public meeting -
07/08/2015
Tri-County LTR Public Meeting Minutes
July 8, 2015
The public meeting of Tri-County Long Term Recovery was called to order at 3 p.m. by Vice Chairman Jennifer M. Orban. In attendance were Terry Bibo, Brian Day, Dena Day, Shelley Epstein, Jim Fassino, Kevin Gramm, Sondra Hayes, Orban, Lu Ori, Mark Roberts, Michael Swanson. Press included representatives of WEEK and WMBD, as well as Tim Shelley, editor of the Washington Courier.
May minutes: Approved. There was no public meeting in June.
Chairman: Fassino said there was good feedback from the community after a Father's Day press conference about the need to apply for LTR funds. Twenty-five cases were opened or re-opened in the last two weeks.
œThat's exactly what we were hoping, to get the message out, he said. œWe really wanted to hear from people.
He recognized the Steering Committee for its work. Members may be hearing from Justin Bays, who is working with the American Red Cross by trying to set up an LTR in Detroit.
œIt's our way of repaying the help we got from Joplin, he said.
Fassino noted some remaining cases have very large needs. But because the overall number of cases is down, LTR has transitioned to fewer case managers and office hours. The case managers are now funded by LTR and the Washington Illinois Area Foundation.
Spirit/Emotional: Corey Campbell and Tricia O'Neal were not present. Most recently, they reported work on brochures themed œDon't Let One Disaster Become Another. Fassino said potential clients should be aware LTR has resources beyond finances. œWe'd like to hear from those individuals and get them some help, he said.
Communications: Epstein agreed the June 21 press conference got good coverage for the message: We're still open and still taking cases.
He also cited a couple of well-received feature stories. Case manager Chuck Friend's work with the Washington Estates neighborhood helped them get new entry signs; groundbreaking was attended by radio, television and print. Friend has also worked with Joe Russell of Russell's Cycle & Fitness Center to provide more than 500 bicycles to those affected by the tornadoes. That includes a specially-equipped bike retrieved from Canada for an 11-year-old girl with special needs, which sparked stories by WEEK and the Washington Courier.
Internally, Epstein said, Communications is assembling lessons learned œso folks aren't working at Ground Zero and has prepared a special bulletin announcement for ministers to spread the word about available resources.
Donations: Roberts and Julie Siebert have compiled best practices information œso those that come after us don't have the same degree of difficulty we had, according to Roberts.
Volunteer Management: Davidson is working on the transition to Tri-County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and preparing for a mission trip to Africa, so he was not present. He had told the Steering Committee that there is little volunteer work at present.
Disaster Case Management: Hayes said there are 85 to 86 cases open. There was œquite an influx after recent press coverage. Many of the cases are waiting for payment. Roberts said Case Manager Kathy Casey's reorganization of the payments made it much easier to communicate, which should help get checks out. Fassino said that if it is necessary to hire more case managers, resources are available. He asked how the reduction in office hours has been perceived; Hayes said œfine.
Michael Swanson of the Salvation Army, Heartland Division, introduced himself as the replacement for Capt. Katherine Clausell.
Pets: Yanko was not present. Fassino said LTR recently learned that LaSalle County has an emergency pet trailer, so the state does have some coverage of that type. Roberts said Yanko has been working on getting an emergency pet trailer here for the past several months.
Construction Management: Ori said he already followed up on his most recent case, so his schedule is clear again. He said there is nothing new on the contractor fraud case. Attorneys on the WIAF board want to pursue action legally; LTR will not.
Funder's Forum: Fassino said he continues to be pleased with the effort at the Funder's Forum. The overall number of funders at the table each month is smaller, but pledges of help are about the same.
Discussion has begun about shutdown and getting totals for resources provided since the 2013 tornadoes. LTR has not asked for numbers from funders in the past. It only makes public its own grants and the total provided through the Forum, currently about $1.3 million. But many organizations have provided other resources, as well, including volunteer hours and donated items.
œMost organizations seem receptive to getting totals for resources, he said. œClearly, for many organizations, we're approaching the end of the resources they have.
The biggest opportunity to improve the Funder's Forum, he said, would be streamlining the process of getting checks to clients.
Orban asked about an event to show appreciation for funders as LTR begins to wind down.
Fassino said he has considered a luncheon or other way to invite everyone who has been a part of LTR. He said it would provide an introduction to Davidson and the COAD. And it could help answer questions about what comes after LTR. Organizations such as the Community Foundation of Central Illinois or Salvation Army were here before LTR and will be here afterward. There have been 40 or so groups, œsome large and some small or, like WIAF, brand-new. These organizations work aggressively to handle the needs of up to 56 or 57 cases in a 60-minute meeting on the first Wednesday of each month.
Orban pointed around the table, saying that when people facing disasters in other areas seek information from Tri-County LTR as a model, œit's a tribute to you here.
Treasurer: Gramm said there is $10,323.42 in the LTR checking account at present. WIAF sent a $10,000 check to fund case managers. LTR has granted $401,704.16, before the July 1 Funder's Forum. There is a balance of $167,403.23, but some of those funds have been committed to projects. Roberts said it would be good to track commitments œas we go in any future LTR.
Other business: Orban said the COAD group is moving forward. It will meet quarterly, rather than monthly. LTR Steering Committee chairs are putting together summaries of their best practices, œso after we go dormant, if we have to come together again, we'll have some guidelines.
Open forum: Brian and Dena Day said everyone at LTR has helped them œtremendously. She said it's good LTR is preparing for the future. The Days now keep a blanket, wallets and two sets of keys packed in case of disaster. She said one of the best things LTR has done was offer a workshop on contractor fraud last fall. If the Days had been to the workshop earlier, œit would have been a whole different ballgame, she said. The couple tried to arrange for a contractor from their temporary home in Texas. Much of the work was done so poorly that it had to be replaced and they've run through all of their insurance. Consumer protection services have not helped. She fears the contractor will do the same thing to someone else.
Dena Day asked what will happen to their case when LTR closes down. Fassino said the funds have been approved; an organization will be identified to handle any remaining cases.
œThe lights will be out, but the process continues, Fassino said. œCommitments will still be honored.
COAD: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, at the LTR Center.
Steering Committee meeting: 7 am. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the LTR Center.
Funder's Forum meeting: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the LTR Center.
Public LTR meeting: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the LTR Center.
The meeting adjourned at 3:33 p.m.