Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy proposed county commissioners build a new ambulance station just south of LaHarpe complete with a new radio transmission tower to relay signals from the 911 dispatch center.
The site would occupy 15 to 20 acres, Murphy said, and be a better location for ambulance services to Humboldt and Moran.
Murphy also suggested building a facility where detainees could be housed temporarily before their transfer to the county jail. The additional structure could serve as a central dispatch point for public works vehicles, particularly road graders that patrol rock roads on a periodic schedule.
Commissioners listened with interest, but Jerry Daniels and Chairman Tom Williams quickly pointed out the contract the county negotiated with Iola, to provide countywide service, included a provision for ambulances to be stationed at Moran and Humboldt. That cancels any serious consideration of a central post for ambulance service outside of Iola and its environs.
Additionally, Daniels noted proceedings to have plans for stations in the two outlying towns have started, and should be completed.
Murphys commentary erupted after commissioners dismissed an agenda item to listen to a webinar to explain in detail a proposal from Alertus for programming to give information on the quick through computers and cell phones of pending emergency situations.
Daniels and Williams said they would prefer to hear the presentation at their leisure.
Commissioner John Brocker said if the county were to enroll in such a program it should be one that encompasses school districts, and not just the county offices and personnel. His observation found favor.
Murphy said the program proposed would cost about $7,000.
In other news, commissioners:
Listened with interest to a suggestion from Larry Walden that the county consider increasing commission numbers from three to five, to give better representation and also permit two members to discuss county business outside of a meeting without being in violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. A petition could result in a public vote on increasing commission size, but none is in the offing at the moment.
Were told by Ron Holman, courthouse maintenance supervisor, trash cans scattered about the lawn were in distressed condition. He said trash cans range in price from $300 to $600. Commissioners instructed Holman to purchase one, of his choice, so they could better decide the issue.
They also put off for a week decision on whether to spend a touch over $3,400 to have TLC Garden Center, LaHarpe, place what they agreed would be an attractive plots of flowers and shrubs at the southeast and southwest corners of the courthouse lawn. The proposal was based on $1,044 for plants, $780 for hard goods and $1,600 for labor. All agreed the addition would make the lawn more appealing, to local folks and motorists passing through Iola on U.S. 54.
