Berndt says mental-health treatment program working

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

In just over a year, 41 mental-health patients have received treatment in the Henry County Health Center Emergency Room through the Hillcrest Family Services emergency department, Sarah Berndt, county coordinator of disability services/general assistance director, informed the Henry County supervisors during the supervisors? regular meeting Tuesday.

Berndt said 29 of the patients were adults and 12 were minors. Some 12 were committed while the remaining 29 voluntarily committed themselves, she said.

?It was pretty much 50-50 (of patients) being brought in by law enforcement or by family members,? Berndt reported. All 12 of the non-voluntary commitments were involved with law enforcement. Ten of the involuntary clients were hospitalized and nine of the voluntary clients also were hospitalized, she added.

Berndt said she thinks the program is going well. ?The community and sheriff?s department are buying into it,? she assessed.

Upon Berndt?s recommendation, the county approved a service agreement to participate in the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) HIPPA program. The annual cost is $1,750, and Berndt said it is money well worth spending. ?ISAC has more intensive policies and procedures and is in compliance with the federal government,? she stated.

There will also be a new multi-function unit (printer, scanner, fax and copier) coming to Berndt?s office. Supervisors approved the expenditure of $3,766.88 for the hardware. Berndt said that if the machine is purchased by June 30, the county would receive a two-percent discount.

She remarked that the new equipment is sorely needed. ?We have two antique printers, a copier that is 13 years old and a fax machine that is not secure.?

The remaining item on Berndt?s agenda was the continuation of the county?s $500 monthly contribution to The Fellowship Cup for its food pantry program, which the board unanimously supported.

In the county engineer?s report, which was given through written correspondence, Jake Hotchkiss, county engineer, said four miles of the six-mile 220th Street reconstruction project are finished and pavement should extend to the big bridge near Marsh Avenue by the end of Tuesday. The road remains closed to traffic.

The Ash Avenue bridge replacement project is progressing. The contractor is working on bridge abutments and poured the south abutment Tuesday.

Hotchkiss also noted that he is working on plans for replacing the territory shed located on Oasis Avenue and will be soliciting quotes over the next several weeks. He is hoping to bring a recommendation to the board on July 12.

Last week?s work by the secondary roads crew included spot spraying noxious weeds; installing an entrance and completing some ditching in Scott Township; installing crossroad pipes on 195th, 110th and 150th streets; mowing; installing an entrance in Salem Township; pulling shoulders on Hickory Avenue; and working on a ditching project on Ash Avenue.

Supervisors will meet again in regular session Thursday, June 30, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.