Chris Siegner and Emily Johnson attended the regular meeting of the Harney County Court on Feb. 6 to provide an update regarding Symmetry Care Inc.

Siegner began by discussing issues with funding services for inmates in the Harney County Jail.

The jail is mandated by law to cover healthcare costs for its inmates, but this mandate is unfunded.

“Our state legislature gets together every year. They pass a lot of laws, and then they push that burden off onto the counties without any source of funding to support those counties,” Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said.

He also noted that inmates who are on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) are disenrolled after spending 14 days in jail.

“To me, it’s a little bit ridiculous because the money comes from the tax payers either way, and our agency gets hit at a higher percentage of cost when they have to pay that flat out,” Ward said.

He also noted that people may be unlikely to re-enroll in OHP once they’re released from jail.

“We’re not talking about the most responsible demographic in our population,” he said. “The first thing they’re thinking of when they get out of jail isn’t, ‘Hey, I need to go re-enroll on the Oregon Health Plan.’”

Ward said, “Working together with Symmetry Care, I’m sure we can put a dent into some of the issues we face in the community, but at the same time, Chris isn’t running a free outreach over there. There’s a business that he has to maintain, and the county jail is not funded to foot the bill for every mental [health] issue in the community.”

Siegner said many of the inmates would be eligible for OHP, and if they had coverage, they could receive treatment while they’re in jail. He added that some may not show up for treatment after they’re released.

Ward noted that people have missed their appointments even after Sheriff’s Office staff dropped them off on Symmetry Care’s front steps.

“If the Oregon Health Plan was covering them for treatments prior to coming to our facility, they should probably pay for continued services while they’re in there, and that may put a dent in recidivism down the road,” Ward said.

He noted that he discussed the issue with legislators and the Sheriff’s Association, and Siegner encouraged the court and coordinated care organizations to offer political support.

Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh asked Siegner to attend the next Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization Local Community Advisory Committee meeting to share his concerns.

Johnson noted that people who receive healthcare coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also lose their benefits while they’re in jail for a certain amount of time.

“We do run into the same issues with the VA,” Ward said, noting that an older veteran with severe mental illness was lodged in jails in Harney and Klamath counties last year.

“He did not belong in jail. He belonged in a care facility,” Ward said. “The VA was willing to wash their hands of him because he was in a criminal justice facility. We can’t allow people like that just to be shuffled back and forth from jail-to-jail when it’s a mental-health issue.”

Ward added, “As a retired soldier, I’ll tell you flat out: The Veterans Administration, our United States government, signs a contract with you when you join, and they say they’re going to look out for you, and they need to step up and start doing it.”

Siegner and Ward also discussed the need for a new jail, adding that an exam room and space for counseling and group therapy would be helpful.

Other topics of discussion included Symmetry Care’s two-year strategic plan, marketing, ensuring facilities and transportation are adequate, maintaining financial stability, prevention programs, presence in local schools, community integration, and attracting and retaining board members and employees. Siegner said Symmetry Care is also making sure that staff receive necessary licenses, credentials, and training.

As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Symmetry Care is providing a lot more health and wellness programs. Siegner said clients will be encouraged to participate in groups and activities that promote fitness, nutrition, medication management, and engagement with community health workers and nursing staff.

Johnson presented and discussed a client satisfaction questionnaire and quarterly data.

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In other business, the court:

• recognized Melinda Maupin (10 years), Jason Weideman (5 years), and Eric Drushella (10 years) for their service to the county;

• approved Ordinance 2019-85 in the matter of implementing authority to enforce the subsurface program delegated to Harney County by the state of Oregon for on-site septic systems.

Runnels explained that the court had to pass the ordinance so that Harney County can provide on-site septic services for Grant County. Grant County will need to pass a similar ordinance, as well.

During its next meeting, the court will consider a three-part agreement among Harney County, Grant County, and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Harney County planned to take over Grant County’s inspections on Feb. 15, but the date was pushed to March 1;

• approved Resolution 2019-02, which corrects a revenue line error that was detected in Lottery Economic Development Fund 242;

• approved Resolution 2019-03, setting a hearing date in the matter of accelerating the redemption of 1359 S. Court Ave. in Burns.

The resolution explains that the property is in foreclosure and contaminated by raw waste and human fecal matter. Additionally, numerous campers, camp trailers, and other recreational vehicles are being occupied without proper water, sewer, or electric service.

The hearing is set for March 14 at 10 a.m. in the basement meeting room of the courthouse;

• approved the petition for County Land Sale No. 47615.

The land is located off of Double O Road in the undeveloped town of Wellington.

Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens said, “I appreciate the county trying to give land back to the tax base.”

The court plans to reach out to the public regarding opportunities to purchase county-owned land;

• discussed Public Notices of Water Use Requests dated Jan. 22, Jan. 29, and Feb. 5;

• after discussing it with Harney County Senior and Community Services Center Executive Director Angela Lamborn, approved the transportation grant plan for the 2019-2021 biennium;

• thanked Acting Emigrant Creek District Ranger Aaron Gagnon for his service to the community. His detail ended, and he will be replaced by another acting district ranger;

• learned from Dorroh that the Oregon Construction Contractors Board plans to come to Burns June 3 to provide training and discussion;

• rescheduled its March, April, and May meetings.

The court will meet March 13 and 27, April 10 and 23, and May 8 and 22, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse;

• will hold budget meetings April 10 from 1-4 p.m., April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If necessary, an additional budget meeting will be held May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse.