Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities recognized a 12-year board member upon her resignation at their recent meeting and also announced plans to create a new tree grove, where longtime board members will be honored.
Members expressed appreciation to Board President Bonnie Versele, who submitted a letter of resignation to the board due to her family moving to Florida. Her service on the board has included terms from 1990 through 1995 and from 2014 and to the present.
“I have had the honor of experiencing and witnessing all this board has to offer, both as a parent for the past 37 years, and as a member of the LCBDD in the early 1990s and again from 2014 to the present,” Versele said.
“The dedication, commitment, and genuine love of individuals with disabilities by the staff and administration of the LCBDD is apparent every day.”
Superintendent Saul Bauer explained how much the board does to support the agency and how much the dedication and commitment of board members is appreciated. He then unveiled a new plaque that will be displayed in the board office to recognize any board member who has completed three terms (11 or more years).
Currently, there are six board members whose names will be added to the plaque, which includes: Mike Sandlin (1997-2009), Denise Bayliss (1999-2015), Angelea Parsons (2001-2012), Bernard Tuttle (2001-2012), Jennifer Thornburgh (2002-2015) and Versele. LCBDD representatives also are searching archives for board records prior to 1988 to determine if other board members met this criteria.
Superintendent Bauer then shared that these honorees will also recognized during a ceremony to dedicate a new grove of trees, with a tree planted for each individual listed on the plaque.
“Their commitment helped form a strong foundation for the growth and success of our agency,” officials said. “We hope to start planting the trees shortly in the LCBDD front yard and will schedule the ceremony after the plaques with names are completed.”
In organizational matters related to Versele’s resignation, Valerie Robb was elected board president, Bridget Hawkins was elected board vice president, and Frank Giannola was re-elected as recording secretary.
Debra Morrison, human resources director/executive secretary and notary public administered the oaths of office to the office holders.
Robb, Scott Steiner, and Hawkins were elected to the executive finance committee. They will determine the best day and time for their meetings and once determined, will be shared with the public.
Hawkins, Allen Huffman, and Giannola continue to serve on the ethics committee and they will continue to meet at 4:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month, prior to the LCBDD board meetings.
The board is awaiting approval from the county commissioners for their newest board member.
The evening began with a board training presented by LCBDD Behavior Intervention Specialist Lisa Sulich updating the board on the Discovery Center’s BIS Leadership Team and PBIS requirements.
The Leadership Team members include: Sulich; Ashley Evans, occupational therapist; Joy Badenhop, program director; Hayley Nease, teacher and parent advocate; and Kacie Ross, speech therapist
Sulich explained that the overall goal is to determine schoolwide behaviors and what common language and approach will be used across the center and how to manage behavior in a consistent, unified approach.
“It is a team process and involves children, families, therapists, teachers and everyone on the preschool team,” Sulich said.
COVID-19 created considerable challenges for the team, but they have continued to meet the demands and look forward to next year with hopes they will be able to provide services to more children as restrictions lessen and enrollment numbers increase, officials said.
In other matters, updates were provided about The Come Play at the Lake playground project at Fox Island in partnership with the ILDC. LCBDD representatives said a fire at one of their equipment providers, PlayWorld, resulted in the loss of the decking ordered to keep the play area deck cooler in the hot summer months.
However, PlayWorld said their decking production up and running again and are hopeful that the delay will be about 30 days. The Come Play at Lake Team is projecting a grand opening for the playground in August or September.
The board reviewed COVID-19 related protocol and effective June 4, the LCBDD will no longer require people to mask and complete the Health Assessment Questionnaire unless providing in-person services to a person who is eligible for services or their family.
Employees who have not been vaccinated and/or have not tested positive for the COVID-19 antibodies are encouraged to wear a mask when in public areas. Additional changes will be coming July 4.
The board also continues to advocate for additional pay for direct support professionals. Most are paid through Medicaid, and any pay increases require state and federal approval.
The last significant pay increase for these workers prior to the 2020-2021 increase was in 2005. DSP job requirements have increased and the need for DSPs has significantly increased in recent years. The state initially had a 5 percent increase included in the biennium budget, but it was recently removed.
In addition, Jason Moyer submitted a written proposal for the addition of a service and support administrator to accommodate growing caseloads and the number of people served. The board approved this proposal.
In financial business, the board ended April 2021 with the general fund at 25.11 percent utilized and the Community Support Fund is 51.47 percent utilized.
Revenues in the general fund are 58.73 percent collected, while the Community Support Fund is 111.13 percent collected and the Capital Fund is 100 percent collected.
Year-to-date expenses in the general fund are 3.95 percent higher than this time last year, and the revenue general fund is 16.9 percent higher than this time last year.
The finance committee will meet at noon Friday, July 30. The next board meeting takes place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5. These meetings are open to the public.