COUNTY SUPERVISORS DISAGREE OVER MENTAL HEALTH PLAN

WOODBURY COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE IN DISAGREEMENT OVER THE PROCESS OF FORMING A COALITION OF COUNTIES TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR AREA RESIDENTS.

SUPERVISORS VOTED 3-2 TO APPROVE A LETTER OF INTENT TO HAVE WOODBURY COUNTY JOIN PLYMOUTH, SIOUX AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES IN FORMING A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE REGION.

CHAIRWOMAN JACKIE SMITH SAYS IT'S A START TO COMPLY WITH STATE MANDATED CHANGES REQUIRING COUNTIES TO REGIONALIZE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:



SUPERVISOR MARK MONSON OBJECTED TO THE LETTER, BECAUSE WOODBURY WAS ALREADY IN TALKS TO FORM AN 11 MEMBER COUNTY CONSORTIUM:



SUPERVISOR LARRY CLAUSEN SAYS AN 11 COUNTY CONSORTIUM WOULD BE UNWIELDY:



SUPERVISOR GEORGE BOYKIN SAYS THE COUNTY COULD START SMALL, AND COULD ALWAYS GROW THE CONSORTIUM LATER.

DAVID TRIPP JOINED MONSON IN VOTING AGAINST THE FOUR COUNTY PLAN.