The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, October 21, 2021. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved.
Presiding Commissioner Curt Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby and Clerk Susette Taylor attended a meeting in Maryville on Wednesday, October 20, to hear a presentation given by Nodaway County Associate Circuit Judge Robert L. Rice about the importance of a Fourth Judicial Circuit Community Mental Health Program. At this point they would like each of the five counties: Nodaway, Gentry, Holt, Worth and Atchison to enter into an inter-county agreement and appoint a board of trustees.
The commission reviewed and adopted the following ordinance as required for CDBG compliance.
ORDINANCE NO. 002-2021
An Ordinance of the County of Atchison, Missouri, to Establish a Section 504/ADA Grievance Procedure
Section 504/ADA
Grievance Procedure
The County of Atchison has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (29 U.S.C. 794). Section 504 states, in part, that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
1) Complaints should be addressed to Atchison County Clerk, Susette Taylor, who has been designated by the County to coordinate Section 504/ADA compliance efforts. Complaints should be filed in writing or verbally, contain the name and address of the person filing it, and briefly describe the alleged violation of the regulations.
2) A complaint should be filled within 10 days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. (Processing allegations of discrimination that occurred before this grievance procedure was in place will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
3. An investigation, as may be appropriate, will follow a filing of a complaint. The Section 504/ADA Coordinator will be in charge of the investigation. These rules contemplate informal but thorough investigations that afford all interested persons and their representatives an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to a complaint.
4) A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, will be issued by the Section 504/ADA Coordinator and a copy forwarded to the complainant no later than 30 days after its filing.
5) The Section 504/ADA Coordinator will maintain the files and records of the County relating to the complaints file.
6) The complainant can request a reconsideration of the case in instances where he/she is dissatisfied with the resolution. The request for reconsideration should be made within 10 days to the Commissioner’s office.
7) Using the grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies, including the filing of a Section 504 or ADA-related complaint with the responsible Federal department or agency.
8) These rules will be construed to protect the substantive rights of interested persons, meet appropriate due process standards, and assure that the County complies with the ADA, Section 504 and all implementing regulations.
This procedure was adopted by the County of Atchison on the 21st day of October 2021.
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The commission, Deputy Clerk Deanna Beck, and Clerk Taylor met with Randy Arnold, the county health insurance broker, to review 2022 health insurance options. He also presented rates for long, and short term, disability insurance. Insurance rates for 2022 took a 14.9% increase. Discussion was held about the continued price increases year after year. Mr. Arnold presented the county with multiple options to review.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
