHS representation on the Rusk County Transit Commission, authorizing either the named representative or a designee to attend commission meetings. That motion was moved, seconded and carried.

Meeting presenters provided several program and purchasing updates: selections and purchases for children’s long-term support (CLTS) items (sensory and safety devices), foster care and subsidized guardianship payments, staff travel to joint child maltreatment investigation training, interpreter services and public-health purchases for TB testing and epinephrine, and a note that some routine purchases (for example Amazon charges for client items and conference hotel costs) are tied to specific program needs. Staff also described a process for background checks for foster families and noted new hires and pending start dates for several positions in children and family services.

Board members raised broader concerns about possible federal funding cuts and the county’s preparedness. Staff said they monitor DHS and DCF memos and grant notices and will notify departments when changes are confirmed, but acknowledged uncertainty about ongoing federal grants. The transcript records multiple requests to monitor funding developments and for staff to flag substantive changes when they occur.

Votes at a glance - Approval to post letters of interest for the HHS board vacancy: moved, seconded, approved (tally not specified in the transcript). Referenced ordinance: county appointment procedures (not named in transcript). - Amendment to Sunlight Assistive Living contract to add a second resident: moved, seconded, approved (tally not specified). - Continued HHS representation to Rusk County Transit Commission (representative or designee authorized): moved, seconded, approved (tally not specified). - Routine approval of bills/claims and travel requests: motion made and seconded; meeting record indicates approval (detailed vote tallies not listed in transcript).

Why it matters: The appointment process change formalizes public notice and candidate review for HHS board vacancies, which could broaden applicant pools and affect future board composition. The difficulty in placing a youth with complex behaviors highlights regional capacity limits for higher-level residential treatment and could raise costs or require longer travel for placements. Staffing hires and contract amendments affect service capacity in children and family services and residential care.

The board asked staff to continue monitoring federal and state funding developments that could affect local programs and to return with updates as necessary. Staff said they will provide additional details by email when specific grant or contract questions arise.

Less critical items discussed at the meeting included routine purchases for CLTS families, one-time conference travel for staff, a note about a charitable-ticket program for Milwaukee Bucks games that staff will investigate, and brief public-health supply clarifications (TB testing supplies and epinephrine) for which staff said they would follow up with pricing and product-type details.