Posted: 11/30/04
Public health commissioner to visit county
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Minnesota Department of Public Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach will be in Caledonia on Tuesday, December 14.
Houston County Public Health Director Linda Grupa made the announcement at the November 23 county board meeting.
Mandernach will be here from 9:30-11:30 a.m. that Tuesday. She will appear before county commissioners at 10:30 to answer any questions and listen to local concerns, Grupa said.
There could be several talking points, Grupa added, such as bioterrorism, environmental and nursing home issues, and pharmacy concerns with prescriptions drugs. She hopes that some county department heads will come, as well as community representatives from organizations like ABLE.
The county board will also approve its budget at the December 14 meeting, auditor Pete Johnson reminded the board.
Personnel director Tim Comstock told the board that he would have a coronerís contract ready by December 14 for board approval.
Jail study progressing
Work by the jail committee is moving along, second district commissioner Ann Thompson said at the end of the 45-minute meeting. A tour of two jails in Wisconsin will take place on December 2. It is sponsored by architectural firm Klein McCarthy and Company of Minneapolis with the purpose of showing jails that they have designed in the area.
The county board will also hear a presentation from financial consultant firm Ehlers and Associates on November 30 at 1 p.m. Ehlers will give the county some options to consider for financing a jail facility.
Thompson said a recommendation on the new jail could happen in January.
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