FMC EMPOWERMENT BOARD

Minutes of August 4, 2003

The meeting was called to order by Virgil Pickar Jr., chairperson. Members present were Virgil Pickar Jr., Frank Rottinghaus, Sandy Koch, Jeanne Heit, Cheryl Jahnel and Jennifer Bauer.

Roll call was completed. C. Jahnel moved to approve the agenda and was seconded by J. Heit. The agenda was approved.

Guests and visitors were introduced.

The resignation letter from Sara Hejlik was submitted. J. Bauer moved to accept, S. Koch seconded. V. Pickar, Jr. signed a letter of thanks that will be mailed to Sara. L. Edson prepared a letter to the VP of the Lincoln Savings Bank in New Hampton to enquire whether he would serve on the board in Saraís place.

F. Rottinghaus moved to approve the June minutes, C. Jahnel second. Minutes were approved.

The Fiscal Committee presented a report on the coming yearís budget. The numbers in the report reflect the decrease of funds from the state. The Families Together program is still uncertain as to who will be running the program. The committee in charge of the RFPís will be reviewing them in the next ten days. They will then be reviewed by the DECAT governance board. V. Pickar, Jr. pointed out the formula used for the preschools to determine the scholarship amounts for each county. It wasnít divided into three equal amounts any longer. There was some Headstart money put aside to assist combining a preschool and Headstart room. There was a question about what is happening with the EAGLE program. Mary Schrandt-Proeder said she is meeting with libraries to discuss what parts of the program they like. She would like to see the program continue and expand the bookbags, continue the story hour, and special events. She said that now they know the budget they will start to advertise for a coordinator again for the program. After the discussion the board voted on the budgets.

F. Rottinghaus moved to the approve the School Ready Budget, J. Bauer second. It was approved.

The board then discussed the budget for Early Childhood. The discussion that ensued was regarding respite and/ or crisis care. There was some discussion of having the Home Health agencies assist. Linda Klemesrud said that their hours of service are over around 4:30 or 5:30 in the afternoon. And are usually only provided Monday through Friday. She said it would be difficult to provide crisis care. It would need to be planned. That isnít really what is needed. However, it could be a service for daycare providers to access if they would need to go to an appointment, etc. There would be the need for the parents of a particular provider to know about the sub care. It was brought up that perhaps there should be a pilot done in one county before implemented across the board. Cory Dubek discussed that she already has an individual in Chickasaw county who provides sub care. It was decided to form a committee consisting of C. Dubek, L. Edson and the public health departments to look into this situation further.

F. Rottinghaus moved to approve the Early Childhood Budget, S. Koch second. It was approved.

There was then discussion regarding our fiscal agent. It is perhaps time to look into switching. The Chickasaw Auditor has been asked if they could take on the responsibility and they said yes. There was discussion that an agency separate from the counties could also be looked into. L. Edson asked how that would affect her insurance and her retirement benefits. C. Jahnel moved that all the parameters of changing a fiscal agent be looked into before making the change, J. Heit second. It was approved.

It was then moved by F. Rottinghaus to ratify the liability insurance remaining with Heartland Risk, C. Jahnel second. It was approved.

There was then a board directive to remove the Families Together contract until the new oversight agency is in place. Families Together has $50,000 in carry-over money to sustain them until the contract is in place. F. Rottinghaus moved, J. Bauer second. It was approved.

F. Rottinghaus moved to not honor any further Families Together claims until a contract is written. C. Jahnel amended the motion to add that the Chair will draft a letter to the Floyd County Board of Supervisors regarding that action. C. Jahnel then seconded the motion. It was approved.

The next meeting will be September 22, 2003 at 6:30. It will be held in Mitchell county, the place to be announced at a later date.

C. Jahnel moved to adjourn, S. Koch second. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Jennifer Bauer, FMC Board Secretary