An elderly Iola-area woman is handicapped to the point she can’t climb the short flight of steps leading into the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department office at 221 S. Jefferson Ave.
“We go out to the van to take her blood pressure and check her blood sugar,” said Sara Frederick, co-administrator in the Iola office.
That may change soon, DeeDee Martin, co-administrator, told Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning.
Martin said efforts are being made to arrange construction of a ramp that would permit people with mobility problems access to the office. The likely place for the ramp was to an entrance on the north of the building.
The building dates to 1907, when it opened for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including a weather bureau.
The experience with the elderly woman who comes by public van for medical services isn’t unique. Others who have accessibility issues also are helped.
“If someone comes for a flu shot, for example, we’ll go out and give the shot at the curb in their car,” Frederick said.
Frederick and Martin are interim administrators, filling in until a permanent administrator is hired. Former administrator Diane Bertone is no longer with the health department.
Frederick works in the billing department of the health department; while Frederick is a nurse.
The two extended an invitation to the public to attend the monthly meeting of the health department.
The next one is at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Thrive Allen County, 12 W. Jackson Ave.
Prior to Frederick and Martin’s appearance, Commissioner Rob Francis was appointed to the health department board to fill a vacancy. He will serve until the end of the year, when his term on the commission ends.
COMMISSIONERS AGREED to remove a burn ban that has been in place since the drought unfolded in early summer. Rains over the past several weeks have amounted to almost 4 inches.
Bill King, director of Public Works, said his crew was busy removing limbs and trees felled by strong winds that accompanied a cold front when it moved through the area Friday afternoon.
Also, King said nearly $1,600 in landfill tipping fees would be written off, charges incurred by two companies that discontinued business and a third that has filed for bankruptcy.
