Grass burn-offs prompt increase in 911 calls

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JERRY ENGLER
Seven percent of authorized controlled grass burn-offs in Marion County went out of control in March resulting in 911 calls that pushed the need for another another dispatcher over the edge, the Marion County Commission learned Monday.

Rain appeared to be alleviating the dry conditions that made fire control difficult, but Michelle Abbott-Becker, communications and emergency management director, had already been telling commissioners for months about the increasing number of 911 calls due to increased use of cellular phones.

Abbott-Becker said total incoming and outgoing emergency calls for the county in March totalled 4,701 in March compared to March a year ago, 4,020 in February compared to last February, and 3,900 in January compared to last January.

The commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize making a half-time dispatcher full-time, and hiring another part-time dispatcher to succeed a part-time one that just resigned. The expected $7,000 to $9,000 difference in wages and benefits was authorized to come from the general fund since it wasn’t budgeted in Abbott-Becker’s department, but the commissioners said it was needed both to provide adequate personnel, and to prevent dispatcher burn-out.

Meeting with Jim Kaup, their attorney for solid waste issues from Topeka, the commissioners authorized Geotech Services, Inc., to proceed with an expected site reconnaisance of the KC Development transfer station in Marion Monday. The inspection that will cost $1,800 to $2,000 is a precursor to the county carrying through on an $825,000 purchase of the transfer station.

Kaup said GSI would be watching for potential environmental hazards to check such as above ground or below ground tanks. They were expected to check such things as photographs and maps, and to visit with Marion city officials about the site which once housed the city’s power plant.

Kaup said further environmental action by GSI to include such things as core drillings would take place during a second phase.

Jan Moffitt, health administrator, said Sondra Mayfield, Marion County SAFE KIDS coordinator, has received confirmation of a $5,500 grant through the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment that will buy 78 child car seats for public transport of children in such vehicles as police cars, Head Start vehicles and other public vehicles.

The grant also will provide six seats to give away, and train 24 persons in child seat installation.

The commissioners voted 3-0 to dis-allow $408.44 in county checks that were never cashed, most of them for tax over-payments.

County Clerk Carol Maggard reported that the county’s cash position for the end of the quarter as recorded by the county treasurer was $6,196,351.50.

Maggard said the county will be expected to send eight persons in June to a planned state governor’s office excercise to combat terrorism.

The commissioners authorized David Brazil, county sanitarian, to “moonlight” on his off-hours acting as sanitarian for Dickinson County while that county seeks to hire a new sanitarian. Brazil noted that the McPherson County sanitarian had once done the same thing for Marion County.

Commissioners Bob Hein, Howard Collett and Leroy Wetta all said that acting cooperatively to help neighboring counties had “never hurt anybody.”

Mike Benda of Lincolnville was approved by the commissioners as Dale Snelling’s, parks director, choice to be a new worker at Marion County Lake.

They also authorized Snelling to spend $450 for a new cash register at the lake office, and $695 for a new 5 x 12-foot trailer from Marion County Equipment to haul mowers and materials, both to come from his parks budget.

Snelling said fishing is up at the lake with a seven-lb. wiper caught off the dam face this week.

JoAnn Knak, emergency medical services director, said ambulance there were 54 ambulance calls in March, 17 from Hillsboro, 23 from Marion, 11 from Peabody and 3 from Tampa. Calls included 9 transfers, 5 cardiacs, 19 medical emergencies, 3 stand by, 3 vehicle accidents, 5 falls, 9 no transport and 1 rescue truck.

First responder calls included 3 for Goessel, 22 for Lincolnville and 1 for Burns.

The commissioners authorized Knak to pay utility bills from her own budget for a house in Hillsboro to be used as an on-call station for EMT’s giving them restrooms, air conditioning and relaxation space while waiting for calls instead of waiting in a vehicle bay.

Commissioners noted there are varying arrangements around the county for ambulance crews. For instance, in Marion the county built the ambulance housing, but the city of Marion pays its utility bills.

In the last month, Knak has conducted CPR classes for 35 road and bridge crew workers, given heart and lungs functioning demonstrations for Hillsboro Jr. High, and attended classes herself on EMS in Kansas City and on materials conducted through pipelines in the county in a study at McPherson.

There are 10 students in EMS classes now.

Upcoming EMS events include education for local personnel on establishing a helicopter landing zone at emergency sites April 20 beginning at the Hillsboro Airport and the Farm Implement Injury Class April 27 beginning at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro.

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