Committee forwards letters supporting Attic Correctional Services housing program and North Central Healthcare medical-clearance funding

The Marathon County Public Safety Committee voted unanimously on motions to forward two letters of support to the County Board and to the state. The committee recommended that county administration draft a county board letter supporting an Attic Correctional Services housing-help program application, and separately approved sending a letter to state officials backing a proposal to locate medical-clearance services at North Central Healthcare.

The letters are meant to be used by outside providers as part of grant-seeking or state-budget advocacy. County Administrator Lance (Marathon County Administrator) told the committee that Attic Correctional Services has run a housing program in the past and is seeking to reapply for funding to help people, including justice-involved residents, secure stable housing. Attic representative Sean said a small 2022 grant helped 12 clients obtain housing and retain it.

“We saw a lot of success and we want to continue to, expand that through different sources,” Sean said, describing the earlier grant-supported placements and the agency’s intention to pursue new grants.

On the medical-clearance item, Lance described the problem law enforcement faces when officers must take people to emergency departments for medical clearance before a mental-health hospitalization can occur. He said the governor’s budget has discussed regional options. Lance and Gary Olson of North Central Healthcare said placing medical-clearance capacity on-site at North Central Healthcare could reduce strain on emergency departments and speed access to appropriate mental-health care.

Gary Olson (North Central Healthcare representative) said the agency has space and is assembling a budget request to present to legislators and requested a letter of support from the county.

Chief Deputy Bill Milhousen (Chief Deputy Sheriff) and others in attendance also supported forwarding the medical-clearance letter; Olson described coordination with the sheriff’s office.

Both motions to forward the letters were moved and seconded during the meeting and approved by voice vote. For the Attic letter, the committee directed county administration to draft a letter of support to be considered by the County Board (mover: Deb; second: Al; outcome: approved by voice vote). For North Central Healthcare’s medical-clearance request, the committee voted to support forwarding a letter to the state (mover: Jason; second: Deb; outcome: approved by voice vote).

The motions were procedural: they direct county administration to prepare letters for the County Board or for state advocacy. No county funding commitment or programmatic implementation was approved by the committee at this meeting; the actions are support letters to assist outside entities’ funding requests.

The committee’s next meeting agenda will include a discussion on state funding for court operations and consideration of a resolution to increase state funding for circuit court and justice system operations.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to direct county administration to draft and forward a letter of support on behalf of the county for Attic Correctional Services’ housing-help program application (mover: Deb; second: Al). Outcome: approved by voice vote (all ayes; no roll-call tally recorded). Note: the motion forwards a draft letter to the County Board for consideration; no county appropriation or program change was adopted at this meeting.

- Motion to support drafting and forwarding a letter to the State of Wisconsin backing the placement/funding of medical-clearance capacity at North Central Healthcare (mover: Jason; second: Deb). Outcome: approved by voice vote (all ayes; no roll-call tally recorded). The committee did not adopt a funding appropriation; this action was a letter of support to accompany North Central Healthcare’s funding request.

Ending

Committee members and staff emphasized that these letters are intended to help outside agencies secure grant or state funds; the committee did not authorize direct county expenditures for either request at this meeting. County administration will prepare draft letters for County Board consideration and for state advocacy in the coming weeks.