WABASH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED , THEN TABLED , INCREASING THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO WABASH COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN MEAL PROGRAM MONDAY. THE BOARD IS SEEKING MORE INFORMATION FROM MT. CARMEL CITY COUNCIL. CHAIRMAN TIM HOCKING SAID MAYOR JOE JUDGE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TRIM EXPENSES IN THE WAKE OF INCREASED FOOD AND FUEL COSTS. THE BOARD IS WANTS SPECIFIC INFO ON HOW MANY MEALS ARE SERVED AND OTHER INFORMATION BEFORE ACTING.
WCHD Admin Reports On Flu & COVID Cases
WABASH COUNTY IS IN THE “HIGH” CATEGORY FOR FLU AND IS BACK IN THE “HIGH “ SECTOR FOR COVID, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT FILED BY JUDY WISSEL OF WABASH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONDAY NIGHT. TESTING FOR COVID AND FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS CONTINUE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONDAY THRU FRIDAY.
County Board Hears Update On WGH From President/CEO
KARISSA TURNER, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O, OF WABASH GENERAL HOSPITAL ATTENDED MONDAY’S WABASH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THREE RE-APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD. SHE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SOME OF THE RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AT THE HOSPITAL. TURNER OUTLINED THE STRATEGIC PLAN THRU THE YEAR 2024. SHE NOTED THAT WGH EMPLOYEES HAVE DONATED OVER 2 THOUSAND HOURS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE PAST YEAR. TWO NEW EMERGENCY CHASE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ADDED THRU A GRANT. THE TOYOTA TUNDRAS WILL BE IN SERVICE AFTER STATE INSPECTION. TURNER IS VERY PROUD OF THE WGH STAFF, EARNING ACCOLADES FROM C.M.S. AND NEWLY BESTOWED NATIONAL RURAL RATING SYSTEM AS A FIVE STAR HOSPITAL. WGH EARNED 2022 HONORS IN EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT EXPERIENCE AWARD. ADDITIONAL STAFF HAS BEEN ADDED TO HELP PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PROBLEMS IN AVOID FREQUENT RETURNS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WGH FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS TEN STUDENTS NOW STUDYING THAT WILL RETURN TO WABASH COUNTY. AN ADDITIONAL SURGEON WILL SOON BE IN SERVICE AT THE HOSPITAL…AND W.G.H. IS HIRING A GRANT WRITER . WABASH COUNTY’S LARGEST EMPLOYER NOW HAS 515 EMPLOYEES, AND SPORTS A RETENTION RATE OF 12.2 PERCENT….WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
County Adopts Resolution Supporting Local Ag Community
Wabash County Commissioners have adopted a resolution supporting the local agriculture community. The resolution was introduced by the Wabash County Farm Bureau and spokesman Bryce Pavia explained the importance of ag to the county…
The resolution acknowledges the valuable contributions agriculture makes to the county and promotes the future development of agriculture for the benefits of Wabash County and all of its’ residents.
City Council Moving Meetings Up An Hour
Mt. Carmel City Council meetings will start an hour earlier starting next year. In approving the 2023 meeting and holiday schedule, commissioners agreed to move the start time of their meetings from 5pm to 4pm starting next month.
Inflation Impacting County Snow/Ice Removal Efforts
Inflation is hitting all areas of our lives including how much it’s going to cost to clear snow and ice from local roads this winter. Wabash County highway engineer Dustin Bunting reported to the county board that this year’s road salt price has ballooned to $105.94 a ton, compared to $74.98 a ton last year.
Local Realtors Looking For Help From County Board
Wabash County Commissioners are promising help in resolving a backlog of real estate transactions recording local realtors say is impacting local home sales. Realtor Brandon Hodgson explained the issues the delays are causing….
In particular, Hodgson said when a manufactured home is sold, the title of the home must be surrendered to the state. And that can’t occur until an affidavit of affixation is recorded…
Hodgson was quick to point out he was not faulting the county clerk’s office which handles the recordings. He said the office is doing its’ best but has been overwhelmed with other duties such as handling the influx of early voting. Commissioners said one solution may be to close the office to the public one day a week to focus solely on catching up on the backlog of recordings or hire an additional person for the office.
County Board Reappoints Three To WGH Board
WABASH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RE-APPOINTED DAVID MILLER, NATE STEVENSON, AND JANET STORY TO NEW THREE YEAR TERMS ON WABASH GENERAL HOSPITAL BOARD MONDAY NIGHT. WGH BOARD CHAIRMAN ROB COLEMAN PROPOSED THEIR RE-APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSIONERS, NOTING ALL THREE BRING WHAT IS NEEDED TO THE BOARD, INCLUDING ONGOING TRAINING, WORK ON COMMITTEES, AND EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE. THE 9 MEMBER WGH BOARD CONSISTS OF NINE MEMBERS, SERVING STAGGERED TERMS. AN EXECUTIVE BOARD PROVIDES EVALUATION FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS. COMMISSIONERS THANKED ALL FOR THEIR SERVICE.
Hocking Reappointed County Board Chairman
TIM HOCKING WAS RE-APPOINTED WABASH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD CHAIRMAN AT MONDAY’S MEETING. COMMISSIONER ROB DEAN MADE THE MOTION, NOTING HOCKING’S WORK ON THE CURRENT BUDGET AND ONGOING DETAILS TO THE PROPOSED ARPA ORDINANCE. DEAN SAID MONIES LOOK TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME PROJECTS IN THE COMING YEAR, AND HOCKING HAS BEEN ON TOP OF THESE PROGRAMS. COMMISSIONER SCOTT WEST SECONDED THE NOMINATION. COMMISSIONER DEAN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK VOTERS FOR HIS ELECTION TO ANOTHER 6 YEAR TERM ON THE BOARD. HE WAS SWORN IN MONDAY.
Election Update From County Clerk
FINAL PAPERWORK ON THE RECENT WABASH COUNTY ELECTION IS BEING COMPLETED BY CLERK JANET WILL. SHE TOLD WABASH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISIONERS THE OFFICAL TURNOUT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WAS 54.4 PERCENT. ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO THE APRIL 4TH CONSOLIDATED ELECTION. INTEREST IN THE DISTRICT 348 SCHOOL BOARD IS RELATIVELY HIGH. AT LEAST 5 PEOPLE ARE CIRCULATING PETIONS TO RUN FOR THE THREE OPEN SPOTS.