Health Department Deals With Storage Problems

LUANN SCHINDLER

lschindler@summerlandadvocate.com

North Central District Health Department board of health members learned two things Friday about personal protective equipment storage at the O'Neill Armory during Friday's monthly meeting in O'Neill.

NCDHD interim director Liz Parks said efforts to dispense surplus PPE, including gowns and masks, had been exhausted. At the board's Sept. 29 meeting, Danielle Roessler, emergency response coordinator, said she had contacted multiple schools and agencies about potential use of some of the PPE, including small and extra-small paper gowns.

“Luckily, we found some people who were willing to move all the PPE out (of the armory),” Parks said. “We did keep a small surplus of PPE to be dispensed as needed.”

Clean-up of the area used by NCDHD still needed to occur by the end of October. 

A $75-per-day fee for use of the armory has been charged to NCDHD since Jan. 1, the original date the health district was supposed to have items out of the local armory.

“We've applied for FEMA funds. Up to July 1, they'll pay at 100%,” Parks said. “Following that, they'll pay 90%.”

According to Parks, who took over as interim director in September, following the resignation of Roger Wiese, the health department has received multiple billings from the Nebraska National Guard.

“This has never been brought to the board?” asked board member Dean Smith, who represents Antelope County.

No, according to chairman Kelly Kalkowski, of Lynch.

Parks said she has been in communication with armory officials since the change in NCDHD personnel.

“They're very willing to work with us,” Parks said.

Smith said he assumed NCDHD had been able to use the armory for free.

According to Parks, use of the armory was free until January.

“Then we accepted a large shipment of PPE, because of the surplus the state has,” Parks said.

James Ward, board member representing Cherry County, said, “Roughly through September, if you figure nine months, averaging 30 days, that's...

“Over $20,000.” Parks interjected.

“That's crazy,” Ward said.

Parks told board members she will discuss the cost with armory personnel since NCDHD had not been utilizing all areas as outlined in the contract between the two entities.

Kalkowski said he was under the impression the department was able to use the building through June.

“We weren't aware of that, after the fact, when a few contacts told me we were squatting after June, basically,” Parks said.

Ward questioned if Wiese had the ability to contract with Nebraska National Guard for use of the facility.

“That's a contract that should've come before this board for approval,” he said.

“It was roughly a $2,300 expense,” Kalkowski said, who noted the organization's bylaws require any purchase over $5,000 be presented for board approval.

“Is that monthly or cumulative?” Smith asked, without receiving a response.

In other business, the board:

• discussed the 2021 single audit procedures;

• tabled review of the organization's bylaws;

• learned about an overdue payment to a human resources law firm, who was hired by Wiese  in August, in regards to a personnel matter. Kalkowski requested copies of documentation the firm supplied to NCDHD.

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