By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board is asking the Wood County Commissioners to reduce the size of the county board from 18 members to 12.
The 18-member board has had a difficult time getting enough members to fulfill the required 10-member quorum for meetings.
The WCADAMHS Board’s struggle to have a quorum is due, at least in part, because there are currently six vacant seats—five that are appointed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and one by the county commissioners.
Quorum is not affected by vacancies; instead, it is determined by the established number of members. With only 12 current members available for meetings, if more than two members are absent, the meeting is canceled.
“Historically, we’ve had trouble making quorum,” said board member Daniel Lambert.
Board chair Frank McLaughlin said the board has discussed the concern at board meetings and the board retreat. “An 18-member board works in some places, maybe larger counties, but some smaller counties have worked well with a smaller board.”
Because the county commissioners are tasked with setting the size of the board, Wood County Commissioner Craig LaHote attended the meeting to hear the board’s concerns.
“It is helpful to have your recommendation,” LaHote said, adding that when the idea was shared previously during a meeting with the commissioners, they indicated support for decreasing the board size.
“I don’t think that has changed any,” LaHote said. “We will take your recommendation under advisement, and I don’t know why we would do anything other than what you think is best for your organization.”
WCADAMHS messaging reaches more people
Board events from July through December 2023 recorded more than 6,800 face-to-face interactions, according to a marketing report presented by Kaylee Smith, manager of marketing and communication for the board.
Among the events attended by the board staff were the Wood County and Pemberville fairs, Bowling Green and Perrysburg Farmer’s Markets, Drug Take Back Day at BGSU, Trunk-or-Treats, BGSU’s Health Fair and Teaching Kitchen Expo, NAMI Wood County’s Harry Potter Holiday-Themed Nite Out Open House and CRC’s Breakfast with Santa.
According to Smith, the board’s social media presence shifted in July to only utilizing Facebook and Instagram for custom content and LinkedIn for formal educational content such as behavioral health reports.
The board’s Facebook and Instagram posts recorded more than 16,000 impressions and 2,300 impressions, respectively, in the six months,
Next step for ARPA grant
Also at the meeting, the board approved a resolution of support for the $6.6 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awarded to the county board and Children’s Resource Center. The resolution of support is standard practice to complete the application process for the grant, explained Amanda Kern, Wood County ADAMHS executive director.
The federal funds, which were announced in August 2023, will be used to build and renovate the youth crisis services at CRC. Renovations will be made to the current eight-bed crisis residential unit at the Klotz Road facility, increasing the capacity to 16 beds–10 traditional crisis residential unit beds and six intensive care beds.
