Public health posts identified

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — After several questions went unanswered a week ago at the Nobles-Rock Community Health Services meeting, new public health supervisor Janet Howard and deputy human services director Stacie Golombiecki provided a progress update to Nobles County commissioners Tuesday morning about the future of public health programming.

For the first time, actual staffing numbers were presented for the new Nobles County public health department. Golombiecki said they will recommend up to three full-time registered nurses and five full-time public health nurses be filled.

Some of those full-time positions may be split into part-time positions, she added.

Two positions — one registered nurse and one public health nurse — were advertised, and she anticipates those to be filled by Nov. 1.

“We are continuing to evaluate the other positions,” Golombiecki said.

In addition, Howard reported she is in talks with Southwest Health and Human Services regarding a possible delegation agreement in which SWHHS would provide food, beverage and lodging licensing for Nobles County starting on Jan. 1.

Both Howard and Golombiecki have written letters to agencies and individuals who are contracted by the current NRCHS agency to see if “they are willing to maintain affiliation with the new agency,” Golombiecki said.

As for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, Howard said the new public health agency will continue to provide WIC clinics Monday through Friday.

She said a letter is being drafted to current WIC clients, as scheduling is done three months in advance for clinic appointments.

The new department will need to have its WIC system set up by Oct. 1, she added.

Golombiecki said the new department currently plans to provide all services currently provided or through contracts with other agencies

“I’m encouraged that you’re working with existing staff in SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Plan) as well as Food, Beverage and Lodging,” said Commissioner David Benson. “I think for the good of the community, the least amount of trauma will be better for everybody.”

“The (dissolution) committee is going to have a monumental task, I believe, in continuing services through Dec. 31, under the situation by which we’re operating,” added Nobles County Administrator Mel Ruppert. “We can really make this a smooth transition. This is an opportunity for everybody to get to the table, to lay out the areas of concern and to be able to put a plan together that addresses them. The focus is, how do we keep that public service in place with perhaps limited amounts of staff between now and the end of the year, yet allow for the opportunity to move forward as we begin to transition and establish service here … on Jan. 1.”

In other action, the board:

* Denied a request from Mike Fogelman, of Mike’s Mini Excavating, to extend his existing contract with the county for snow removal on the Prairie Justice Center lots.

Fogelman proposed a five-year contract extension, keeping the existing rates in place, with a provision for a fuel rate increase if gas reaches more than $4 per gallon.

Public Works Director Stephen Schnieder said there was an advantage to locking in a five-year contract, and said the business has been “really good about responding in the middle of the night.”

“I think it would be good in these times,” added Schnieder.

Commissioner Vern Leistico voiced opposition to the contract extension, saying he talked to two other businesses in town, both of which provide snow removal at a much lower rate. While he acknowledged Mike’s Mini Excavating was the only bidder on the contract last time, he said he’d like to see the contract expire and see if someone else submits a competitive bid.

“I would not want to lock into a contract if someone else would provide it cheaper,” added Commissioner Bob Demuth Jr. “I’m just not comfortable locking in five years.”

“I’d be curious why those contractors weren’t at the table two years ago,” said Commissioner David Benson of Leistico’s contacts. He also suggested Schnieder provide more options for the contract — perhaps that they provide a bid for both a one-year contract and a five-year contract.

Commissioner Marv Zylstra said he’d also like more information.

“I realize maybe these rates are a little bit higher, but we are getting the service,” he added.

The vote to deny the request was 3-2, with Benson and Zylstra opposed.

* Approved the second half appropriations to the Nobles County Historical Society of $11,900; the Nobles County Art Center of $3,187.50; and the Nobles County Fair of $9,935.

* Reappointed Jeff Rogers to the Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District board, and approved, on recommendation from the OOWD, the appointment of Casey Ingenthron to take the seat vacated by Jeff Williamson.

* Reappointed Colleen Gruis to the Kanaranzi-Little Rock Watershed District board, and discussed an open seat left by Mark Slater, who has opted not to renew his term.

* Discussed the need to fill a vacant seat on the Nobles County Park Board. The seat must be filled by a resident within Commissioner Marv Zylstra’s first district.

Tags: news, public, health, posts, identified