Boone County’s Human Services Department is undergoing a reorganization that includes a name change, county officials said.
“During our transition over the past several months, we’ve been reviewing where we have critical needs and how these might be incorporated into our planning,” Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster said.
Multiple areas were included with the administration restructuring plan put in place and finalized with the deputy county administrator and the assistant county administrator, Webster said.
The Human Services Department will be renamed the Community Services and Programs Department, Webster said.
A discussion was initiated with Human Services Department Director Laura Pleiman, who would transition to full-time status, to determine fit, current capacity and changes that might be required to absorb the duties of the new department without adding staffing, Webster said.
The new department includes implementation and oversight of all opioid abatement programs, taking a lead role on assessing and advising on strategies to meet housing needs, economic development support, board representation, and researching services and programs that come from other communities or the elected body, Webster said.
“She’s (Pleiman) my alternate on the area development district and I think we’ll probably see other opportunities where she’ll be our rep,” Judge/Executive Gary W. Moore said. “I can see her involvement also reaching into some of the TANK discussion. She would be a resource to strategies and policies.”
The action that the Boone County Fiscal Court approved will provide a more comprehensive approach to the county’s future, Webster said.
“Laura has been with us for 14 years, is quite an asset, and has taken on a lot of significant initiatives,” Webster said.