By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com
MOUND CITY – Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder and Nurse Case Manager Danielle Casey updated the Linn County Commissioners about events at the health department on Monday, Dec. 4.
Proposals by Snyder to purchase a portable electronic sign and pave a part of the health department's gravel parking lot were approved on 2-1 vote with Commissioner Jim Johnson voting against both measures.
Both Snyder and Casey encouraged women to come for mammograms on Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the health department. The Mammogram Coach hosted by Diagnostic Imaging will be there giving 2D and 3D mammograms. They said that walk-ins are welcome.
Diagnostic Imaging takes insurance and self-pay. Casey pointed out that the closest place to get a mammogram was Fort Scott, so this is more convenient for Linn County residents.
Snyder told the commissioners that she needed to fill two positions on the Health Advisory Board before the Jan. 16 meeting. The position from Commission District 2 could be either a healthcare or non-healthcare position and the other open position from District 3 needs to be a healthcare member. If a community member is interested, they should contact either Snyder or their commissioner to fill out an application and get more information.
Snyder reported that some of the health department staff will be attending a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor class on Dec. 21. She said that Fire Chief Randy Hegwald and Emergency Management Planner Linda Simons will also be attending the course.
Casey told the commissioners that she would be giving Becoming a Mom (BAM) classes at the health department office in Pleasanton starting Jan. 4. She said that this class was not just for new moms, but for any moms, their significant others, and siblings. They can all come.
She said it was a free six-week course. There are incentives given throughout the course to encourage attendees to come back and finish the whole course.
Snyder said she would also like to expand those courses into other towns in the county
Casey pointed out that, since there are no other pre-natal classes currently offered in the county, without this course residents would have to travel to the city for this type of class.
Another class that Casey is offering is a Diabetes Prevention Program free for one year. Casey said she has not determined the specific date but the class will begin in April. For the first six months, the classes will be given weekly for one hour and the second six months it will be given monthly. Because it is a recognized Center for Disease Control (CDC) program, the county could bill for the program later once they have the program in place.
Casey explained that one in three Americans have pre-diabetes, which determined by a fasting blood sugar test of 100 to 125, and without weight loss and physical activity it can develop into diabetes within five years.
Snyder said that the date was set for the Community Baby Shower and Kids’ Fair on April 26. She said that they are changing the time so it will not be scorching hot and kids can enjoy the outside.
Snyder announced that the health department had received a mini injury prevention grant that would allow them to purchase pack-’n’-plays (portable, baby-safe spaces you can use as a travel crib, changing station, or bassinet) to promote safe sleep, and life jackets.
She said she was really excited about the life jackets and will soon be reaching out to the marina and smaller lakes about providing education and life jackets.
The commissioners on a 2-1 split vote approved the purchase of a Ver-Mac portable digital sign with a winch for $13,150. The sign can be moved around the county for health department events, notices and could be used by other county departments also. The money will come from COVID grant money.
Commissioner Jason Hightower said he thought the sign would be a nice addition so that the health department can move it from spot to spot to highlight an event when you are coming to different communities.
Next, the commissioners approved on a 2-1 vote a bid to install a concrete 80-by-30square foot parking lot area in front of the health department building. The bid was from Ryan Walker for $14,800. Snyder had gone out for bids to three companies but only received two bids. The other bid was from Rhett Spencer for $14,900.
Snyder updated the commissioners on remodeling the back part of the building into a classroom. A previous bid that had been received was more than the health department could spend.
Snyder said she was working with the county construction manager Randy Page and he was helping her change items to lower the cost. However, she said she had not yet received the new numbers. Some of the changes that were being looked at were eliminating the drop ceiling and using the existing lighting.
Snyder told the commissioner that she had also contacted Brandon Johnson, the contractor who had made the bid to see if he would be willing to rework the bid with some of the new numbers. She said that his original bid had expired a week ago and she had not heard back from him.
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