By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK
Register Reporter
While no particular site has yet been selected for a new Allen County Hospital, it’s no secret that commissioners favor one on East Street between Kentucky Avenue and The Family Physicians Clinic.
The site must still undergo review by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Commission Chair Dick Works noted at Tuesday’s meeting. If environmental concerns prove “insurmountable, we have another site in mind,” — also not a secret — Works said.
The second site, undeveloped land between North Dakota Road and East Carpenter Street — has issues with utility accessibility, Works noted. Commissioners have also heard that it is in “too residential a neighborhood,” Commissioner Rob Francis said, but noted that it would provide direct highway access.
Commissioner Gary McInotsh was absent.
County Counselor Alan Weber was directed by Works and Francis to pursue a list of appraisers for a site once one is formally selected.
Weber also wrote up a summary of hospital trustee duties and expectations, he said, to be given to potential board of trustee candidates. The requirements were reviewed by ACH Chief Executive Officer Joyce Heismeyer, Weber said.
Weber noted he has reviewed personnel policies for all county departments and made appropriate changes.
“We really hadn’t done it for 10 years,” he said of updating the guidelines. He suggested reviewing the policies every two years in the future.
COUNTY emergency services personnel will be wearing pink shirts for the rest of October in honor of breast cancer awareness month, Francis said. EMS personnel purchased the shirts of their own accord, he noted.
The county ambulance service has brought in $429,000 thus far this year, said Emergency Medical Services Director Jason Nelson. That amount is $50,000 more than last year at this point, he added. Nelson said the amount taken in reflects 80 percent of what has been billed.
“Things have been busy, unfortunately,” he said of the number of calls. Nelson said at one point recently all four trucks were on calls at the same time.
“That shows the need for the improvements we’ve made” to the emergency response system, Works said.
Nelson is scheduling cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes for staff at both Moran Manor and Kids Kingdom child care center.
Other businesses can schedule such training by calling Nelson at 365-1460.
WORKS said commissioners will look into a request to purchase new tires for the Mental Health Center van, used by the county in situations when its own senior services van is out of commission.
The senior van has been having ongoing problems, said Public Works Director Bill King.
The most recent, a problem with the air conditioning system that cannot be fixed regionally, will see the van, a 2007 Ford, taken to Wichita for service.
Other issues have involved a fuel pump, back lock, emissions controls and engine light coming on repeatedly.
“It’s just been one thing after another,” noted County Clerk Sherrie Reible.
The van was purchased with grant funds and must be used until a certain mileage is reached before the county is eligible to reapply for a similar grant, Works said.
Typically, the vans are replaced after four or five years or 100,000 miles, Reibel added.
“If you get a lemon, it’s a long four years,” said Works.
THE COUNTY is actively mowing roadways and has all three mowers out, King noted. Cool season chip seal work will be done as weather permits, he added.
A 50 gallon buried tank must be removed from Allen County Airport property. The tank’s past use is uncertain, King said, but he believes it was for a septic system. “I should know later today,” he said.
All counties in Kansas, as of July 1, must pay for indigent burials, a tab previously picked up by the state, Works said. No such burials have taken place in Allen County since the change.
Insurance claims are running $3,145 higher than expected this year, commissioners noted.
Commissioners reauthorized a resolution continuing a 75 cent tax per line on land line phones in Allen County to help fund county 911 services.
10/05/10
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