Richard S.Thiemkey, executive director of the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority, introduced himself to the Barry County Commission Tuesday. Thiemkey came to the authority in December 2016, bringing with him 25 years of experience in leadership roles in mental health in the private and public sector.
A full array of mental health is offered to 1,600 clients, he said.
Mission and values and a financial model are two sides of the same coin for the authority, he said. “You can’t have one without the other.”
A brochure outlining services offered by the authority lists 22 separate services, covering different facets of mental health.
Contacts:
Mental health and substance abuse services:
500 Barfield Drive, Hastings
269-948-8041
Crisis: 269-948-8041
After Hours: 1-800-873-0511
Hearing/speech impaired and deaf contact telecommunications relay service at 711.
Positive Directions site:
2350 Iroquois Trail, Hastings
269-948-4200
ubstance abuse prevention services mailing address:
500 Barfield Drive, Hastings
269-948-4200.
For much more information, visit www.barrycountyrecovery.com
Also Tuesday, commissioners delayed action until the May 9 meeting on a proposed Barry County Officer’s Compensation Commission.
Commissioner Ben Geiger, chairman, said he needs to learn the details on time lines that must be met “before we start,” forming the compensation commission.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
* increases in some fees in the Barry County Clerk’s Office, mandated by the state and required in all counties.
* contracting with Mark Bishop, Quality Forest Management, to harvest all red pine trees, leaving white pines on Norris Road property with proceeds from the sale to go to the Norris Road Trees 4-H account.
* changes in the Charlton Park bylaws; having one voting member from the Historic Charlton Park Village Foundation, limiting citizen-at-large positions to 10 instead of 11, adding forfeiture of membership to those who miss three consecutive meetings without excuse, and changing its annual report to the commission from February to within six months of the new year.
* the 2017 county evaluation values as given by Equalization Director Timothy Vandermark. Total equalized value is $2,801,583,488, up a total of 5.53 percent county wide.
