Stearns County approves Tri Cap contract increases and Minnesota Monitoring services; board seeks usage metrics

Melissa Huberty, Human Services Administrator, briefed the board on three consent items (I-1 through I-3) including a contract with Tri Cap (Central Minnesota Community Action Program) used primarily for family and children—s services such as supervised visitations and transportation. Huberty said Tri Cap serves low- and moderate-income residents across Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties and that the county uses the contract mainly for children and family services and transportation to school and visits.

Commissioners pressed Huberty on a notable rise in county payments under the Tri Cap contract, from about $48,000 in 2021 to $131,000 in 2025. Huberty said the increase is driven largely by higher volume of services and some rate changes; she said the Stearns County levy funds services for Stearns County residents while other counties pay for their residents. Huberty offered to provide additional utilization numbers to commissioners.

Separately, Huberty reviewed a contract with Minnesota Monitoring to provide randomized drug testing for community corrections clients. She said the vendor operates out of the service center and is used by probation and supervised-release officers as a tool in therapeutic case management; the contract is funded from the community corrections grant. Commissioners asked for metrics on positivity rates and testing outcomes; Huberty said she would ask the corrections director for data and provide it to the board if available.

The board voted to approve the human services consent items and related contracts presented at the meeting.