County hears report on mental health assessment

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — After meeting with agencies who provide mental health and chemical dependency services within the five-county area served by the Southwestern Mental Health Center, Brian McInerney presented the results of a needs assessment to Nobles County Commissioners on Tuesday.

Commissioners requested the assessment before plans for a new mental health facility are finalized in Worthington.

“If you can move toward a vertical integration of providers, usually everyone ends up getting served a bit better,” said McInerney, adding that there is “a pretty good range” of support services in the community.

Three areas of service that have been identified as a need in the region are chemical dependency treatment, crisis capacity and special residential treatment capacity, McInerney said. With the multiple languages spoken, programs offered in Spanish and other languages are also needed.

McInerney also addressed a potential need for geropsychiatric services because of the aging population in rural communities.

While Southwestern Mental Health Center has received a lease extension from Sanford Worthington Regional Hospital, McInerney said the agency needs to find a new place that will bring all of its departments into one cohesive workspace.

“I think it’s smart for Scott (Johnson) and his staff to have the services all in one space, if at all possible,” McInerney said.

Commissioners took the information under advisement.

In other action, the board:

- Learned that the deputies union in Nobles County has filed for mediation. A negotiation session will be scheduled for later this month.

- Approved the 2009 solid waste and recycling hauling permits with seven contractors.

- Received an update on the solid waste management plan being drafted by the Nobles County Environmental Services office.

- Approved Family Service Agency requests for interpreter contract renewals and a renewal of the Private Industry Council contract.

- Accepted a $985 boat and water safety grant for the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office.

- Approved a request to replace a jailor’s position at the Prairie Justice Center following a resignation.

- Set March 31 for the commissioner’s board retreat at the Dayton House in Worthington.

- Approved the transfer of $26,000 from the general fund to cover deficit cash balances in five of the 37 individual ditch systems. The ditch systems will reimburse the county for the funds after they collect their taxes.

- Approved a draft resolution authorizing the Southwestern Mental Health Center to use dissolution program funds as collateral in securing a loan.

- Approved a request from Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water for Nobles County to be the issuing county for the temporary and permanent bonds for the rural water project.

- Discussed a request from property owners to extend curb and gutter on 27th Street, located off of U.S. 59, north of Interstate 90. Commissioners came to the consensus to not install curb and gutter along the street.

Tags: news, mentalhealth, chemicaldependencyservices, southwesternmentalhealthcenter, brianinerney, noblescountycommissioners