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02/23/2021 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. FEBRUARY 23, 2021 <br />Board members present: Commissioner Brett Wachsmith; Commissioner <br />Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright. <br /> <br />Others: Taylor Crouch, Administrative Assistant; Julie Kjorsvik, <br />Clerk of the Board; Steve Panattoni, Jail Superintendent; Ed Buntin, <br />Corrections Lieutenant; and approximately 14 members of the public. <br /> SPECIAL MEETING MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TAX PROPOSAL COMMISSIONERS <br />At 2:00 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to receive <br />a presentation regarding a Mental Health/Behavioral Health Tax <br />proposal. <br /> <br />Rich Elliot, Deputy Fire Chief of Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue gave <br />an overview of the presentation for the meeting and gave statistics <br />from around the state on which other counties had passed the tax. <br /> <br />Greg Aubol, Therapist/Team Leader at Comprehensive Healthcare spoke <br />about Goal 1, which focuses on corrections centers and inmate mental <br />health. Steve Panattoni, Jail Superintendent also spoke about <br />concerns with mental heath in corrections facilities, and re-entry <br />after release. <br /> <br />Dede Utley, Nursing Director, Emergency Services at KVH and Robin <br />Read, Executive Director at Kittitas County Health Network spoke <br />about Goal 2, which focuses on warm handoffs for people from <br />corrections facilities and from emergency rooms. Ms. Utley also <br />spoke on Goal 3, which focuses on resources and time spent on mental <br />health issues in the Emergency Room. <br /> <br />Michelle Cawley, Registered Nurse Program Manager at Community <br />Health of Central Washington spoke on Goal 4, which focuses on <br />children and youth and mental health. Mr. Elliot spoke about the <br />increase in mental and behavioral health impacts on primary family <br />care. <br /> <br />Kevin Martin, Kittitas Valley Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, <br />Medical Director for Community-Based Care Services and Family <br />Physician spoke on the need for more mental health care in primary <br />care. He said this profession was not designed to handle mental <br />health, but are needing to fill in due to strain on the mental <br />health care system.