Posted: 7/13/04
County board looking at bio-terrorism plan
Linda Grupa, Houston County Public Health Director, talked to county commissioners at their July 6 meeting about how the county would dispense material in case of a bio-terrorism attack.
She gave them a draft of a response plan called Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), which was written by the Southeast Minnesota Region Public Health Emergency Planning Work Group. SNS was developed in 1999 to assist states and communities respond to public health emergencies and those resulting from a terrorist attack.
The 11-county region in southeastern Minnesota would have six dispensing sites of medications and supplies in case of an attack. Houston Countyís dispensing site would be Winona, Grupa said.
Eric Anderson, who is based in Rochester, is in charge in the southeast region. He can be reached at 507-285-7289.
In other public health news:
ï The board signed a contract with Aegis, a company based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to provide home therapy. The charge would be $60 per patient for physical therapy and occupational therapy services. Gundersen Lutheran had been providing the service but not longer is doing it.
ï Darla Zahn has sent in a grant proposal for the public health dental program that she administers, Grupa said. The grant would be for $125,000 for two years. ìWeíre pretty hopeful,î Grupa said. Fillmore, Houston, and Winona counties are included.
ï Grupa also informed the board that The Lutheran Home in Caledonia had been purchased by Ostrander Nursing Home and Assisted Living. The current contract that the county has with the facility will continue until a new contract is approved, probably in August, Grupa said. The county contracts for adult day care, home delivered meals, Lifeline personal response system, assisted living at Roseview Court, and transportation.
New social worker hired; auction bid accepted
Also at last weekís meeting:
ï The board approved the hiring of Michelle Van Beek as a new social worker. The position had been open since 2001, but was not filled until now due to budget constraints. It was also justified now by caseload, personnel director Tim Comstock said.
ï The county approved a bid of 14 percent for holding an auction of public material of 14 percent from McCormick/Schultz auction on August 17 at the public works building in Caledonia. Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher suggested resending a letter to public entities to donate items.
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