Debbie Paavola, Director-Department of Aging, reported her office provided 69,926 units of service in 2019 in her annual report to the Waushara County Board of Supervisors at the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma, on Sept. 15th. Those stats include 1500 people, 59% female and 41% male. Of those 48% live alone. She also added that Waushara County has 8 residents over the age of 100.
Paavola said that the Nutrition Program served 43,136 meals last year and 59% were home delivered and the balance in dining centers. She also noted that this year would be different as the dining centers closed in March due to COVID-19.
Transportation Services made 5657 trips in 2019 and 78% of those were on the Mini Bus and 22% by volunteer drivers. Fifty-six percent of the trips were for medical reasons, 20% nutrition, 12% employment, and 12% for shopping.
She said they lost two key longtime employees through retirement including Carol Klabunde and Sue Seefeldt.
Paavola reported that the Waushara County Aging and Disability Center had 3624 calls, of those 59% were female, 41% male, 65% were age 60 and older, and 35% were under 60 with disabilities.
She says what she sees for the future is more of our population falling into the senior citizen age group. In United States 10,000 people are turning 65 everyday. In Waushara County with a population of 25,860 there are 8670 residents 60 years of age and older.
When asked how 2020 was going with COVID-19 she said that eight of the dining centers closed on March 19th and have not re-opened. The kitchen is serving more meals than ever and they have added a sixth delivery route to meet the demand and they also offer bulk frozen meals on Wednesdays. They are working at developing a grab and go Thanksgiving meal. They have made 1982 calls to 232 people to check on their welfare and have delivered over 175 sanitation kits.
Waushara County will continue to provide all essential services and at the time they have 1,000 frozen meals on hand in case an emergency situation arises.
The supervisors heard from Mark Netsch and his team on a demonstration for Open Meetings Technologies through teleconferencing. Netsch explained to the staff and supervisors the advantages of the electronic roll call system, ease in operating, and direct reporting to Megan Kapp, Waushara County Clerk, during the meetings. He said it would be accurate and easily accessible for the chairman of the board and the county clerk. At the conclusion he said if the county contracts with their services they would provide training for the supervisors and staff.
Administrator Robert Sivick presented the 2021 proposed budget to the supervisors. The supervisors are to meet with Sivick by Oct. 9th if they have proposed amendments to the budget and those amendments would be presented at the October meeting. At the November meeting a public hearing on the budget will be held and the budget (as amended if necessary) will be approved.
The good news in the budget included only a 4.8% increase in insurance premiums and a 0.2% increase in Winnefox Library System. Unique budget challenges included Emergency Medi-cal Services becoming increasingly expensive with diminished reimbursement; and Pre-COVID almost half of the population are living below the poverty level or working poor. That rate he said has undoubtedly increased. He added that this greatly increases the need and expense for human and social services.
Administrator Sivick said that the county doesn’t expect a raise in the mil rate even if they have to dip into the cash reserves to meet the cost of services. Presently the county has a cash reserve of $8,766,743.
In his monthly report Administrator Sivick re-ported the Buildings and Grounds Renovations Project is underway and Venture Architects has toured the facilities and talked to the department heads. He also introduced Ben Achten as the new buildings and grounds superintendent.
In other business the supervisors approved pro-clamations Recognizing Sept. 2020 as Juror Appreciation Month and Sept. 22 as National Voter Registration Day.
Prior to adjournment, chairman Donna Kalata reminded everyone of the Crime Stopper Jail Break Marathon that will be held on Sept. 26 at the Waushara County Fairgrounds. There are over 400 registered runners.
The next regular meeting of the Waushara County Board will be held Oct. 20th at 7 p.m. in the County Board Room at the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma.
