Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mhrsb Merger topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seneca County commissioners accept Huron County into regional Mental Health & Recovery Services Board
Summary
After a presentation by Mitchell Handru, commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 16 to accept Huron County into the existing four-county Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, pending required state approval and calendar alignment for a July 1 effective date.
Seneca County commissioners voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to accept Huron County into the existing Mental Health & Recovery Services Board that serves Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot counties. Mitchell Handru, representing the Mental Health and Recovery Service Board, presented the district's rationale for consolidation and asked commissioners to adopt a resolution accepting the Huron County board's request to merge.
Handru described operational benefits of consolidation, including administrative savings, shared service providers and improved competitiveness for state and federal grants. "We are asking for the merger to be effective July 1," Handru said, explaining that a July budget date eases the state-level transition. He said the state director will be the last step in approving any merger and that the law allows up to 12 months for the state to act.
Handru said consolidation would not move locally collected property-tax levies away from their counties: funds collected in each county must remain attributed to that county under the governing statute. He also noted the district's current properties and capital investments, and said the board expects to hire one additional full-time employee if the merger is approved.
On operational capacity, Handru said Huron County currently has no mental-health group-home beds and described how a larger district allows providers to offer placements more efficiently and at negotiated rates to district residents. "Today, Huron County has 0 mental health group home beds," he said, urging commissioners to view the district as a single service area in which residents can access beds without paying premium out-of-county rates.
Following the presentation and Q&A about board appointments, governance and reporting, the commissioners moved and seconded a resolution to accept Huron County into the district; roll-call votes recorded three affirmative votes and the resolution passed. Commissioners and staff noted the acceptance follows the Huron County board's 13–0 vote and that final merger status requires state approval.
