The Lyon County Commission has approved an additional $100,000 appropriation to assist the Lyon County Public Health Emergency Operations Center.
Lyon County Public Health Officer and Flint Hills Community Health Center CEO Renee Hively along with FHCHC CFO Stephanie Ringgold originally requested the appropriation during the commission’s weekly action session last Thursday. The reason for the appropriation according to Ringgold was to help make the health center “whole again” after it upfronted $60,000 in costs for the EOC’s operations.
The $100,000 will now reimburse the health center it’s $60,000 with the remaining $40,000 being put towards continued operations according to Ringgold. She tells KVOE News if the EOC continues to utilize resources at 100 percent the additional money would last a minimum of 17 days.
County Commissioner Scott Briggs tells KVOE News the EOC is an essential resource during the ongoing pandemic, and he shudders to think what the local situation would look like if the EOC were unable to continue operations.
The county’s appropriation follows the announcement Wednesday that the health center will be receiving over $700,000 in federal stimulus money as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. Over $15 million will be given to health centers across Kansas as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act.
In other business, Lyon County Commissioners also approved a low bid, presented by Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods, for structural steel beams from Oden Enterprises for $51,643.80. Commissioners also approved a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week presented by Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy.
The Lyon County Commission will hold its weekly action session next Thursday inside the Lyon County Courthouse. The meeting will be available to view on the county’s Facebook page.
