By Lauren Swanson
Newton Kansan
The Harvey County commission meeting on Monday had a full agenda, with commissioners receiving reports from representatives from Health Ministries, Community Corrections and the Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties.
Jerree Forbes from Health Ministries presented a sustainability update to the commission, focusing on the organizations’ future plans and emphasizing the clinic is not at risk of shutting its doors.
“We’re here to stay,” he said, adding that questioning the potential longevity of the clinic’s existence is counterproductive to its mission.
He said the clinic has seen an increase in donations and the city of Newton’s contributions and is pursuing a federal grant to improve its services in Harvey County.
Jo Miller, director of the Harvey County Health Department, also addressed the commission.
The two organizations are working on the grant application and expressed interest in developing a joint facility if the project can be funded.
Forbes said the proposed facility would allow individuals to utilize a single location for services offered by the separate entities. For example, as Forbes described to the commissioners, a parent could bring children for a routine check-up at Health Ministries, then to get immunizations from the health department without leaving the building.
Forbes and Miller told the commission they have worked to eliminate overlapping services. Therefore, a single location for services from both organizations would be a practical and streamlined way to serve community members.
Before such a facility can exist though, Health Ministries and the Health Department must find the money. And the grant the organizations are currently pursuing won’t come cheap. The Health Department plans to expend $11,000 to pay a grant-writer who has helped other similar organizations apply for similar grants. The department also plans to use a consultant at a fee of $4,000.
“It really is a —bottom line— need for the community,” Forbes said of the clinic’s work.
He also informed the commission that the clinic has a part-time dentist joining its staff on Sept. 9. The clinic also plans to hire a dental hygienist later this fall.
Carl Eyman spoke to the commission about worker’s compensation on behalf of the Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties. He explained that Harvey County has had a better than average record of avoiding on-the-job injuries and workman’s comp claims since 2005. The death of Sheriff Deputy Kurt Ford in 2005 is the only major incident on the county’s record in recent years, he said. Between 2009 and 2010, the county’s premium decreased by $43,000, Eyman said.
The commission also received the year-end report from Harvey and McPherson counties community corrections. Commissioners were impressed with the success of positive reinforcement methods used by community corrections. The program rewards probationers for completing drug and alcohol treatment, remaining drug and alcohol free after treatment and performing community service. They are rewarded with gift cards to Dillons, Blockbuster, Sonic or Pizza Hut. The department aims to focus on positive reinforcement rather than exclusively relying on negative reinforcement techniques.
Also at the county commission meeting:
Commissioners took an official vote to adopt new flood plain maps after several months of preparation and debate. The maps were drawn by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and their adoption was necessary to insure Harvey County residents’ participation in national flood insurance programs.
The commission voted to grant a conditional use permit, allowing T-Mobile to construct a 250-foot telecommunications tower 1/2 mile east of Emma Creek Road, just outside of the Hesston City limits. The permit was already approved by the county’s planning commission on Aug. 10.
