Commission approves building purchase
Michele Abbott-Becker, Marion County Communications and Emergency Management Director, received permission Monday from Marion County Commission to purchase a building required at the tower site for new county radios.
Abbott-Becker had made contact with the storm shelter company in Canton. The cost for the building is $2,935. However, at meeting time, the company had not verified the ability of installing heating and air conditioning.
The building needs to be constructed and installed with utilities by May 1 at the tower site for the completion of the installation of new county radios.
The City of Hillsboro has offered to provide electrical labor and the City of Marion has offered to provide labor to construct the roof of the building.
The metal building, if it meets the required specifications, would be above ground.
The approximate total cost of the building would be $3,500, said Abbott-Becker. The commission approved the purchase up to that amount.
County funds would need to be used for the building, said Abbott-Becker, because grant funds cannot be used.
Abbott-Becker said the county's repeater that is being replaced may be purchased by a private entity for $3,000, which would cover some of the expense of the building.
The commission agreed the funds could come from the sales tax revenue.
Abbott-Becker also reported the county has been awarded $20,000 for a planning analysis.
The analysis would benefit the county and cities with a reporting system for hazardous materials.
The state has recommended the county contract consultants Bucher, Willis, and Ratliff for the project. The commission signed an agreement with the consultants.
The county will receive more than $150,000 in grant funds through the 2003 Homeland Security funding. An advisory board has been reviewing ideas, said Abbott-Becker.
The week of April 11 is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, reported Abbott-Becker. Local county dispatchers were recognized by the commission.
Sheriff Lee Becker presented two bids to the commission for water pipe repairs at the county jail.
General contractor Ralph Kreutziger presented a bid for the project. A bid from Suffield Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing had been received but a representative was not able to attend the meeting.
A representative from Suffield's will be invited to be on the agenda to discuss the bid.
Darryl Thiesen, county emergency medical services director, presented the March report.
There were 72 ambulance runs with Hillsboro having the most at 36, Marion 19, Peabody 11, and Tampa six.
First responder runs totaled 10 with Goessel having five, Ramona and Burns with two each, and Lincolnville one. Durham did not have any calls for March.
Thiesen said he had completed the CPR instructor certification class, had attended the Kansas Emergency Medical Technican's Association seminar, and was invited and attended the county's fire chiefs' association meeting.
A company has agreed to donate 10 glucometers to the county with the agreement the county will purchase test strips from them.
The machines will be in county ambulances and first response vehicles and will check blood sugar levels.
EMTs will be trained on use of bronchodilators which administers breathing treatments.
Thiesen would like a critical incident stress management team in Marion County. Marion County EMS personnel will be volunteering at the Mennonite Relief Sale Friday and Saturday.
Commissioner Howard Collett requested a five-minute executive session with Thiesen to discuss identifiable personnel. The commission recessed and then reconvened with no decisions.
