2020 was a difficult year for everyone, especially those governing officials working to keep the general public safe.
Lyon County Commission Chairman Rollie Martin, a recent guest of KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Monday morning summed up this past year by calling it “one of the most different years the commission has ever had to deal with.” Martin says there were a number of challenges the commission had to face, namely the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether it was mask policy, social gathering restrictions or the implementation of mitigation strategies, Martin says the commission had to make a number of difficult calls over the last 10 months.
On top of the community’s response to the pandemic, the commission also decided not renew its public health contract with Flint Hills Community Health Center and placed the contract out to bid. After over a month of discussions and negotiations between the commission, FHCHC and Newman Regional Health, commissioners awarded the contract back to FHCHC for a total of $65,000 on a one-year rollover basis.
Martin explained the decision to place the contract out to bid was in no way due to any dissatisfaction with the health center’s performance but rather to ensure the county was providing its residents with the best possible service for the right price. He went on to say the county is satisfied with the health center’s work at this time.
Commissioners approved an extension of the county health order last Thursday. The order will now remain in place until Mar. 11 at which time commissioners will review and either extend or adjust the order.
