By 1812Blockhouse, 1812AI
The Richland County Board of Commissioners convened a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 20 and discussed several matters including ham radio operations, healthcare updates, and other topics. The meeting was attended by commissioners, members of the Pure radio group, and Alan Carl from the media.
During the meeting, the commissioners engaged in a discussion about ham radio operations and their significance in emergency situations. Danny Bailey, the local Club president and District Emergency Coordinator, highlighted the role of ham radio operators in assisting with communication during wind disasters across six counties. Dwayne Meadows, Vice President of the radio club and emergency coordinator for Morrow County, emphasized their support in severe weather spotting, especially in cases where radar coverage is limited. Scott Yonnelly, the Vice Director for the Great Lakes Division, shed light on the various digital modes and capabilities of ham radio communications.
The commissioners also touched upon healthcare topics, providing updates on medical and prescription spending. The per member per month spend on medical services was reported as $508.24, marking a 17.5% increase compared to the previous year. Prescription spending amounted to $169.52 per member per month, indicating a 1.9% increase over the same period.
Furthermore, discussions on healthcare included loss ratios and potential delays caused by the lingering effects of the pandemic. The commissioners acknowledged that non-emergency outpatient services and inpatient hospitalizations were temporarily put on hold during the pandemic. As the situation gradually improved, they anticipated a resurgence in healthcare services. They noted a slight movement in employee healthcare usage, particularly among married couples with newborns.
In addition to healthcare updates, the commissioners explored the potential implementation of a wireless traffic plan for 911 routing. They engaged with Verizon to seek a definitive timeline for the plan’s approval and deployment. The commissioners expressed their eagerness to receive feedback on the program during upcoming open enrollment meetings in the fall.
