The Barton County Health Department has given over 2,000 flu shots since September, plus another 2,000 so far this month, Health Director Shelly Schneider told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.
The department recently completed 35 out-reach visits across the county so far, promoting immunizations including influenza, she said. There have been very positive responses.
Now, she said her department has plenty of the flu vaccine in stock.
She also reminded folks about the office’s new hours which include:
Monday - 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday - 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday - 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday - 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The report was part of the biweekly departmental update presented to commissioners. Other highlights included:
Health Department
• The department has hosted Food and Farm Meetings throughout the community. As a result of these meeting, a plan will be developed to insure all citizens of Barton County have access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
New hours reminder:
• Epidemiology – Personnel are investigating numerous cases of rabies as well as sexually transmitted infections. This is also in addition to our tuberculosis investigations and other reportable diseases.
• WIC – For the month of September, there are 894 clients enrolled.
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Attended a pre-construction conference and utility locate meeting for High Risk Rural Roads Signing project under which Barton County Road and Bridge will install new signs on various county blacktops
• Technician doing field work for future sign replacement project grant application.
• Looked at intersection sight distance issues at one location in the county.
• Technician working on utility line locate requests for the upcoming signing project.
Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips
Road and Bridge
• Staff continues with mowing of right of way. Mowers are in the southwest part of Barton County moving to the north. It will take another five weeks to complete this project.
• Asphalt work was completed in northern Barton County. This included work north of Hoisington filling in drop off shoulder edges. Pothole patching resumed as staff was available.
• Paint striping on sealed roads was completed by Oct. 22. Center and edge lines are now painted. More work will take place after completion of asphalt work.
• Planning for snow training was completed.
• Staff participated in the High Risk Rural Road signage project meeting as work to install over eight hundred signs will start in the near future.
• Tree removal was started on Northeast 60 Road, east of Highway 281, near the Cheyenne Bottoms. This will be an ongoing project as time permits.
Noxious Weed
• Staff is spraying Kansas Department of Transportation Highways for noxious weeds.
• Spraying continues on county road right of way and pastures as scheduled.
• Fall spraying for musk thistle has started.
Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock
In the past reporting period, the Barton County Landfill took in:
• 903 tons of municipal solid waste
• 225 tons of construction/demolition waste
• 29 tons of special waste
• 604 loads of waste received for disposal
• $44,872.42 of revenue generated through disposal fees
Notable Events:
The last scheduled Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Landfill had 37 participants. If anyone needs to dispose of household hazardous waste, they can call the landfill at 620-793-1898 to make an appointment.
Solid Waste staff has been busy with routine operations and preparation for winter weather.
Environmental Manager Judy Goreham
• The next regular meeting of the Barton County Planning Commission is scheduled for 3 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the Barton County Courthouse, Fourth Floor Conference Room. The public is invited to attend.
County Treasurer Kevin Wondra
The Treasurer’s Office processed a total of 1,435 motor vehicle transactions between Oct. 6 and 19. Of those, 934 were vehicle renewals and 243 were new titles. In the past two weeks, staff has renewed, registered or updated four Commercial vehicles.
The tax sale was successful with 23 of 24 tracts selling. The department is currently preparing for the 2016 tax season. Plans are being made for the printing, sorting, folding and stuffing of statements.
The bookkeepers are in the process of reconciling the bank accounts. All daily work is current.
Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee
• All Stars class was taught to two classes at Riley Elementary school. This was the fourth session.
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment has completed 25 intakes since Sept. 30. Of the 25 intakes, 15 of the kids have been reporting back to our office for follow-up.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management currently are supervising 62 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 17 active cases.
• Juvenile Services has a new grant through The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services called KPCCI, Kansas Prevention Colligative-Community Initiatives and is now in the early stages of implementation. The grant will help support the department in Barton County on identifying risk areas over the next 10 months.
It will aid in future decision makings of how to effectively deliver resources to community families and young people.
• Juvenile Services was awarded $1,150.00 dollars from The Golden Belt Foundation to help support the networking/agency partnership with the Great Bend Police Department and Barton County law enforcement as a whole. This is to continue positive presence and saturation patrols along with building strong bonds in the community.
Woodmanse said personnel look forward in continued work towards common goals with law enforcement partners.
