Labette County was proclaimed as a state of local disaster at Monday’s county commission meeting.
Labette County Emergency Coordinator Jim Cook told the commission that more rains were in the forecast which would bring re-occuring flooding to the area. “Any serious winds can uproot trees and utility poles,” he said. “If this resolution is already in place, for instance, utility companies can move forward immediately and fix the problem,” Cook said.
The rains on April 25 and 26 started the problems in the area. “We are staying ahead of the game based on the exceptional rainfall and flooding,” Cook said.
Four other counties have declared disasters last week including Cherokee County. Read more

County Health Department Administrator Debbi Baugher was given permission to order software with a GPS application for Larry Cupit, county sanitation officer, at Monday’s Commission meeting.
Cupit can work in the field and send his work to the county road and bridge mapping department. The cost is around $1,200 and will be paid out of the county general courthouse fund. “If he (Cupit) feels he needs it, so move,” Chairman Lonie Addis said. “I am very impressed with Cupit,” he added. Cupit is the floodplain manager.
See this week’s paper for the full story.

LaForge & Budd Construction Co., was awarded the low and complete bid at Monday’s county commission meeting, for the Scott Road improvement project. Read more

Better emergency connections between the Oswego Community Hospital and Labette County was the request of administrator Dan Hiben at Tuesday’s meeting of the Labette County Commission.
Hiben presented a letter to the commission saying OCH had been left out of disaster and emergency exercises and he had experienced difficulty in getting a response from Jim Cook, emergency preparedness coordinator for Labette County.
“We don’t feel like we’re a part of the county,” Hiben said. “We need this involvement so we can complete our own state requirements for an emergency plan.”
Hiben expressed specific concerns about alleged difficulties the hospital experiences at times when they need a non-emergency patient transfer for a patient.
Commissioners Lonie Addis and Brian Kinzie stuck up for the EMS personnel who work for Labette Health in Parsons. “I know from experience that the EMS personnel ask the patient which hospital they prefer, and they try to honor those wishes,” Addis said.
Kinzie noted that if the situation is truly an emergency and if time and distance are factors, EMS personnel must make the decision about which hospital will be their closest destination.
Although the commissioners are not in charge of Labette Health or its EMS services, they do have a vital interest in those operations since the county owns the property where Labette Health is located. Commissioners also approve the appointment of trustees for Labette Health.
When the new Oswego Community Hospital was proposed two years ago, officials from Labette Health expressed their concerns about the EMS service they operate in Oswego. They noted that operating the ambulance service in southern Labette County is not a highly profitable venture and they feared that a larger hospital in Oswego would require a higher level of service than they might be able to provide.
The commissioners agreed on Tuesday to arrange a meeting between Jim Cook and Dan Hiben to discuss procedures for local emergency exercises.
In another presentation at Tuesday’s meeting, Larry Allen of Parsons read a letter expressing concerns about the county money being sent out of county for goods and services. Allen, who owns a car dealership at Parsons, recently lost in bidding competition for the purchase of four new vehicles for the Labette County Sheriff’s Department.
In that bidding, Columbus Ford won the low bid.
Allen also touched on other areas or county purchasing, such as groceries for the jail. He said it was his understanding that the county purchases much of its food and groceries from Sam’s rather than purchasing them in local grocery stores. He urged the commission to examine its policy on purchasing and try to rotate its purchase of groceries among the various stores in the county.
“The commission gives lip service to buy locally,” said Allen, “but you don’t follow it yourselves. You buy out of county because it is cheaper.”
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the commission signed an inspection and contract administration for the Scott Road project.

Labette County implemented participation in the continuation of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program with the City of Parsons, at Monday’s commission meeting.
Parsons City Manager Fred Gress and Parsons City Attorney Ross Albertini discussed the continuation of a NRP in the City of Parsons. Those interested will apply in Parsons, have pre-inspections and file it with the city, but it will be certified with the county with up to 90 percent rate rebate. The commissioners approved the county portion that states all real and personal property taxes has to be paid and up-to-date for the county to participate from the county level.
“This is a vast improvement than in the past,” County Counselor Fred Johnson said. “We really do like the program for the betterment of everybody,” Commissioner Brian Kinzie said. “We are proud to be a part of it,” Commissioner Lonie Addis said.
IN OTHER ACTION on Monday:
• Johnia Franklin and Lume Poe gave an update on GIS classes they took. The classes had eight to nine students in all different fields. We learned more hands on training. It was down to our level, they said. We already using some of the our training in making maps, 911 addressing on grids, etc. We got to keep the books and we can use them for reference, Poe said. “It help with two of us going,” Poe said. Now the noxious weed department is implementing some of it into their computer work. “This (class) did exactly want we asked for,” Commissioner Addis said.
• Approved Cummins Central Power of Joplin for engine repair work on the A16 dump truck at a cost of $10,919 that includes a year warranty or 100,000 miles.
• Approved O’Brien Ready Mix contract for cement at a variety of cost from $98.50 for PSU 3000; $100.30 PSU 3500 and $102.50 PSU 4000. The county will receive a $10 cu. yd. discount. The contract is through Dec. 31, 2009.
• Midwest Mineral received the rock contract through March 31, 2010 for AB3, KOT D50 4”, Chips and Rip Rap.
• Signed a resolution for Great Southern Bank as one of the county depository. They recently purchased TeamBank of Parsons. No changes will be made.
• Document Destruction of Erie will be shredding old records. The Sheriff’s Dept. will have six boxes; Health Dept.,  43 boxes; County Attorney 30 boxes, Treasurer’s office 20 boxes and Counselor office will have several.
•  Approved a cereal malt beverage application for “The Dam Bait Shop” at 435 19,000 Road in Cherryvale.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 31.

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.

On the recommendation of county fire chiefs, the Labette County Commission
this morning lifted the countywide burn ban.

The chiefs and the commission still encourage those planning prescribed
burning to notify the Labette County Communications Center in advance by
calling 620 795-2565 or 620 421-1400.

Commissioners approved at Monday’s meeting that anyone wanting to apply for a right-of-way permit to cross or bore through on county property must have delinquent real and personal property taxes paid, and make sure the check clears before proceeding with the permit.
A majority of commissioners will be meeting with land owners concerning purchasing easement for a bridge project on Monday, at 1:30 and 2 p.m.. The site where the bridge and meeting will occur is .7 of a mile East of Ford on 10,000 Road. The commissioners will meet with Road and Bridge staff and discuss the project with affected landowners, what the county and contractor will or will not do and to offer a price on the small parcel equal to or greater than current market value.
IN OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED at Monday’s meeting:
• Burn ban is still in effect for Labette County. The commission will again revisit the ban at next Monday’s meeting. Agriculture permission can be obtained from the area fire chiefs with written permission to burn.
• A letter was received concerning the Juvenile Justice Authority for Labette and Cherokee counties, stating that the fourth quarter prevention payment will be $16,593.20 a reduction of 1.8 percent or $9,271.21.
• Sandy Krider, road and bridge supervisor, showed the latest KDOT information through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed into law earlier last week by President Obama.
Approximate distribution for the SEK district four would be $4 million, divided up between 17 counties. Commissioners approved to offer up to $100,000 match to surface the road at 24,000 on Anderson to the Parsons City, approximately 14 miles. The package should be ready to sign next week by the commission.
• Jan Bolin, administrator of Class Ltd, gave an update on how Class Ltd achieved the highest level of national accreditation by CARF. “This is quite an accomplishment in that there are hundreds of administrative and service standards to meet” Bolin said.
She also said the annual financial audit was good and that Class Ltd was awarded a $19,000 grant from the Sunflower Foundation to expand the computer access for staff and the people they serve. “This will enable people to access email, communicate with state advocacy organizations, social networks for others with disabilities and take advantage of online learning opportunities,” Bolin said.
Class Ltd, like almost all other organizations, is bracing for funding reductions, she added. There are 88 total individuals served in Labette County.
• Jim Cook, Labette County Emergency Management Director, told the commission of a mitigation plan that will be posted on the county’s website. He asks for public input on three questions. Open comments are available until March 18. The plan will then be sent to FEMA for approval and then back to the commission for their approval. More information on the mitigation plan is in this edition.
• Next meeting will be Friday, Feb. 27 at 8:30 a.m.

Even though Labette County received some rain last week, the countywide burn ban will remain in force.
That was the decision made at Monday’s Labette County Commissioners meeting. The commissioners will re-examine the ban next week. They noted that special permission for agricultural burning can be obtained from your area fire chief. He will require you to have a written request before he gives an approval to burn.
Whenever the county activates a burn ban, the cities of Altamont, Chetopa, Edna and Oswego, automatically endorse the same burn ban. The city of Parsons does not automatically follow the endorsement.
IN OTHER ACTION taken at Monday’s meeting:
• The commissioners discussed a proposal to add two more members to the Labette Health Board of Trustees, but took no action at Monday’s meeting.
The county commission appoints members to the board which currently is composed of seven members. The board has suggested adding two more members, one of them required to be a physician.
• Labette County signed a pharmacist-in-charge agreement with Cindy Fager, to be effective April 1, 2009 until March 31, 2010, at a cost of $400 annually. This is the third year Fager has been the pharmacist-in-charge at the Labette County Health Department.
• Larry Cupit, county sanitation officer, presented a county sanitation code update request. The county counselor Fred Johnson will work with Cupit on language changes, etc. and work up a addendum to the present sanitation code. This addendum will have to be approved by the state before the commissioners can approve it. The Labette County Sanitation Code booklet is dated 1994.
•  Commissioners will attend the See-Kan RC&D annual meeting in Coffeyville on Saturday, Feb. 21.