Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Board of Health met May 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order 

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Dick Joyce	Board of Health Member	Present
Eric Rasmusson	Board Member	Present
Ann Marie Struck	Board of Health Secretary	Present
Joan Harrop	Board of Health President	Present
Dana Howd	Board of Health Vice President	Present
Dean Marketti	Board of Health Member	Present
Kathy Ulivi	Board of Health Member	Present
Mary Menz	Board of Health Member	Present

The Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Board of Health meeting was called to order at 6:30pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Also in attendance was: Tania Schwer; Public Health Administrator, Kathryn Harrison; Director of Nursing, Tarcha Hurley-Howard; Director of Environmental Health, Sophia Cortes-Moreno; Director of Behavioral Health, Tamra Peppler; Director of Finance, Compliance and Operations and Megan Black; Office Coordinator.

II. Public Portion 

Community member, Laura Sharer, addressed the Board regarding the suspension of in-house behavioral health services and the affects of the clients and community.

Community member, Shawn Gibbons, addressed the Board regarding the suspension of in-house behavioral health services and the affects of the clients and community.

III. Approval of Agenda** 

1. Motion to approve the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Board of Health Meeting.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

IV. Approval of BOH minutes** 

1. Board of Health - Regular Meeting - Apr 16, 2025 6:30 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

2. Board of Health - Special Meeting - May 14, 2025 7:00 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Kathy Ulivi, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

V. Health Department Operations Report 

1. Health Department Programmatic & Operation Report

Administration: Public Health Administrator, Tania Schwer, updated the Board of Health members on administrative programs and operations. T. Schwer, discussed behavioral health alignment efforts, continuity of care and referrals to agencies accepting Medicaid. Services for the behavioral health division will be transitioned to area providers and the Grundy County Health Department will suspend services for the division on Friday, June 13, 2025. Behavioral health alignment and public health workforce inquiries were discussed by the Board of Health and the Public Health Administrator. The 3rd Annual Senior Expo in celebration of seniors took place earlier today at Jennifer's Garden Banquet and Convention Center. The event had approximately 75 vendors and was well attended by the community. T. Schwer thanked the WCSJ radio station for providing an opportunity to update the community on health department happenings, earlier in May.

Nursing: Director of Nursing, Kathryn Harrison, updated the Board of Health members on nursing programs and operations. The division has one vacancy for a full-time Nursing Associate position. On behalf of the Grundy County Health Department, K. Harrison has re-applied for DHS grants for FY 2026.

Environmental Health: Director of Environment Health, Tarcha Hurley-Howard, updated the Board of Health members on environmental health programs and operations. The division has completed their final tick drag for the season. The west nile virus (WNV) season has begun. The division has started setting out traps around the Grundy County area to test mosquitoes for the WNV season. The division has one vacant position for an EH Intern. This position assists with WNV duties and is funded by the WNV grant.

Behavioral Health: Discussion on behavioral health programs and operations took place during the Administration update.

Senior Programs: Public Health Administrator, Tania Schwer, updated the Board of Health members on senior programs and operations. Discussion on the Senior Expo took place during the Administration update. The division continues to attend meetings with: Providers, Illinois Department on Aging and Age Guide.

Finance, Operations and Compliance: Director of Finance, Operations and Compliance, Tamra Peppler, updated the Board of Health members on financial, operational and compliance items. The Grundy County Health Department budget for FY2026 will be brought to the June 2025 Board of Health meeting. T. Peppler and K. Harrison have been collaborating on updating the fee schedule for the nursing division. The fee schedule will be discussed for approval and implementation. T. Peppler has been assisting S. Cortes-Moreno on compliance for suspension of services for the behavioral health division.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Kathy Ulivi, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VI. Claims 

1. Motion to approve the Grundy County Health Department Claims

The claims in the amount of $15,960.06 were approved as presented.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dana Howd, Board of Health Vice President SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VII. Health Department Financial Report 

1. Health Department Financial Report

April is 42% through the fiscal year; $58,320.00 subsidy is 17% of the total $351,009.00.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VIII. Old Business 

None.

IX. New Business 

1. Draft Updates Nursing Service Fees

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

X. Executive Session 

1. Motion to Exit Open Session and Enter Closed Session

At 7:08pm, the Board of Health went into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) matters on a motion made by Board of Health member Ulivi and seconded by Board of Health member Menz. On a roll call vote, said motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes: Joyce, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Menz, Rasmusson, Struck, Ulivi

Nays: None

Absent: None

Excused: None

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Kathy Ulivi, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

2. Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) 

3. Motion to Exit Closed Session and Enter Open Session

At 8:33pm, the Board of Health conducted a motion to exit executive session and enter back into open session on a motion made by Board of Health member Joyce and seconded by Board of Health member Menz. On a roll call vote, said motion prevailed by the following vote:

Ayes: Joyce, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Menz, Rasmusson, Struck, Ulivi

Nays: None

Absent: None

Excused: None

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

XI. Action as Result of Executive Session 

No action needed as the result of Executive Session for the Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Board of Health Meeting.

XII. Adjournment 

1. Motion to adjourn the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Board of Health Meeting

At 8:35 PM, the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Board of Health Meeting was adjourned. The recording was stopped.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Kathy Ulivi, Board of Health Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

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