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Chippewa County health audit gets clean opinion despite $871,600 loss; multiple health contracts approved
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Summary
The Finance Committee approved a clean audit for the Chippewa County Health Department despite a reported $871,600 operating loss and authorized grant-funded advertising, short-term MIHP contractor services, vendor contracts and an administrative bank-account move.
The Chippewa County Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee approved the Chippewa County Health Department’s fiscal year 2024 audit and a package of departmental contracts and administrative changes during its April 15 meeting.
Ken Talsma of Anderson, Tackman & Company presented the audit and reported an unmodified (clean) opinion for the department’s financial statements for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024. Talsma said the department recorded an operating loss of $871,600, leaving an unrestricted fund balance of $348,981, and that a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) letter will be sent to the State of Michigan because this is the third consecutive year of losses. Commissioners thanked Health Officer Karen Senkus and Finance Director Doug Welton for staff cooperation in producing the timely audit. The committee voted to approve and release the audit as presented.
Beyond the audit, the committee approved several health-department expenditures and contract actions, all of which were reported as grant-covered unless otherwise noted. Approved items included Lamar billboard advertising ($23,200 total: $20,000 for Family Planning and $3,200 for Medical Marijuana), Lake Superior State University dasher boards for Family Planning ($4,400), and Sovereign Communications radio advertising for Family Planning ($15,000). Commissioner Justin Knepper asked about advertisement language; the committee said the language is predetermined by the State of Michigan.
The committee also approved an Independent Contractor Provider Agreement with Lisa Tatrow to provide Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) services at $75 per visit effective April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, or until a permanent social worker is hired, with a 30-day termination clause. The board approved an Abilita retainer agreement to support telecom-billing review and recommendations ($375 per month for 24 months, automatic 12-month renewal) and approved an access agreement with Brightree/MatrixCare to maintain Home Health & Hospice patient-file access (first-year cost shown as $2,250; the committee discussed a seven-year program of payments).
Separately, the committee authorized moving Health Department bank accounts at Central Savings Bank to the County’s EIN to simplify administration and avoid setting up new accounts. Commissioners approved reducing food-service license fees for Washington and Lincoln elementary schools to $71 each so the schools can continue to serve food through the end of the school year; the $71 fee includes a $30 payment to the State of Michigan and a prorated $41 local fee.
The committee’s approvals came by voice vote on motions moved and seconded by commissioners; the audit motion and the related contracts were carried as presented. The committee did not identify any audit findings for corrective audit-reporting purposes, though the CAP for the State will address the recurring operating losses. The committee took no additional formal fiscal actions beyond approval and direction to publish or release documents as required.