For a second time, the Barton County Commission Tuesday morning approved the remodeling of bathrooms and doors at the Barton County Health Department. However, commissioners learned the project will not cost the county a penny.
“In 2022, I put out for bids for proposals to have a remodel done in our apartment,” said Health Director Karen Winkelman. “We combined two restrooms into one and had a shower put in, had a washer and dryer installed, and it’s very nice for a decontamination area.”
They also adjusted the hallway so they have more private meeting room. This was to deal with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)-related topics.
“All of this was related to COVID,” Winkelman said. At that time, the only bid received was $70,928 from Brentwood builders.
“We had budgeted $50,000 for the project,” she said. They managed to scrounge up another $10,000 giving them $60,000 for the project. That $10,000 came from a COVID-19-related Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The commission approved covering the $10,928 balance from the Health Fund.
However, Winkelman and her financial officer Misty Trudeau, reached back out to the KDHE, and the agency agreed to fund the remaining amount. “I would like to say that the full project was supported by grant funds,” she said.
“I will say that we have truly enjoyed having that there,” she said of the decontamination area. “We have been out on several environmental visits and I have used that decon area quite frequently.”
On one recent visit to a rundown home, multiple county and city entities were involved, and all utilized it, she said. “So I feel very fortunate that we can open that space up to our partners.”
“I just want to say excellent work getting that completely funded with grant funds, so I appreciate the extra effort,” said District 5 Commissioner Donna Zimmerman.
