Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Mou topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council delays vote on Plainview Serenity Center MOU to get data on nonresident service use
Summary
The council postponed Item 6.8 — a routine MOU between Lubbock Health Department and Plainview Serenity Center for referrals — to March 10 after council members requested counts showing whether city resources are used to treat nonresidents; vote to postpone was 6–1.
The council voted Feb. 10 to postpone consideration of a memorandum of understanding between the Lubbock Health Department and Plainview Serenity Center until the March 10 meeting so staff can provide data on how much city‑funded services have been provided to nonresidents.
"This MOU is an agreement for both parties to send and receive referrals to one another during the current fiscal year," Dr. Wells, director of the health department, told the council, adding the agreement is a routine renewal of a partnership that has existed at least six years. She said many grants encourage or require partner MOUs for coordination.
Council members pressed Wells on whether city tax dollars could be used to treat people who do not pay Lubbock taxes. Councilman Glasheen asked for a count of instances where Lubbock taxpayer‑funded services treated residents of other jurisdictions and moved to delay the item. "I have a real concern about the Lubbock Health Department expanding into a regional health department, especially with programs that are funded by Lubbock taxpayers," Glasheen said on the record.
Dr. Wells replied that some programs (for example, an intermediary care clinic) are geared toward city residents while other programs — including many grant‑funded services — are open to anyone who walks through the door; she offered to provide more detailed, discrete counts to the council.
The council seconded Glasheen’s motion and approved postponement by voice vote; the mayor recorded the outcome as 6 in favor and 1 opposed. Staff said the requested data could be produced for the first March meeting.
