Grant to help health department

The Jay County Health Department is taking advantage of leftover H1N1 influenza preparation grant money available from the state to get some new equipment and fund additional planning services.
Dave Houck, Peggy Atkinson and Robyn Fisher-Meyer from the health department presented the Jay County Commissioners with a request to spend $19,678 in state H1N1 grant funds.
Although the H1N1 flu pandemic took place primarily in 2009, Fisher-Meyer said the state had nearly $10 million leftover in its H1N1 preparation grant fund and offered a grant extension period for counties to take advantage of the available money.
In the initial round of grant funding, the county had purchased a vaccine refrigerator, computers, office equipment and printer totaling more than $35,000.
Atkinson said the department wanted to replace all of the office’s computers, but was denied that request by the state. They were, however, approved to purchase a laptop, an all-in-one printer/copier/fax, appointment software and a document shredder, as well as funding additional time for Fisher-Meyer to update and streamline the county’s emergency plans.
“We have the plans, but they’re not up to date,” Atkinson said. “(Fisher-Meyer) is trying to get everything caught up.”
Fisher-Meyer, who will receive $225 per week for six months to handle the additional duties, explained to the commissioners that she will be meeting with other parties involved in the county’s emergency plans such as Jay County Emergency Management Agency and local Red Cross branch to update and tweak the county’s emergency protocols.
“(The funding) gives us that much more time to profoundly streamline how we operate,” she said. “It just gives me more time to do it well.”
The commissioners approved the purchases for the health department, which will go before the Jay County Council at its next meeting in February to have that money appropriated to the department’s budget.
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Received an update on the Jay County Jail project from project supervisor Jeff Badders.
The commissioners asked Badders if there will be funds available to purchase a water softener for the jail. Badders said he will review the remaining project budget at the end of the month.
•Told attorney Bill Hinkle to write a draft agreement between the county and city of Portland regarding maintenance of the sewage grinder pump at the jail.
The commissioners said they spoke with the city earlier into the project and at that time had an understanding that the city would agree to maintain the grinder and that the county and city would split the cost if the pump needed to be replaced in the future.
•Spoke with Bob Brown of Barnum and Brown Insurance, Dunkirk, about quotes for county insurance packages. Brown said he will return with some package information for the county at next week’s meeting.
•Signed a letter of approval for the Jay County Community Corrections $116,506 operating grant request for director Yvette Weiland.
•Made county prosecutor Wes Schemenaur purchasing agent to renew a subscription for a stolen goods tracking program used by the Jay County Sheriff’s Office. The renewal will cost $1,428 and will be paid for out of the deferral fund.[[In-content Ad]]