WESTMORELAND, Kan. — The Pottawatomie County Commission is one step closer to determining how codes are established moving forward for residents and businesses in the Blue Township Sewer District
County Counselor John Watt spoke Monday about how the area is in the process of adopting same codes that match what’s in place in the City of Manhattan. It will encompass a geographical area of the township’s benefit sewer district. Watt says it was dovetailed so that city officials can seamlessly jump into the enforcement process, or code inspections.
The codes are set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. Watt says that allows those unlicensed contractors who provide services in the Blue Township area to take the necessary steps to get licensed. That includes taking a state test, even if a contractor has already been certified elsewhere, according to Watt.
“Based upon some form of grandfather clause, if you want to get a license in the City of Manhattan, it’s not automatic, you’ll have to prove you have taken and passed the (state) test,” Watt said.
Manhattan Assistant Chief of Risk Reduction and Code Services Brad Claussen says the resolution says it can’t require additional testing above and beyond the state statute required exam. As for permit fees, Claussen says that would be paid for through the city of Manhattan.
“There is no exchange of funds in the service agreement. The fees are paid directly to the city for those permits that we issue that are done in the county in that service area,” Claussen said.
While the codes wouldn’t go into effect until the new year, Pottawatomie County does have to hold a public hearing to make such changes. That public hearing was agreed upon for 10 a.m. on September 9.
In other business Monday, Pottawatomie County Health Department Director Lisa Kenworthy discussed a troubling statistic brought up in a recent immunization conference held by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She says Kansas ranks near the bottom of the national rankings when it comes to immunizations among adolescents, aged 11 and over.
“Kansas is one of the lowest. We’re not the lowest, but we’re very close,” she said.
This would include immunizations for meningitis, tetanus and HPV, which prevents cancer.
According to the United Health Foundation’s 2018 national rankings, Kansas was 44th in immunizations among adolescents 11 and up. Kenworthy says they can track down those on Medicaid requiring those immunizations if they haven’t received it yet.
Recently the health department also partnered with the Riley County Health Department on an opioid agreement, to spread awareness to the public about the dangers of opioid drugs. Kenworthy says Riley County had more funds available to address a media campaign.
“We actually are going to put up three more billboards, in addition to the three we already have,” she said.
Additional radio and TV spots are included in the media budget allotment. Locations for the three new billboards have not been determined.
