With the number of people reporting influenza-like symptoms on the rise in north central Kansas, Barton County Health Director Shelly Schneider said shots for the disease are still a good idea and they are still available.
“It’s not too late to get vaccinated for the flu,” she told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.
As a side note, she said many of flu symptoms are similar to those of the mumps, a diseases that has also been reported in Barton County. Some of the signs and symptoms of mumps are: fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis).
With this in mind, Schneider said it is important for county residents to make sure all of their immunizations are up to date.
Her report was part of the biweekly departmental update presented by commission Chairwoman Jennifer Schartz. Other highlights inclded:
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Hosted the annual Township Meeting on February 13, 2017.
• Discussions with the Kansas Division of Water Resources about the Cow Creek Floodplain Mapping project. Beginning preparations for a public open house in April that will be announced soon.
• Correspondence with the Kansas Department of Transportation for the application submitted by the County for a 2019 High Risk Rural Roads signing project.
• County Cartographer working on landowner contact lists for the Cow Creek Floodplain Mapping project and working on data for census.
• Met with a consultant who is working on future communications lines to be placed at various locations in the County.
• Office staff working on the Annual County Engineer’s Report to be submitted to KDOT.
Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips
Road and Bridge
• Road and Bridge is cleaning out ditches at Heizer along County right-of-way.
• Sign crews are busy with routine sign replacements. Signs were vandalized on north Patton Road at NW 20 Avenue.
• Completing accounting of the High Risk Rural Road sign project.
Noxious Weed
• Noxious Weed is spraying growth retardant around sign posts and bridge rails.
County Treasurer Kevin Wondra
• Any vehicles operated in a commercial capacity after Jan. 1 must renew for the 2017 renewal year. The last day to renew commercial vehicles within the grace period was Feb. 28.
• The Treasurer’s Office processed a total of 1,074 motor vehicle transactions between Feb. 9 and Feb. 22. Of those, 665 were vehicle renewals and 201 were new titles. In the past two weeks personnel have also renewed, registered or updated 486 Commercial vehicles.
• The Department is receiving payments from taxpayers with properties lined up for this year’s tax sale. At this time, owners must pay 2013 and earlier taxes plus the abstract fee of $70 be paid to be removed from the tax sale. As of today, we have seven parcels have been removed.
• The bookkeepers have disbursed the first distribution of this year and also sent out Neighborhood Revitalization Program checks.
Health Director Shelly Schneider
• An ebola and other highly infectious diseases tabletop exercise was held on Feb. 24 at the Hoisington Activity Center. It was well attended.
• The Department has been alerted that there are confirmed cases of Mumps in Missouri and Arkansas. Good handwashing, covering mouths with coughing or sneezing, and washing hands frequently all good ways to heed off the virus.
• The second class of Stepping On will start March 7. This class is for people 65 years of age or older and reviews many aspects of mobility and ways to stay independent in the home.
The feedback from this program is overwhelmingly positive. Call the Health Department for more information.
Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee
• All Stars class was taught once to two sixth-grade classes at Riley Elementary school. This was the 12th session of this school year and its going well.
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment has completed 24 intakes since Feb. 9.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management currently are supervising 47 youth from the 20th Judicial District
• Project Stay is the Case Management program for youth who have truancy issues and currently provides Case Management for 30 youth in the district
• Teen Court is held every month and currently has 20 active cases
• Choices is a new evidence based curriculum offered by Juvenile Services. Two youth continue to work the curriculum.
• Taught an anger-control class and a parenting class.
• The new immediate intervention program has five cases. The next phase of the program is to contact parents and set up meetings to get contracts signed for the diversion opportunity.
