Schools may be asked to provide own nurses
Staff reporter
School health nurse contracts may not be renewed by the county for the coming school year.
Diedre Serene, county health administrator, reported Monday to Marion County Commission her concerns about the county's liability by providing part-time nurses to Peabody-Burns USD 398, Centre USD 397, Goessel USD 411, and Oasis.
She said she wasn't sure if the fees the school districts and special education cooperative pay offset the liability risks.
If the county were to continue to provide this service, Serene said she would recommend the county hire a nurse specifically to work in that position. The schools and cooperatives would pay for the services.
Previously the entities paid school nurses $20 per hour plus mileage.
Another option for the county to consider would be to let the school districts and cooperative hire their own nurses.
The commission advised Serene to make contact with the superintendents and director, and advise them of the situation.
School nurses for Marion USD 408 and Hillsboro USD 410 are hired by the respective districts.
In other business:
— The commission approved a cooperative agreement with North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging regarding the Kansas Senior Care Act Incentive Fund.
The county will contribute $3,222 to NC-FHAAA to be used as matching funds for the incentive program.
Marion County Department for Elderly will be responsible for distributing applications upon request. The agency will be responsible for all other facets.
The act will provide essential in-home services to Kansas residents, 60 years of age and older.
— The approval of a service agreement amendment with Jack Chapelle, regarding closing of the county landfill, was tabled until next Monday's commission meeting since county clerk Carol Maggard was unable to contact Chapelle by telephone during the meeting.
The original contract with the engineer was for $35,000. The amendment asked for a $5,300 increase to cover unexpected inspection fees.
The contract stated other fees may be assessed during the closure which could impact final costs of the project.
"I think we're waltzing through a mine field," said commissioner Dan Holub.
— The first payment of $5,000 to Unruh Excavating was approved for landfill closing. The total bid was $15,000.
— The commission also tabled approval of a repair bid for the roof of the county's transfer station.
Repairs were estimated at $14,000, which was budgeted. The lowest bid was $27,000, causing the commission to consider other funding options.
— A computer was approved for the health department. A bid of $1,199 from Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion was approved. Other bids were from Dell for $1,276, and Gateway for $1,066.
There will be an additional fee for setting up the computer. Funds from the department's capital outlay budget will be used.
— Sheriff Lee Becker requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
When the meeting reconvened, the commission approved a carry-over of 58 hours of unused vacation time.
Becker later returned to the meeting and informed Maggard that Soyez preferred to be paid for the unused vacation time instead of taking time off.
— Estimated costs for hiring a part-time dispatcher will be submitted to the commission by Michele Abbott-Becker, communications director.
She asked for a determination of wages because she was ready to hire a person. The commission verbally approved an hourly rate of approximately $10.
Abbott-Becker also asked when she would be notified regarding her request to have the part-time employee become full-time in Jan. 2006. Maggard said it would be a few weeks.
Partial funding of the position could come from emergency management funds, said Abbott-Becker.
— A maintenance contract for a generator used by communications will not be renewed.
Abbott-Becker said the contract cost $600 per year for an annual oil change. Any other repair would not covered under the contract.
Abbott-Becker said the county's road and bridge department could provide the necessary maintenance.
— Abbott-Becker distributed monthly emergency communication statistics for July.
She noted there were 170 calls in one, eight-hour shift.
There were 3,201 incoming and outgoing calls this month. Of those, 442 were from cell phones.
— Virginia Downing of Marion, has been selected as Marion County's "First Mate" volunteer. Downing and other nominees will be recognized during the 2005 senior fair Sept. 20 at Salina.
— A request of $3,099 by NC-FHAAA for administrative costs be included in the 2006 budget.
— The commission recessed to executive session to conduct interviews for the county's economic development facilitator position.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.
