Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Hurley — It might get a bit crowded in the Iron County Department of Human Services office in the near future. That was the news Director of Human Services Cally Kilger delivered Monday at the county’s Human Services Committee meeting when discussing the merger between the county’s aging unit and Aging and Disability Resource Center.
“There has been some brainstorming as to how to fit everybody into the current space if we have additions to staff, which may occur very soon with the integration of the aging unit,” Kilger told the committee. “There’s some possible options ... on how we could do that, just as an idea for the future, as it may need to happen.”
Kilger said there was currently one office open, which was occupied by former department head Carolyn Kolson-Janov, who recently retired. There is also an office used by the department’s nine “floaters,” who provide services on an infrequent basis and aren’t in the department on a full-time basis.
“It could range from once a month to two to three times per week,” said Kilger, regarding the frequency floaters visit the courthouse. “So scheduling one floater office can get very dicey sometimes for us.”
If there is an increase in staff, Kilger mentioned the possibility of dividing the vacant office and adding an office to the department’s current storage area. Kilger also said the department was examining potentially locating an office in the current lobby area.
Complicating the issue is the legal requirements facing the department, given the services it provides.
“We’re going to have to make sure that any walls that we put up, or partitions we put up, are going to be a bit sound proof,” said Kilger. “Because a lot of the information going on, in all of these places, is confidential.”
Kilger also said there was some indication that the county would be required to provide separate entrances and reception areas for each organization, but she didn’t have all the information as the ADRC representative she was meeting had to reschedule their meeting.
In other action:
— The audit of the department’s energy assistance program was the best in the state, according to Kilger, with only a few minor findings.
— The committee approved the job description for the position of Aging and ADRC Manager, authorizing the posting of the position.
— The county received $69,882 in crisis grant funds. The funds will be used to train for performing the mandatory crisis assessments on any individuals that might be hospitalized by the department. The crisis assessment becomes a mandatory step in the process at the end of June, according to Kilger.
— It was reported that the late start to winter meant the county’s energy assistance program costs are down approximately 15 percent from last year. The department is encouraging those eligible to apply for assistance as the county’s funding levels next year are determined by this year’s funds.
— The department will contract with the Iron County Health Department for nursing services. The number of hours a week will vary depending on need, Kilger said.
