Hope Unlimited is asking Allen County to contribute nearly $100,000 to help build a new emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Each of the four counties the organization serves — Allen, Anderson, Neosho and Woodson — are being asked to contribute. Allen County’s share is $95,700.
The total cost of the shelter is expected to be about $3 million, Hope Unlimited board member Nich Lohman told commissioners on Tuesday. Most of the funding will come from tax credits, grants and donations, both from corporate sources and individuals, but it’s important for local governments to show financial support too, Lohman said.
“This is something the community needs,” he said. “As I’ve had discussions with people, especially women, they say ‘This is something we have to have.’”
Hope Unlimited currently operates a 16-bed emergency shelter at an undisclosed location. The house used for the shelter was never intended for that use, Lohman said.
Lohman, at times emotional, talked about the challenges facing the shelter, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We realized some limitations with the shelter. It’s not designed to separate people. It’s not ADA compliant,” Lohman said. “And with increased use, we didn’t have enough beds. Another barrier is pets. I didn’t realize a lot of people don’t leave a bad situation because they don’t want to leave their pets behind.”
The proposed shelter would have 32 beds and would be designed to meet the growing need for services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Dorothy Sparks, Hope Unlimited’s director, and Donita Garner, director of the Child Advocacy Center, also talked about the proposed shelter and the need.
“Every day since COVID, we’ve had to turn people away,” Garner said. “It’s the first time in the 25 years that I’ve been here we’ve had to turn multiple families away.
“It’s a struggle to do that — especially when these are people you see at the store, parents you see at school and at church — and to have to tell them you don’t have a safe place for them to go.”
Responding to questions, Sparks and Garner said they have spent more than two years researching options for a new shelter. They looked at available properties, consulted architects and toured emergency shelters in other communities. Ultimately, they decided the best option is to build a new facility. The decision mostly came down to the ability to design a secure facility in a central location that will meet their needs for years to come.
Commissioners expressed their support for the work done by Hope Unlimited and said they are willing to continue discussions about a financial contribution, but did not give a firm commitment. They said they need to look at the budget.
“There is a level of interest here so we’ve just got to figure it out,” Chairman David Lee said.
Health insurance proposal
Daren Booth with Theel Insurance asked commissioners to consider a proposal for a fully self-funded health insurance plan through Freedom Claims Management, Inc.
Just last week, commissioners agreed to continue working with Bukaty Companies of Kansas City for health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and other benefits for the next year, which starts in April.
However, they suggested Booth could spend the next several months putting together a proposal they might consider the following year. They suggested he use three years of publicly available records to see if his plan would have been a better deal for the county.
Booth agreed. His company, based in Emporia, works with numerous cities and counties, including Humboldt, which is a new client.
The health plan would use a high-deductible plan, but employees would pay the same deductible as they have now. The county would make up the difference to meet the deductible. Booth expects that amount likely would be less than the county now pays.
IN OTHER news, commissioners:
Heard an update from Public Works Director Mitch Garner, who said his crews are preparing to spray for noxious weeds. The county plans to start spraying earlier this year after a recommendation from a K-State Research and Extension agent. Garner also asked County Counselor Bob Johnson to review a contract for the landfill extension; construction will begin in March.
Approved bids for dust control and asphalt oil, as recommended by Road and Bridge Director Mark Griffith. Only one bid was submitted for dust control, from Scotwood Industries of Overland Park, for $1.37 per gallon for magnesium chloride and $1.58 for 35% calcium chloride. The cost to residents will increase from $1.80 per foot to $2.37 per foot.
Three companies submitted bids for various types of oil used for road repairs. Vance Brothers of Kansas City, Mo., submitted lower bids for all but one type of oil, but Griffith said he believes roads in LaHarpe are the only ones that will need that type. The bids from Vance were about 10% higher than last year’s prices.
Heard an update from Johnson about the tax sale, which he expects will take place in April. Property owners have been notified and a list of delinquent properties has been published in the paper for two weeks with another publication next week. Commissioners asked if the properties will include addresses in addition to the legal description; Johnson said he is working on that.
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