A lending institution was selected at the Labette County Commission meeting Monday to finance two-thirds cost of four patrol cars.
Chetopa State Bank was the low bid to finance $74,781.65 for two years. The payments would be $39,294.23 at an interest rate of 3.49 percent. Low bid repayment was $78,588.46. Total cost will be $111,422.47.
This lease purchase is for four Crown Victoria patrol cars.
IN OTHER ACTION at Monday’s meeting:
• Signed a contract with Mound Valley for deputy police patrol for 51.66 hours a month at $16 per hour.
• Sheriff William Blundell, 911 Supervisor Brandy Grassl and Emergency Management Director Jim Cook discussed the burning regulations and requirements.
The  county-wide burn ban was lifted last Thursday at a special meeting by the commissioners. They advised that if you are going to burn to call the non-emergency telephone number in Oswego 620-795-2565 or in Parsons 620-421-1400. You are urged to call one of these numbers and notify dispatch that you will be burning.
• Noxious Weed Director Dennis Martin and Dale Goedeke will bring back bid specifications for a vehicle request at the next meeting.
• Brock Sutherland, William Mahoney and Rod Landrum of Labette Health discussed with the commission the next planned project: Rector Diabetes Education & Resource Center. With collaboration and support from the project’s medical director, Parsons pediatrician Dr. Manish Dixit, and Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, the Rector Diabetes Education and Resource Center will serve as a national model for future rural health and education initiatives, said Labette Health President and CEO William Mahoney. A group checked students from five area grade schools and found that 31.9 percent are overweight or obese, which can lead to diabetes. This center would help to educate students, teachers, nurses, doctors, etc., deal with diabetes with traininng.
“It  would be like Greenbush is to the area school  institutions. This education center would be the rural model for others to copy helping rural people with diabetes. This is the only rural model  in the United States,” William Mahoney said.
“This new facility would put Parsons on the map. It could change the behavior and reduce Type 2 diabetes,” Mahoney said.
When their grandson, Rhett, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago, Jacque and Kelly Rector looked in vain for detailed information about his condition. Because of their frustration, a donation was made for a new Labette Health facility bearing their name which will serve as a resource for area diabetics and their families as well as health-care professionals, educators and the community.
Thanks to the Rector family’s generosity, Labette Health can now create a rural model that is effective not only in educating people about diabetes, but hopefully providing an example that can be duplicated in rural areas throughout the country.
The Rectors have been involved in selecting colors, carpet samples, etc., Rod Landrum said.
The new 2,400 sq. ft. facility will be located on the northwest corner of the Labette Health campus, Brock Sutherland said.
The commissioners approved the new project. The county is the owner of the ground where the Labette Health facilities are located in Parsons. “It’s nice to see the Rectors step up and do this,” Commissioner Lonie Addis said. It is a great project.
A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Thursday, April 2.