Petition seeks reversal of decision to close agency in county
by Angie Asam–Staff Writer
As reported in last week’s Advance the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of support to keep the Presque Isle County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office located in Rogers City open. The office is scheduled to close Sept. 30.
Since the commissioners passed a letter of support a banner with a petition has been placed at the DHHS building located on Third Street in Rogers City.
Tuesday evening the Rogers City Council approved a resolution against the closure of the building as well.
“Whereas the State of Michigan plans to close the Presque Isle County office of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) effective Oct. 1, 2015 and whereas this office provides many crucial services to the neediest residents of Presque Isle County, handling hundreds of cases each year; and whereas the closure of the office could force the clients of MDHHS to travel more than 40 miles to receive the services they desperately need; and whereas many of those clients are extremely low income, elderly or mentally ill, and have limited or no access to public transportation in such a rural county; and whereas the closure of the office would jeopardize the health, safety and quality of life of the community’s most vulnerable citizens – its destitute elderly, neglected and abused children and families living below the poverty line; and whereas the state has a multibillion dollar budget, but would create those hardships for Presque Isle County residents to save less than $70,000; now therefore be it resolved that the Rogers City Council asks that the state reconsider the closure of the Presque Isle County office of the MDHHS; and be it further resolved that the Rogers City clerk is instructed to send a copy of this resolution to the governor of the state of Michigan as well as its state senator and representative,” reads the resolution passed Tuesday evening.
EARLY IN June it was announced that a budget that cleared a legislative conference committee had the Presque Isle County DHHS office closing; however, at that time the closing wasn
Caseworkers in Presque Isle County handle about 1,833 cases. Nine local DHHS offices were to be affected under the plan including one in nearby Montmorency County. Others on the list for closure at that time were Fort Wayne in Wayne County, the McCree District site in Genesee County, the offices in Alger and the office at the corner of Glendale Avenue and Trumbull Street in Highland Park. An office in Dickinson County would consolidate and a centralized intake office in Kent County would close. Also rehabilitation offices in Genesee, Isabella, Ottawa, Tuscola and Wayne counties would be affected.
According to Bob Wheaton, manager of communications/public information officer for DHHS, the offices were chosen based on location, caseload, impact on staffing and the availability of community partners for satellite sites.