Observer Report

Riley County-Manhattan Board of Health

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The major issue for this board meeting was presentation of the
proposed budget and the difficulties the economic recession is presenting.
Administrator Charles Murphy stated that the agency historically has taken every measure possible to fund activities out of State and Federal sources and successfully writing and winning grants in order to save local tax payers as much as possible. Charles Murphy stated that this method has saved between $500,000 and $1,000,000 a year when compared to other similar sized health departments
Estimated income cuts for 2010 amount to $275.177 while the need for services increase. These include expected Federal, State, and grant cuts. As these funds dry up support for services will depend, at least in part, on local funding. The department will continue to seek more grant funding to try to offset the losses and there have been considerable losses of personnel and shifting of responsibilities to try to deal with the shortfalls.
In conjunction with the discussion of the budget, the board discussed the fact that the City Commission had not elected to fund the food service and sanitation activities. The funding which had come from the state was cut and sent to the State's Department of Agriculture. The board decided to send the president Brady Burton and board member Dr. Derek Mosier, and any other board members who can attend to the next meeting of the city commission, to support Mr. Murphy as he seeks funds to continue the sanitation services of the Health Department. Mr. Murphy contended at the February board meeting, and there was general agreement then, that the state could not adequately inspect the number of food services in the county to provide safety for the county’s citizens. At the last board meeting the board seemed to agree that food inspection and water safety were fundamental services that the Health Department should provide. However, at the this meeting, Lauren Palmer, board member representing the city staff, reported that she did not find ordinances that directed that the Health Department had to be the entity to carry out food inspection.
Returning to the budget issue, and after considerable discussion the board directed Mr. Murphy to come back to the next meeting with a list of cuts that would have to be made depending on the level of support that the local funds could provide. Karen McCulloh. representative of the county government noted that” people need to know what is going to be lost. Several members, particularly the representatives of the city and county, noted that “there simply is no money“ to replace the lost funding.

The board reviewed the proposed changes in the By-Laws and approved them.

Dr. Paul Benne, who represents Fort Riley, had requested that a discussion of Electronic Cigarettes be on this meeting's agenda . He presented information about electronic cigarettes, although noting that there is not a lot known about the effects on the person smoking them nor on those who might also inhale the vapor that is produced . Dr. Benne suggested that it might behoove the board and the Health Department to try to be ahead of the curve and investigate.

Sue Cohen, Observer