Butler County Commissioners OK reimbursement agreements for hospital, Harmony Fire District
Butler County Commissioners approved paperwork needed by Butler Memorial Hospital and Harmony Fire District for state grants that reimburse the hospital for renovating its drug and alcohol unit and the fire district for construction of its fire station.
Through the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, the hospital received a $750,000 grant to renovate the unit, and the fire district received a $1.3 million grant to build its fire station.
The hospital and fire district had to fund their projects, which have been completed. Now they can ask the state for the grant money that serves as reimbursements.
County officials explained that entities applying for funding through the state program must have a municipal sponsor or partner with taxing authority, which would be called upon to cover project costs if the entities fail to meet program requirements that include using American-made products, paying workers prevailing wages and competitive bidding.
However, the county included indemnification clauses in its agreements with the hospital and fire district that eliminated the county’s financial liability and placed it on the hospital and fire district, said Leslie Osche, commissioners’ chairwoman.
During a commissioners meeting Wednesday, July 9, Osche said the county needs to educate entities that apply to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for funding through the state program to tell the commissioners about the application because the state notifies the county when applications are submitted. The hospital and fire district came to the county “well after the fact,” she said.
Osche suggested the county could contact legislators and the state Department of Community and Economic Development “to have a clearer path in the future.”
The hospital project cost $2.3 million, with most of the money coming from HealthChoices, a program managed by Southwest Behavioral Health Management.
The commissioners authorized the county economic development and planning department to help municipalities obtain broadband service.
The department was named the “Municipal Broadband Champion” charged with helping municipalities obtain a “Broadband Ready Community” designation, which allows for opportunities for broadband infrastructure investment by reducing procedural, policy and permitting barriers to broadband deployment.
Nathan Werner, assistant planning director, said the department will serve as a liaison between municipalities and internet service providers to expand broadband access.
Commissioner Kevin Boozel said he finds it hard to believe that some municipalities don’t have broadband service in their government offices.
Osche commended municipalities for participating in a broadband expansion in the Slippery Rock Area and Moniteau school districts that will be launched July 19.
Commissioners also approved a $90,000 service agreement with Impulse Training Academy, of Lower Burrell, to conduct the paramedic training program at Butler County Community College.
Emergency Services director Steve Bicehouse said the 18-month program will start in late August or early September and end in January 2027.
Students, who must be emergency medical technicians working in the county to qualify, will attend classes two days a week and some Saturdays, and commit to working full time for at least one year at an ambulance service in the county after graduation, he said. Public notice will be given when applications can be submitted, he added.
Boozel commended the county emergency medical service council for developing the program to help address the shortage of emergency medical professionals in the county.
