Comments on: County Board Connects, Hard Choices Loom

By: John Dory

John Dory — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:18:57 +0000

One authoritative source I have reviewed expects that 2011 will see a new record number of real estate mortgage foreclosures. This is not to mention the number of property tax foreclosures has also mushroomed.

These foreclosures have not only a significant impact on the property owenrs themselves(including homelessness, as cited above), but also affects surrounding property values as well as timely collection of property taxes.

I hope the county will continue its efforts to provide assistance to troubled homeowners in these regards.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:52:47 +0000

If Dick Fleece is in charge, it is all good. He combines technical skill with a real sense of caring about people.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:30:42 +0000

I need to clarify my response to Vivienne – Environmental Health is part of the Health Dept., not the Water Resources. Dick Fleece is our Public Health Director and the depts. were combined a few yeard ago.

I got mixed up because other environmental health concerns such as wells and septic systems, soil erosion, storm water management, etc. are overseen by Water Resources.

In any case, Mr. Fleece assures me that everyone works togther for a healthier county.

Sorry, folks!

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:38:13 +0000

Vivienne – actually we did list it, but because these are mandatory services, and we all agreed that we will certainly be continuing to do it, we left it out of the conversation. Not to worry – we know and appreciate the esssentials of these services. The BOC is, for now, the Public Health Board and the environmental health comes under Jansis Bobrin, the Water Resources Commissioner. I trust her to keep us informed about what we need to do.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:41:16 +0000

I’m sorry to see that environmental health services did not make it onto the commissioners’ list. The county is the place where public health (human disease and morbidity, also promotion of health issues) and environmental health (including safe drinking water, restaurant inspections, etc.) services are provided. These are mandated by the state but the county has the responsibility. They are an important facet of “public safety”. Maybe it was so obvious that the commissioners didn’t need to list it.