Fire-department airpacks
The Pottawatomie County Commission approved a bid for a lease-purchase agreement for fire-department airpacks during their meeting Monday.
Pottawatomie County Financial Officer Heather Gladbach explains the agreement.
Gladbach 1
The interest rate on the agreement is 1.95 percent, bringing the county’s yearly payment to about $62,500.
This comes in under the $70,000 that was budgeted for the lease-purchase payments, but Commissioner Pat Weixelman was still hesitant in his approval.
He says he is going to keep a closer eye on finances in the future.
Weixelman 1
The commission also expressed concern over the expiration date of the airpacks, which have a life expectancy of about 15 years.
Financial support for local events and organizations
Pottawatomie County Commissioners approved a number of financial contributions to local organizations and events during their meeting Monday.
The first was a $400 contribution to the Onaga High School After Prom party, which Commissioner Dee McKee hopes will promote safety and security.
McKee 1
This sentiment was shared by other commissioners, including Pat Weixelman.
Weixelman 2
The commission also made a $750 contribution to the Westmoreland Area Senior Citizens organization, which meets at the Westmoreland Community Center.
Health Department update on COVID-19
Although the Pottawatomie County Health Department hasn’t officially activated its Emergency Operations Center as Riley County and the Lafene Health Center in Manhattan have, Health Director Lisa Kenworthy says they have somewhat done so internally.
This means staff, along with other entities in contact with the department, have been provided information.
The Health Dept. has also given all staff access to Epitrax, which is an electronic disease surveillance system.
Previously, only three employees within the department had access to this system.
EpiTrax allows users to report and analyze cases of communicable diseases, bioterrorism and environmental risks.
