July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Trailer purchase approved (10/02/07)
Jay County Commissioners
By By TRAVIS MINNEAR-
The Jay County Health Department is taking preventative medicine and patient treatment on the road.
On Monday, county commissioners approved the creation of a budget line item for the department to purchase a trailer that would serve as mobile workstation to treat infected people, prevent spread of infection, store medication and supplies and house workspace for officials.
The 26-foot-by-8-foot trailer comes at a cost of $2,000, commissioners said. The health department has money available through a federal grant to purchase the item, but must be approved by Jay County Council before funds can be shifted to the line item.
"The council's got to move the money then they (health department officials) can buy it," Commissioner Gary Theurer said.
The Federal Emergency Management Association offered trailers to states at discounted rates, Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said. States then passed the opportunities on to local governments.
"They were built for (Hurricane) Katrina (victims) in New Orleans," Miller said.
Jay County Emergency Management Agency Director Ralph Frazee, whose department was approved last week by commissioners to buy a similar trailer, said costs of the trailers average $22,000 to $28,000.
According to information provided by the health department, the trailer contains a workspace, two storage rooms, a bathroom, a room for patient care and a kitchen. A refrigerator also is included for storing medication, as are sinks for cleaning and decontaminating patients, said Jim Waechter, public health coordinator for the health department.
Auditor Freda Corwin said if the county council approves the health department's request to move funds to a line item, the trailer could be used to combat a pandemic flu outbreak and aid in other mobile inoculation projects.
Commissioner Faron Parr said acquiring the trailer for a discounted price is a good investment for the county, and allows it to be "better organized" in case of disaster.
"For $2,000 it's hard to pass up," he said.
The trailer would be used to reach patients across the county that would not be able to seek treatment during a pandemic flu outbreak or other catastrophe, Waechter said. It could also be used to assist surrounding areas if needed.
"This is really a travel trailer," Waechter said.
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On Monday, county commissioners approved the creation of a budget line item for the department to purchase a trailer that would serve as mobile workstation to treat infected people, prevent spread of infection, store medication and supplies and house workspace for officials.
The 26-foot-by-8-foot trailer comes at a cost of $2,000, commissioners said. The health department has money available through a federal grant to purchase the item, but must be approved by Jay County Council before funds can be shifted to the line item.
"The council's got to move the money then they (health department officials) can buy it," Commissioner Gary Theurer said.
The Federal Emergency Management Association offered trailers to states at discounted rates, Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said. States then passed the opportunities on to local governments.
"They were built for (Hurricane) Katrina (victims) in New Orleans," Miller said.
Jay County Emergency Management Agency Director Ralph Frazee, whose department was approved last week by commissioners to buy a similar trailer, said costs of the trailers average $22,000 to $28,000.
According to information provided by the health department, the trailer contains a workspace, two storage rooms, a bathroom, a room for patient care and a kitchen. A refrigerator also is included for storing medication, as are sinks for cleaning and decontaminating patients, said Jim Waechter, public health coordinator for the health department.
Auditor Freda Corwin said if the county council approves the health department's request to move funds to a line item, the trailer could be used to combat a pandemic flu outbreak and aid in other mobile inoculation projects.
Commissioner Faron Parr said acquiring the trailer for a discounted price is a good investment for the county, and allows it to be "better organized" in case of disaster.
"For $2,000 it's hard to pass up," he said.
The trailer would be used to reach patients across the county that would not be able to seek treatment during a pandemic flu outbreak or other catastrophe, Waechter said. It could also be used to assist surrounding areas if needed.
"This is really a travel trailer," Waechter said.
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