Health Dept. Looks to Recoup Tear-down, Cleanup Costs
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
During its quarterly meeting at the Kosciusko County Courthouse Wednesday night, the Kosciusko County Board of Health heard about new state legislation that will allow local health boards to put tax liens on people.
The health department only averages one or two properties they have to take such action on each year.
The new state law won’t increase the frequency of such action by local health departments.
But new Indiana code allows for local departments of health to recoup costs when tearing down or cleaning up unsafe buildings by putting a tax lien on the property owner.
Local health departments can also collect a $750 fee for taking cases to court.
County Health Administrator Bob Weaver said his department is spending several months trying to track down owners of unsafe properties.
Many of those properties also aren’t insured.
Deputy Administrator Neal Brown said homes with meth labs in it have increased this issue as the cost is so high to refurbish meth lab homes that the owners just walk away from the properties.
The county health department gets a revolving fund each year to take care of such properties.
The process to where the health department tears down an unsafe property is a long one and, according to Weaver and Brown, they exhaust every effort before getting to that point.
Weaver said they average only one or two demolitions a year.
Weaver noted that in 2011, the county demolished a mobile home for $3,500. That cost included getting the area around the home cleaned up.
“We go through every avenue possible,” said Weaver. “(Demolition) is the last resort.”
The board talked about charging Medicaid $8 for shots administered by the health department.
Dr. William Remington, Kosciusko County health officer, said the department needs a more robust line of income.
This is also compounded by the fact that the health department had to go to to the county to make up for a shortfall in money when it came to paying rent for space at the K21 Health Pavilion.
The health department had previously paid for rent through a grant from the Indiana Department of Health.
This year, the state changed criteria on what the money could be used for.
Remington said they could bring in a projected $35,000 if the county can collect on medical billings.
Remington said the county is still in investigative mode on the matter and would have to figure out logistical matters on how to collect the money.
Linda Gotschalk, vital records clerk for the county, gave a presentation on her recent trip to Southern Indiana.
Gotschalk helped residents who lost their vital records in tornadoes that ravaged the area March 2.
She helped people who had lost birth certificates.
The board allowed for a policy revision that the health department can accept checks at the counter in their office at their discretion.
Terry Owens, infections control nurse for Kosciusko Community Hospital, was introduced as a new member to the board.
Bill Baxter was also introduced as the new environmental health specialist, replacing Bruce Hammer, who retired.[[In-content Ad]]
During its quarterly meeting at the Kosciusko County Courthouse Wednesday night, the Kosciusko County Board of Health heard about new state legislation that will allow local health boards to put tax liens on people.
The health department only averages one or two properties they have to take such action on each year.
The new state law won’t increase the frequency of such action by local health departments.
But new Indiana code allows for local departments of health to recoup costs when tearing down or cleaning up unsafe buildings by putting a tax lien on the property owner.
Local health departments can also collect a $750 fee for taking cases to court.
County Health Administrator Bob Weaver said his department is spending several months trying to track down owners of unsafe properties.
Many of those properties also aren’t insured.
Deputy Administrator Neal Brown said homes with meth labs in it have increased this issue as the cost is so high to refurbish meth lab homes that the owners just walk away from the properties.
The county health department gets a revolving fund each year to take care of such properties.
The process to where the health department tears down an unsafe property is a long one and, according to Weaver and Brown, they exhaust every effort before getting to that point.
Weaver said they average only one or two demolitions a year.
Weaver noted that in 2011, the county demolished a mobile home for $3,500. That cost included getting the area around the home cleaned up.
“We go through every avenue possible,” said Weaver. “(Demolition) is the last resort.”
The board talked about charging Medicaid $8 for shots administered by the health department.
Dr. William Remington, Kosciusko County health officer, said the department needs a more robust line of income.
This is also compounded by the fact that the health department had to go to to the county to make up for a shortfall in money when it came to paying rent for space at the K21 Health Pavilion.
The health department had previously paid for rent through a grant from the Indiana Department of Health.
This year, the state changed criteria on what the money could be used for.
Remington said they could bring in a projected $35,000 if the county can collect on medical billings.
Remington said the county is still in investigative mode on the matter and would have to figure out logistical matters on how to collect the money.
Linda Gotschalk, vital records clerk for the county, gave a presentation on her recent trip to Southern Indiana.
Gotschalk helped residents who lost their vital records in tornadoes that ravaged the area March 2.
She helped people who had lost birth certificates.
The board allowed for a policy revision that the health department can accept checks at the counter in their office at their discretion.
Terry Owens, infections control nurse for Kosciusko Community Hospital, was introduced as a new member to the board.
Bill Baxter was also introduced as the new environmental health specialist, replacing Bruce Hammer, who retired.[[In-content Ad]]
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