HUGHSON -- Hughson Mayor Bart Conner would like the county to open offices in his city.

At a joint meeting between the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and the Hughson City Council on Tuesday night, Conner offered the idea of having the county use office space in the newly renovated Hughson City Hall.

Conner said a county staff member who could answer zoning questions and a code enforcement officer would be ideal to have in town.

It's an inconvenience for local folks to drive to Modesto and for county employees to drive out to Hughson for inspections, he said. County staff in Hughson could serve all of eastern Stanislaus County.

"Our door is always open to collaboration," Supervisor Paul Caruso said following the meeting.

Caruso said the county has a Public Works Department site in his district on the West Side. And the county has a contract with Ceres for specific staff workers.

Department heads gave an overview of the county services offered in Hughson, such as recycling programs, law enforcement protection from the Sheriff's Department and services in the Hughson Medical Office.

The medical office is a designated rural health clinic, which means the federal government reimburses the county for treating people without insurance. Hughson Medical Office offers the only telemedicine program in the county. Stanislaus residents can discuss health problems with specialists at hospitals outside the area.

Hughson resident Cathee Vaughn told the council and supervisors that the city needs more mental health services.

"We're not getting to the families in need," said Vaughn. "I know we're doing the best we can, but we just don't have enough."

Teen-age parents face a lot of stress and could benefit from more services in the city. If they don't get help early, they could need more serious services later, she said.

Currently, the county's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services department has a center in Ceres, which Hughson residents can use. The county also does home visits.

The county provides services for people who have specific mental health needs. The people who don't fall into those specific categories, and who don't have insurance, must rely on nonprofit agencies that charge fees on a sliding scale.

Teen parents may qualify for services under the state's welfare-work program -- CalWorks, said Dan Souza, the director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. The county plans to offer CalWorks in Hughson.

He said he's working with the Community Services Agency to do more outreach in the city. The county does offer an Adolescent Day Treatment Program for students throughout the county.

Supervisor Pat Paul suggested the city work with the school district to get state money for mental health services.

Bee staff writer Alejandra Navarro can be reached at 578-2339 or anavarro@modbee.com.

Reprinted by permission of The Modesto Bee.