Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
5-25-10 — The county will change the way it provides health care to inmates at the
Wayne County Detention Center. During a meeting of Wayne County Fiscal Court
on Thursday, May 13, magistrates agreed to a one-year contract with the
company, that provides health care services to approximately 30 other jails
in Kentucky.
Currently, the Detention Center has a nurse on staff at the jail. Other
outside services are sought through local physicians or the hospital. But as
County Judge-Executive Greg Rankin noted during last week's meeting, all
liability for these types of decisions falls to the county.
With Southern Health Partners, nurses will still be available at the
jail and inmates will still get health care outside the facility when
necessary, but the company assumes liability in regard to medical decisions.
The cost for the service will be $144,000 annually, which Rankin said is
comparable to what was in the budget for medical care for inmates last year.
A nurse will be on staff at the Detention Center eight hours each weekday
and four hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The change will become effective as soon as all the necessary paperwork
is completed.
In other action, the court heard a request from David Denney, who is the
board chairman for the Susie Fire Department, for help with funding for the
rural department. The Susie Fire Department is getting to celebrate its 10th
anniversary and Denney noted that they are having a difficult time making
ends meet, as donations have become harder to secure with the downturn in
the economy.
"We have been very good at barely getting by," said Denney. "We feel
like the department has established itself and has earned a spot in the
county budget."
Denney also noted that much of the equipment the department uses is
aging and needs replaced. He said the department is in need of some new
turnout gear.
The department, since it received its ISO, rating has save homeowners in
that district money on their insurance policies, Denney noted.
Rankin asked that the fire department provide a copy of their budget to
give the magistrates a better idea of the financial picture and what their
needs are. He also noted that the county may be able to help the department
find grant sources to help replace equipment and other gear.
In other action, the court
€ Heard the first reading of the 2010-11 fiscal year budget, with totals
just over $8 million.
€ Agreed to increase the pay for election officers from $90 to $95.
€ Agreed to donate $1,100 for the July 4th fireworks show at the park
and $1,000 to the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs organization.
€ Awarded the lone bid that was received for EMS equipment.
€ Approved the appointment of Charles York to the Tax Appeals Board.
€ Approved a resolution authorizing an application for CDBG funding for
the Microenterprise Development.
€ Heard a monthly report from Jailer Ray Upchurch who noted that the
current population at the Detention Center is 170, including 74 county
inmates and 96 state inmates. For the month of March, the Detention Center
received a total of $92,575.60 for housing inmates.
€ Heard a monthly report from Solid Waste Coordinator Tim Bell who noted
that white good were collected at 117 households last month, bringing the
total for the year so far to 292. Recyclable sales brought in $6,467.43.
€ Heard a monthly report from EMS Director Bubby Corder who noted that
the ambulance service has answered 1,235 calls so far this year. He also
noted that the ambulance service is close to going online with new equipment
that will send patient EKG's from a scene to doctors at Lake Cumberland
Regional Hospital.