Meth lab waste may be stored in county
Some materials related to illegal methamphetamine labs may be held at the Marion County Household Hazardous Waste facility, county commissioners heard Tuesday at their weekly meeting.
Bill Smithhart, director, said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was asking household hazardous waste facilities to accept small amounts of material or substances used to make meth.
A state team that specializes in meth lab materials will remove the items quarterly, or more often if the amount is significant. Currently, the three state teams have to go to the scene to recover materials, and law officers must remain until they arrive.
"It's two hours at best before the team from Wichita can get up here," Smithhart said.
Meth is an addictive drug that can be manufactured from fairly common substances. Many of the substances are items the household hazardous waste facility could accept, Smithhart said.
The concern is that some of the substances are highly volatile if mixed. Smithhart said he was willing to accept the materials, but wanted additional training and information to ensure the items can be transported or held safely at the facility.
Part of the agreement with the state is that Smithhart can decline meth lab material at any time.
The goal isn't for the hazardous waste facility to take the contents of an entire lab, state officials said. If law officers have found one or two items, it will be more efficient to let the county handle it rather than call out the state team.
Weed truck
Commissioners approved purchase of a trailer from Marion County Equipment for $700. It will be used to haul an all-terrain vehicle for the noxious weed department.
Another county-owned trailer and spray truck were destroyed in a fire Sept. 9. A field near 180th and Diamond was being inspected for noxious weeds when the truck drove into a ravine the driver didn't realize was there, Smithhart said. The hot undercarriage ignited the grass. The driver, Will Mefford, wasn't hurt, but he was unable to extinguish the blaze. The truck, trailer, spraying equipment, and several acres of CRP grass were destroyed.
Emergency equipment
Decontamination and personal safety gear will be ordered Friday through a federal grant, reported emergency preparedness director Michele Abbott-Becker.
They include special protective gear, such as boots and gloves, and five decontamination units, which are specialized showers. Most of the equipment will go to various fire departments in the county.
"The fire chief association will determine where the equipment will go," Abbott-Becker said.
Another $35,500 is expected next year. It will be used for more safety equipment, she said.
State officials also plan to eventually release funds to improve communication on various emergency frequencies, she said. Studies of the Sept. 11 attacks indicate many emergency responders in New York City weren't able to communicate effectively.
Abbott-Becker noted that the state probably will establish a number of regional emergency preparedness directors to oversee groups of counties. This way smaller counties don't have to hire full-time emergency directors, she explained.
Dispatch calls
In a related matter, dispatchers had dealt with 30,346 calls this year, Abbott-Becker said.
They dealt with 45,614 calls in 2001, which included 31,014 incoming calls, 11,617 outgoing calls, and 2,983 emergency 911 calls.
Through mid-September, there have been 20,489 incoming calls, 7,749 outgoing calls, and 1,630 911 calls.
Dispatchers started tracking the number of cellular phone calls in late June. In those three months, dispatchers have answered 1,367 calls from cell phones.
Law Day for seniors
A special "law day for seniors" will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the courtroom, announced Noreen Weems, director of the county department for elderly.
Speakers will address many legal issues that relate to senior or "soon-to-be-senior" citizens. It is sponsored by the Eighth Judicial District.
In other reports:
It was a low-key meeting. Commissioner Bob Hein was absent due to the death of his wife, and the other commissioners expressed sympathy to the Hein family.
The 42nd annual meeting of Senior Citizens of Marion County is planned for Oct. 17 in Marion Senior Center. Tickets are $3.75 and available at senior centers.
Commissioners signed a letter of support for the City of Peabody, which is seeking a state grant to help develop a strategic plan.
Sheriff Lee Becker brought in two of the Haenni portable scales that will be used to check for overloaded trucks. They will be in use Thursday, he said.
Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Checks totaling $983 were canceled. They had been sent but never cashed.
