by Scott DCamp
Reporter
 
Medical care at the Pennington County Jail will now be handled by MEnD Correctional Care PLLC instead of Inter-County Nursing. Pennington County commissioners approved the change during their July 14 meeting. 
The change came about after the Inter-County Board voted in June to stop providing services to the Pennington County Jail as of Aug. 1, 2015. Among Inter-County Nursing’s concerns were inadequate staffing to meet the needs of the jail facility and liability issues surrounding jail health. 
The Pennington County Law Enforcement Committee met with the Inter-County Nursing Board in early June to discuss the need for more nurse hours at the jail. It was determined that adding jail hours would  require the addition of a new position that would cost the jail between $92,400 and $120,120 per year, which would not be a viable option for Inter-County Nursing or Pennington County. 
MEnD Correctional Care was formed in 2008 to continue work that Dr. Todd Leonard had been performing in a consulting capacity with Minnesota county jails. MEnD currently works with correctional clients in 18 Minnesota counties. 
Under the terms of the contract, Pennington County will pay MEnD $2,908.33 per month over the duration of the contract. The actual contract approved is a three-year contract from Aug. 1, 2015 through July 31, 2018, which would pay $34,900 annually. 
The contract includes a 2 percent compensation increase effective Aug. 1 each year. Either side may terminate the contract by providing 90 days written notice.  
MEnD will provide a licensed provider to serve as the jail’s medical director and will provide general and urgent care to detainees and inmates. 
MEnD will provide one part-time registered nurse who will provide eight to 12 hours per week of routine nursing coverage; conduct routine health assessments on all inmates as soon as possible after booking; conduct appropriate inmate and jail staff TB screening and routine inmate lab draws; conduct suicide and mental health screenings; provide up to two days of jail staff training activities annually; and be available at all times by phone or in person to assist jail staff. 
MEnD will provide mental health services as needed for a separate fee of $75 per hour. 
There are some limitations to MEnD’s services. MEnD will not be responsible for ambulance or other transportation services; special limited-use equipment; X-rays, lab services, hospital or outside clinic charges; furniture, fixtures or other equipment needed to operate the medical department at the jail; and any other off-site services provided by an entity other than MEnD. 
Commissioners approved new salaries for county elected officials
With the exception of county commissioner salaries, which will remain at $18,500 for the seventh consecutive year, Pennington County elected officials will receive a 3 percent increase rounded slightly down. New salary figures are: attorney – $105,500, auditor/treasurer – $94,000; sheriff – $82,200; recorder – $62,600. Adjusted salaries were approved retroactive to July 1.  
Commissioners approve change to personnel 
policy regarding use of comp time
Commissioners approved a change to the Personnel Policy regarding the accrual of comp time. Beginning this year, county employees will only be able to carry 120 hours of comp time from one year to the next. Employees with more tha 120 hours of comp time at the end of the year must use that accrued time off or lose the accrued hours.   
RLWD annual report
Myron Jesme, administrator of the Red Lake Watershed District, presented the RLWD 2014 Annual Report. 
Last year, the RLWD said goodbye to Jim Blix who had spent more than a decade as the water quality/GIS technician for the watershed district. Several candidates were interviewed to replace Blix and Ashley Hitt was hired. 
The RLWD also accepted the resignation of Ditch Inspector Gary Lane, who retired. Jesme said his position will likely be filled internally by promoting Nick Olson. 
One of the big changes in 2014 was the RLWD’s participation in One Watershed, One Plan. Last year, the Red Lake River watershed was selected to participate in the pilot program. Local governement entities participating in the Red Lake River One Watershed One Plan include: Pennington, Red Lake and Polk counties, Pennington SWCD, Red Lake County SWCD, West Polk SWCD and the Red Lake Watershed District.  
In the past, each entity would produce its own waterplan. Now, through the  joint effort, a combined waterplan will be produced. 
Other 2014 projects include the Grand Marais Creek outlet restoration project in Polk County; the Burnham Creek watershed restoration project in Polk County; Pine Lake upstream storage review in Clearwater County; and Lost River Impoundment outlet control structure repair in Marshall County.
Projects slated for 2015 include phase two of the Grand Marais Creek Outlet restoration project; completion of Red Lake Watershed District Ditch 15; study Four Legged Lake Watershed RLWD Project 102A, Pine Lake Watershed, RLWD Project 26; and long-term flood solutions throughout the Red River Basin. 
Other items
• Commissioners approved a motion to replace the brown “museum” sign on Highway 32 notifying motorists of the location of The Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village. 
• Commissioners approved a new contract with Greenview Janitorial Service. The one-year contract includes an 8 percent increase to $14.50 per hour. It will be good through June 30, 2016.   
• A motion to accept a petition to clean one mile of County Ditch 96 (Section 4) in Black River Township was carried. 
• Pennington County will hold a tax abatement hearing to discuss a potential tax abatement for West River Falls Estates on 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11. 
• Commissioners approved step increases for Human Services’ department supervisors retroactive to April 1. Step increases were originally discussed in January but no action was taken. 
The next meeting of the Pennington County Board of Commissioners will be held Tuesday, July 28 at 5 p.m.