Morgan County human services approves April and May payments; director warns federal law changes could affect benefits

The Morgan County Board of Social/Human Services approved multiple Department of Human Services (DHS) financial items during its July 15, 2025 meeting, including warrants and provider/vendor benefit certifications for April and May.

Susan Nitzel, Accounting Manager for Morgan County Department of Human Services, told the board that April operating warrants totaled $282,349.16 and payroll direct deposits were $240,131.04, for a combined total of $522,480.20; she said the increase from March to April was driven largely by quarterly contract payments arriving. The board approved the warrants on a 3-0 vote after Commissioner Kelvin S. Bernhardt moved to approve and Commissioner Timothy A. Malone seconded.

Nitzel presented the April Certification of Provider and Vendor Benefit Authorizations at $879,828.45 and said there was a month-to-month decrease of about $28,000, mostly in food-stamp payments and LEAP, with TANF and foster-care totals also down. The board approved the April certification 3-0.

For May, Nitzel reported operating warrants of $260,028.56 and payroll direct deposits of $234,259.55, totaling $494,288.11, which she attributed to fewer requests submitted that month; the board approved the May warrants 3-0. Nitzel said the May certification totaled $880,367.13, an increase of roughly $500 from April driven by increases in child care despite a drop in food-stamp payments; year-to-year comparisons showed a roughly $16,000 decline concentrated in childcare and foster-care categories.

Jacque Frenier, Morgan County Department of Human Services director, said department leadership is "waiting to see how new federal laws will affect their programs," and noted foster-care placements are down while kinship-care placements are up. When Chairman Jon J. Becker asked about likely effects, Frenier said Medicaid and SNAP benefits could be affected "several years down the road." Commissioner Kelvin S. Bernhardt asked for a definition of kinship care; Frenier said it refers to placement with a family member or someone with a prior relationship to the child.

Chairman Becker raised a question about whether school lunch fees were still being paid universally; Nitzel said she believed that was the case. The Board recessed at 9:14 a.m. after completing DHS business.

Actions at a glance: April warrants approved (total $522,480.20); April benefit certification approved ($879,828.45); May warrants approved ($494,288.11); May benefit certification approved ($880,367.13). All motions carried by recorded voice: movers and seconders recorded in the minutes; each motion carried 3-0.

The department noted that program-level impacts from federal law changes remain uncertain and will depend on future federal guidance and implementation timelines; no policy changes were adopted at the meeting.