Get the Real Facts on Mental Health Board Move
To the Editor:

So that everyone involved has the truth to work with, we believe additional information should be presented to the public regarding your recent story about returning the Hiawatha Behavioral Health (HBH) board to population-based representation.

Chief Executive Officer Sam Harma of HBH failed to mention that returning to board membership based on population is simply rejoining the way the rest of the State of Michigan provides for an equal voice for all citizens in decisions that effect mental health services. Since the 2000 amendment to the law, the only mental health agency to change from the population-based representation is HBH. The rest of the state's mental health agencies have all continued to operate successfully using the original state provision of representation by population.

Mr. Harma stated that he thinks the board runs well with each county having four board members. We feel there are a number of areas within the agency that could be improved with going back to the original population based representation, particularly with how money intended for client care and treatment is spent. We feel there is too much money being spent on administrative salaries and benefits and board operations, while money for client care and treatment is being cut.

Over the years, we have objected to the high salaries and lavish retirement programs provided the top managers in addition to Mr. Harma's personal-use SUV.

We have objected to HBH paying its board member $65 per meeting when Chippewa County commissioners are paid only $45 per meeting. We think the numerous board retreats and workshops and training sessions could be reduced in number, structured to eliminate overnight stays, and held in HBH building sites rather than casinos and resorts.

The Mackinac County commissioners may want to take a closer look at the numbers and the dollars before they rush to support Mr. Harma and his scare tactics. These decisions need to be based on real facts. According to the numbers published in The St. Ignace News and the Manistique Pioneer Tribune, Mackinac County has 20% of the HBH service population, compared to Schoolcraft at 13%. Why, then do only 15% of HBH clients come from Mackinac County, while 17% of HBH clients are from Schoolcraft? Why does Mackinac County have only 9% of the employees, while Schoolcraft has 41% of the employees? It appears Mackinac County residents are being shortchanged in services and are not receiving their fair share of high paying jobs when compared to Schoolcraft County.

The movement of the administrative offices to the Sault or St. Ignace would provide more money for client care and treatment by reducing the 200-plus overnight administrative stays in Sault motels each year, and the wasted time administrators spend driving from Manistique to the Sault and St. Ignace. It would also reduce the higher salaries now being paid to key employees to get them to live in isolated Manistique.

Mr. Harma mentions a supposed agreement made to keep the administrative offices in Manistique. We have thoroughly researched and FOIAed all existing records and have found nothing to verify his statement.

We feel it is time that HBH was changed from a money-making machine for Schoolcraft County into a true mental health agency serving the residents of the three county area in the most efficient manner. With the change, it might even be possible to do something about the startling rise in local suicides.

The people of Chippewa County have no desire to "take over" HBH. We just want the same equal voice that all the other residents of Michigan have in the decisions made by their mental health agency.

Don and Chris McLean

Brimley