Supervisors hear offer from public health service provider

Jasper County has been given the option of changing the organization that provides administrative services for the Board of Health.

Diane Larson, with Visiting Nurse Services in Des Moines, told the supervisors that her organization was prepared to provide a number of services for the Jasper County Board of Health. VNS would supplant the services now provided by Skiff Medical Center, including skilled nursing visits, immunization clinics, blood pressure clinics, foot care and disaster planning.

Larson said her concern was with Skiff’s poor communication with the Board of Health.

The county’s 28E agreement with Skiff for public health services expires on June 30, at the end of the current fiscal year. Skiff provides its services for approximately $152,000 per year, and Larson said VNS services would be comparably priced.

“We’ve got some homework to do on this before we make a decision,” supervisor chair Denny Stevenson said. He said the supervisors will try to schedule visits from the Board of Health and Skiff Medical Center.

In other action Tuesday, the supervisors:

• Approved plans to pave a portion of Highway T38 from near Interstate 80 south three miles to South 48th Avenue East. Funding for the project, about $1.5 million, will be through federal stimulus money, which has yet to be approved. Bid letting will take place in May.

• Approved a request from the Thanks With Franks committee for use of the courthouse lawn on Sept. 9, 2010.

• Reappointed Duane Brand and Barbara Hug to the Jasper County Cemetery Commission for a three-year term.

The next meeting of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Monday, March 15.

Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.