ALLEN COUNTY, Kan. — Allen County Sheriff Anthony Maness told County Commissioners Tuesday he was notified late Friday by the US Department of Justice the department has been awarded a $200,000 grant for mental health awareness and education.
A major focus of this grant is to provide training and resources for his deputies and correctional officers “that can help them not just be better employees, but better parents, better spouses, healthier people, Maness said, adding health public servants provide a better service to citizens.
The grant will also address peer support training to reach out to other agencies, and Maness said he’s already been contacted by another area law enforcement agency that is interested in obtaining training they do not have access to in their county.
Allen County Regional Hospital Administrator Pat Patton told Allen County Commissioners Tuesday one takeaway from an Iola Register sponsored community forum on renewal of a sales tax supporting the hospital last week was the concerns expressed by many about if the hospital was not there.
Extension of the quarter percent sales tax which covers facility maintenance and upkeep will be on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot.
One of the things Patton mentioned in his presentation was the strong stewardship demonstrated by the County’s Hospital Facilities Board, which has been very watchful on how it spends tax dollars.
Since 2020 the board has invested some $2.7 million in improvements, with $400,000 of that so far this year including addressing a humidity issue in the hospital’s surgery department, which if it gets too high can case infection risk.
Patton and the Commission engaged in a lengthy discussion about health care in general, and rural health care in particular. Later in the meeting the Commission filled two vacant positions on the board by appointing Andi Lou Garrett and Jackie Ensminger-McFadden.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a replacement roller for the Road and Bridge Department to replace a unit that’s no longer repairable. The 2021 CV15 roller,with a purchase price of $116,600, is larger than another unit it had looked at but the warranty on this one is better than another unit looked at, and would better meet their needs.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Jeremy Hopkins told Commissioners chip sealing work is complete for the year with fog sealing yet to do, after which they will start on other maintenance including replacement of some driveway entrances.
The Commission accepted a bid from Twin Motors for a new F550 chassis to be used by the Noxious Weed Department, Public Works Director Mitch Garner said the bed for the truck will be bid later. While bid solicitations were sent to four dealers, Twin Motors was the only one to submit a bid. Delivery of that truck is expected to take about 120 days.
The Commission also discussed a rebuild on one of the one of the Landfill compactors, which it appears they may be able to start on yet this year. A quote on that work is being repaired. In other actions, Commissioners approved holiday lighting on the square along with use of electricity for a couple of entertainers at the Grandstand during Farm City Days this weekend.
