Huron County View

Commissioner: 1 in 5 people in U.S. impacted by mental illness




HURON COUNTY – At a board of commissioners meeting on Monday, Commissioner John Nugent gave a shout out to Huron Behavioral Health for its work in mental illness and opioid addiction.

Nugent, as he was addressing fellow commissioners, said one in five people in the United States are impacted by mental illness. And six people die every day from opioid-related causes, he said.

There are 46 agencies similar to Huron Behavioral Health spread across the state’s 83 counties that use most of their budget on services such as mental illness, persons with disabilities and substance abuse disorders, Nugent said.

“Huron Behavioral health is not only treating mental illnesses and handicapped persons … or people who have mental problems,” Nugent said. “They are treating opioid addictions there, too. So, I just wanted to put out how important Huron Behavioral Health is to this community.”

Also, at the Monday meeting, the board took action on the following items.

The board authorized an appropriation from the Older Citizens Fund to the Sebewaing Senior meal site in the amount of $3,420 for cleaning and snow removal.

The board authorized Quality Wood Products to construct and install a workstation in the Circuit Courtroom at a cost of $6,850.

The board authorized the purchase of a 2018 Kawasaki Mule for the Sheriff’s Office from Off Road Outlet at a cost of $10,881, to be taken from the I.C.E. Forfeiture Fund.

The board approved the application to allow acreage in PA116 in Sebewaing Township as requested by Wayne and Sheree Goebel.

The board approved a resolution to increase the annual salary for Veterans’ Affairs Counselor Stephen R. Young from $47,877 to $48, 595, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

The board approved a resolution to increase the rate of pay for part-time Veterans’ Affairs Office employee Judith A. Reimann, from $20.03 to $20.33.

The board appointed Jason Talaski to the Construction Code Board of Appeals for a one-year team.

The board appointed Sue Kohl to the Nature Center for a three-year term.

The board authorized the chairman to sign the Agreement for Extension Services provided by Michigan State University for FY 2019.

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