WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Monroe County officials are working to develop better safety protocols for the county’s rental properties.
Of special concern is fire prevention. In the Commissioners’ meeting yesterday, Commissioner Julie Thomas responded to a report in The Herald Times newspaper, highlighting issues with smoke detectors in rental units. A lack of smoke detectors in a county rental unit reportedly led to the death of a toddler, earlier this month.
Thomas said she and Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill have met with county fire chiefs on the issue, but the need for rental property inspections is relatively new for Monroe County.
Health Administrator Penny Caudill told commissioners new funding is available for needle exchange programs, during the work session that followed. Caudill said she’d like to put the money toward vehicles for the health department and its partner, the Indiana Recovery Alliance. She said she hopes to extend the life of the IRA’s aging mobile unit for another decade. It’s currently being assessed for potential repairs. Any vehicle purchases will have to be approved by the Commissioners as well as the Monroe County Council.
