Region 11: 2019 Meeting Minutes (2/13)

 

HSTP Region 11

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

February 13, 2019

 

 

Attendees:

Natalie Backstrom	Opportunities for Access CIL-Mt. Vernon
Kevin Dudek	5 Star Industries-DuQuoin
Janet Shearrer	Epilepsy Foundation of Greater S. Il.-Belleville
Danuta Del Rio	Union Co. Counseling Services-Anna
Ken Sharkey	St. Clair Co. Transit District-Belleville
Kari Docherty	Spero Family Services-Mt. Vernon
Shawn Freeman	Shawnee MTD-Vienna
Lisa Donoho	Comprehensive Connections-Mt. Vernon
Sherri Bassen	South Central Transit-Centralia
Jimmy Leadingham	Jackson Co. MTD-Carbondale
Michelle Morgan	SAVE-Belleville
Theresa Mitchell	Caritas Family Solutions-Belleville
Shanna Mosely	S. Il. Center for Independent Living-Carbondale
Ben Simpson	Sr. Adult Services-Carbondale
Mark Bollmann	Human Service Center-Red Bud
Patty Evansco	Millstadt Township Sr. Center-Millstadt
Charlene Hogan	JTC Adolescent Adjustment Center-Centreville
Debra King	Rides MTD-Harrisburg
Kerie Moore	Family Counseling Center-Vienna
Michelle Moreno	Spero Family Services-Mt. Vernon
Linda Tuetken	Challenge Unlimited-Alton
Gerald McDonald	Challenge Unlimited-Alton

 

Meeting was called to order at 11:08 a.m. by Mark Bollmann, at Spero Family Services in Mt. Vernon.  Representatives from each agency present introduced themselves.

The minutes from the November 2018 meeting were reviewed with no additions or corrections.  Motion made by Patty Evansco, 2^nd by Shawn Freeman to accept and approve the minutes.  Motion approved.

Guest Speaker: Michelle Moreno, Spero Family Services

Michelle provided a slide show and shared that Spero offers twelve types of service to children in foster care, foster families and adolescents with special needs, as well as their residential facility.  Their service coverage is from White County to Cape Girardeau and Salem to Anna. There are currently 15,000 kids in foster care in Illinois and there is a critical shortage of foster parents in the state. Spero clients range in age from birth to 21 years of age.  Transportation is provided to their youth in vehicles provided by the IDOT CVP program and South Central Transit for work, school, social activities & medical appointments.  

General Discussion:

Agency Information/Updates

·         Ken Sharkey shared that SCCTD is working on a vehicle donation to Caritas and the local emergency management agency in St. Clair Co., with retired vehicles they have. Also, SCCTD is getting ready to start the Red Bird Express route again and that Metro sent out 1800 surveys pertaining to how safe riders feel on the Metro and 900 of the surveys were returned with responses. Ken Sharkey reported that there are to date 15 full time deputies on Metro.

·         Sherri Bassen with SCT shared details regarding the new Blue Jay Route in Clinton County.

·         SAVE in Belleville stated that they are in need of a minivan or vehicle for resident personal everyday needs.

New Business/Open Discussion

·         Terri Finn reviewed handouts

·         The annual RTAC Conference will be held on March 12^th & 13^th in Springfield

·         SB2210-Proposed legislation that would require drivers to take more frequent breaks.  This legislation is now dropped but could be picked up later.

·         Promoting S. Il. transit-Terri Finn would like for each agency to relay to her any service, exceptional or not that your agency is providing.  So much focus is placed in publications about other services and Terri believes S. Il. needs to be more widely promoted.  Get her (Terri) any information we want to share about our agencies, and she will attempt to get it to national publications\websites.

·         Mike Healy leaving IDOT and Zoe Keller is his replacement.

·         Election of Officers: Terri Finn asked for nominations or volunteers from the floor to fill the positions of Chairperson, Vice Chair & Secretary for a 2 year term.  Mark Bollmann volunteered to continue as Chairperson.  Jimmy Leadingham volunteered to serve as Vice Chair.  Sara Nollman Hodge was contacted during the meeting & asked if she would continue as Secretary, which she agreed to. Motion to approve the slate of Officers was made by Kari Docherty, 2^nd by Debra King.  Slate approved. 

·         Ideas for guest speakers or meeting topics: Danuta DelRio, Union County Counseling Services-Anna will be next guest speaker.

·         Next Meeting: May 8^th at Caritas in Bellville. Vehicle applications will be discussed.

Adjourn

·         Motion to adjourn at 11:58 a.m. by Ben Simpson, 2^nd by Jimmy Leadingham.  Meeting adjourned.