In October, the Barton County Commission accepted the awarding of a United States Department of Agriculture Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program grant totalling $781,126.96 to support efforts in Barton, Ellsworth, Rice and Stafford counties. However, when commissioners approved bids to implement the grant, they exceeded the amount of the grant.
Barton County’s required portion of the match came to $84,242.31. So, commissioners directed Grant Coordinator Sue Cooper to search for additional funding to cover that cost.
She was mostly successful. She applied for and received a $41,000 grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation and a $20,000 grant from the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation.
“We are really excited about this,” Cooper said. It really lessens the burden on the county, which now has to come up with just over $20,000.
“If we would have had to come up with over $80,000, it would have really taxed us,” commission Chairperson Jennifer Schartz said.
The funding will provide telehealth equipment to each county’s health department, the detention facilities in Barton and Ellsworth counties, and to Central Kansas Community Corrections and 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services.
Background
The commission on Oct. 26 approved a bid from Solutionz of Los Angeles, Calif., totaling $898,296. Cooper solicited quotes from telemedicine vendors for equipment needed under the USDA grant and noted that this is a specialized project and there are no local vendors that can tackle it.
Equipment under this bid will allow each of the counties to host telemedicine programs. This includes carts and cases, video and audio equipment, and installation and training.
Cooper realized the bid exceeds the grant amount. The balance was to be divvied up among the participating counties based on the share of the funds spent in each one.
Most of the money will be spent in Barton County, since it is the home county of the judicial district. So, it will pay the largest portion.
On Oct. 7, USDA Rural Development announced the funding. The grant will connect existing county services to critical health-care providers. It will also create regional access to essential health-care services and improve patient outcomes.
The interactive equipment will allow Barton and Ellsworth county jails remote access to nursing and physician services and decrease the costs associated with transporting inmates.
Clients of the Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, and Stafford County health departments will access public health services remotely.
Central Kansas Community Corrections and the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services will be able to provide vital counseling, treatment, and educational programs that address substance use disorder.
The announcement was in conjunction with a larger announcement made by USDA, where it was investing $72 million in 40 states through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. These investments will benefit more than 12 million rural residents.
Cooper said installation will likely begin in the spring, with the systems up and running by summer or fall.
Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Monday morning:
• Approved township treasurer bonds.
By state law, before entering office, the township treasurer shall execute a bond in an amount determined by the county commissioners, Deputy County Clerk Bev Schmeidler said. The amount and sufficiency of the bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful discharge of the treasurer’s duties.
The bond shall then be filed in the office of the County Clerk.
• Approved USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program matching funds.
• Approved the purchase of 66 refurbished 800 megahertz radios for the County Works Department.
The department has mounted radios in equipment to facilitate work assignments, said County Works Director Darren Williams. He requested authority to replace a portion of those units with 800 megahertz radios.
The suggested project includes refurbished Motorola XTL 2500 radios, antenna and installation. The cost for will not exceed $30,000 and work will begin in the spring.
• Appointed John Haberman to the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee.
The committee is charged with advising and assisting the commission regarding the care and maintenance of the Barton County-owned and operated Golden Belt and Hillcrest memorial parks. With not less than five, nor more than seven members, there are two open, uncompensated positions terming in July, 2024, County Works Director Darren Williams said.
Haberman’s was the only application.
• Appointed Rick Bealer to the Center for Counseling and Consultation Governing Board.
The county solicited applicants for the board, which reviews and makes recommendations on mental health services in Barton County and the surrounding area. Bealer applied for the uncompensated unexpired position ending Dec. 31, 2021, County Administrator Phil Hathcock said.
• Filled a position on the Fire District No. 2 Board of Trustees. Named was Jackie DeBusk to represent Susank.
Per the resolution creating the district, members of the board shall consist of not more than one appointee from each participating township and not more than one from each participating city.
Trustee positions were advertised for North and South Homestead townships and for the City of Susank for terms expiring in 2022, and an unfilled position for Union Township which would term in 2021. All terms are uncompensated.
The board can have a maximum of nine members and a minimum of three. Currently, there are four, all of whom have terms ending at the end of next year.
• Approved occupancy agreements for the county building at 12th and Kansas, Great Bend.
As a means of community support, the Cottonwood Extension Council and the State of Kansas Parole office are housed in the county office building at 1208 Kansas Ave. Each agency reimburses Barton County for a portion of the building’s utility costs. The agreements are set to expire Dec. 31, 2021.
The county does not charge rent, but the extension council pays its share of the utilities and phone costs.
