BC 2013 08 05 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 5, 2013 (Work Session) Page 1640 Ben Rose, Human Services Director, presented the following information concerning the establishment of a phone policy for the Economic Services Division: Due to continued issues with the NC FAST implementation within the Economic Services Division, the Department is requesting the Board of Commissioners to consider establishing a temporary policy to restrict incoming phone calls to the Division. This policy will allow staff to devote more time to case processing and conversion in an effort to bring all cases into compliance for benefit issuance. Mr. Rose advised there have been ongoing issues with the NC FAST system implementation in Cabarrus County as well as statewide. He commended staff on their efforts with working overtime and initiating a departmental food drive to assist patrons. He further advised the Medicaid conversion within the system will begin in October and also addressed strategies within the Department to alleviate the backlog. Trish Baker, Economic Services Administrator, presented an overview of how establishing a temporary phone policy restricting phone calls to the Division of Economic Services will allow staff to bring the backlogged caseload into compliance. A discussion ensued. During discussion, Mr. Rose and Ms. Baker responded to questions from the Board. Issues addressed included: phone policy implementation; length of time the policy would be in place; notification of policy implementation and public outreach; etc. Vice Chairman Measmer and Commissioner Morris expressed support for the phone policy. Chairman Poole expressed opposition t additional information regarding dates when options for hiring temporary staff and the staff investigate how other counties are expressed preference for this item being Business item. o the phone policy and requested the policy would be in place, associated cost. She requested handling the issue. She also placed on the agenda as a New Discussion continued. Human Services - Target Corporation Grant Awarded for Arts Supplies for Children in the Foster Care Program Ben Rose, Human Services Director, reported this is the third year the Department has received a grant from the Target Corporation. He advised the Human Services Department, along with the Guardian Ad Litem program, applied for the grant from the Target Corporation for arts supplies /programs for children in foster care. The grant was awarded in the amount of $2,000.00. Chairman Poole requested information regarding the number of people who benefited from the program in the previous two years. ITS - Approval of Storage Area Network Lease Extension Todd Shanley, Information Technology Services (ITS) Manager, requested approval of an extension to the Storage Area Network Lease to increase storage capacity for Cabarrus County Government, Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools. He advised funding was approved in the FY 2013 -14 budget. He also responded to questions from the Board. Planning and Development - 2012 -2013 HOME CAPER Annual Report Kelly Sifford, Planning and Development Director, reported Cabarrus County participates in the Cabarrus /Iredell /Rowan HOME Consortium for housing rehabilitation each year. The HOME CAPER is the annual report for the HOME program, which reports expenditures and activities to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urbanization Development (HUD). She advised no units were completed this year, $858.00 was expended and one unit is under contract for rehabilitation. She also advised the County is required to hold a public hearing for comment on the report and responded to questions from the Board. Planning and Development - Soil and Water Conservation District - Option to Purchase Conservation Easement Along Back Creek Dennis Testerman, Senior Resource Conservation Specialist, presented the following information relating to the Option to Purchase Conservation Easement Along Back Creek: