Lyon County commissioners voted today to go ahead with working with the Kansas Forest Service on a master fire plan for the county.
The free Forest Service program is done in cooperation with the Kansas Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.
The program can provide recommendations on how to improve the fire districts’ Insurance Service Organization’s rating. The ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule.
The program through the forest service also can improve the quality of fire service provided and provides support for grant and funding requests, said Eric Ward of the Kansas Forest Service.
“We typically produce anywhere from two to six overall recommendations on the county level and then we go through department to department and make specific recommendations,” Ward told county commissioners.
The goals are to improve the efficiency of the county; make the firefighters safer and effective and to save life and property.
“But if we could save money doing that it would be even better,” Ward said.
Commissioners also gave the go-ahead for Commission Chairman Marshall Miller to sign an agreement for a prescription drug card program that will be offered through the county.
Doug Steuve, of the Lyon County Department on Aging, said he sees benefits in the county enrolling in the program.
“I see no costs to the county,” Stueve said. One of the good advantages to these cards is they are open to anyone. Any ages. These cards could play a role for people who do not have drug coverage.”
Gary Post, Lyon County appraiser, said the card would be open to all Lyon County citizens.
“There is no restriction,” he said. “If you don’t have any insurance, you can use this card for your prescriptions. It’s not an insurance card (though).”
Commissioners also agreed to publish the amended budgets. There will be a public hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 21 in the Lyon County commission chambers.