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This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, September 11th, 2020.
Later in the program, we present a new podcast on the WFHB Local News titled Prescription for Healthcare. In this week’s episode, Karen Green Stone talks to Dr. Rob Stone, former emergency physician about healthcare reform in the U.S. Also coming up, we breakdown Governor Eric Holcomb’s latest update on the state’s response to coronavirus and how Monroe County’s daily numbers will be impacted.
Local News Brief
A record breaking day in Indiana, as the state saw 1,281 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, its highest number to date.
That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health, which also reported that Monroe County shattered its single day record, with 253 new cases of Covid-19 reported on Thursday.
That’s almost three times its previous record of 83. Monroe County reported more positive cases than any other county in Indiana yesterday.
Indiana University reported over twelve hundred positive cases on its Bloomington Campus since August 22nd.
Including the university’s cases from the past three weeks into the county’s totals, almost doubles Monroe County’s total number of cases since the pandemic began, bringing it to 3,040.
Normally, laboratory testing results are posted on the state health department’s website, but Indiana University’s complete testing results don’t appear to be there.
Both in an email to WFHB and publicly, the university has claimed that it is reporting all of its testing results to the State Department of Health.
When WFHB asked the Monroe County Health Department about the issue, health department officials explained that some Covid-19 testing results are only sent to the state, while other results are sent to a shared database between counties and the state.
This would seemingly put the onus on the state health department for at least part of the reporting problem, which has persisted for weeks, if not months.
The Monroe County Health Department says that it is in contact with the state and is working to fix the problem, which it chalks up to complications in the bureaucratic and administrative process.
When WFHB reached out to the State Department of Health, they did not respond directly to our questions about the reporting problem, although, today for the first time, the department included an advisory on its dashboard that may be related to the university’s testing results.
The advisory notes that a new testing facility has been onboarded into the departments’ data reporting. The health department noted that all of the negative tests from the facility have not been counted yet.
As WFHB and WFIU have previously reported, it’s clear that the majority of the university’s positive cases have not been counted either.
Monroe County Council – Budget Hearing
Monroe County Commissioners proposed their 2021 general fund budget with a salary raise to the Monroe County Council during its September 10th budget hearing meeting. Commissioner Lee Jones described an increase of work since joining the commission.
Jones mentioned many appearances and speeches occur during the evening or weekends. She said the current salary and hours limit the applicants willing to take on the job.
Commissioner Penny Githens said being a commissioner has never been a part time job. Commissioner Julie Thomas said it is an issue of pay equity. County Council member Geoff McKim proposed a commissioner salary of $46,000, approximately 10,000 more than last year’s salary. Councilwoman Cheryl Munson said commissioners should be properly compensated.
Council member Kate Wiltz thought the request was premature. She mentioned results from a county salary study are not yet available.
County Council members approve the 10 thousand dollars raise on a 5 – 2 vote with council members Marty Hawk and Kate Wiltz voting against.
Weekly Coronavirus Update from Governor Holcomb and Dr. Box
On Wednesday, Governor Eric Holcomb provided updates on the state’s response to Covid-19.
Among the list of updates were an increase in testing sites, an online portal for coronavirus data collection in schools and a timeline for the state’s vaccine plan.
Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, said the state intends to release a public online dashboard breaking down positive cases in individual schools.
“We continue to make progress on gathering the information we need for a school dashboard,” she said.
Box said the dashboard intends to report cases by school, rather than school district. She said once the plans are finalized, the state health department will alert schools to start gathering data to assemble the dashboard.
“No individual will be identified by name. Schools that have fewer than 5 cases will have their number suppressed to protect the privacy of the individuals who tested positive,” said Box.
Box said that the state department of health has been adding Covid-19 data submitted from universities to its dashboard.
“We expect to be adding about 50,000 historical negative results to our test totals over the next week,” said Box. “Because of this, we are putting alerts on our dashboard for Monroe County and Tippecanoe County.”
Indiana University’s data has not been added to Monroe County’s daily total. In an email, Monroe County Public Information Officer Kathy Hewett said the county health department spoke to ISDH about the issue and is working to correct it.
Hewett said, “we expect to see some changes to the total tests done in the next few days that will impact how the numbers look.”
Bloomington City Council – Special Session
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton presents an ordinance to modify the Monroe County Local Income Tax Rate to the Bloomington City Council. He spoke during the September 9th City Council Special Session meeting.
He said a tax increase would provide ongoing recovery. Hamilton said approval of the Local Income Tax increase by November would implement the increase in January of next year.
Hamilton declared the city council must act on the increase by September 16th, 2020. Hamilton said the state requires county wide income taxes. However, he mentioned if the state allows a city only tax increase would be proposed.
Hamilton noted households earning $100,000 or more would create half of total revenue collected. He said revenue would be used to lower energy use, improve mobility, improve local food, create job support, housing support, and improve quality of life. Council member Dave Rollo asked Hamilton how the city tax rate would compare to others after the increase.
Council member Kate Rosenbarger asked about a tax rebate program. Hamilton said that would not be possible. Resident Daniel Bingham said a great time to impose tax may never come.
Bingham said the proposed use of funds would not contribute enough to carbon reduction. Attorney Stephen Lucas clarified the Monroe County Tax Council has the final vote on implementation, however the City Council makes up a majority of the Tax Council. Council members postponed the vote until September 16th.
Monroe County Council
The Monroe County Council discussed the 2021 Jail and Correctional Center Budget during its September 8th meeting. Jail Commander Sam Crowe described additional funds that are needed in the jail general fund.
Crowe requested seven thousand dollars for additional training. He also requested 15 thousand dollars for training and travel. He said COVID-19 interfered with planned training for officers.
Crowe said an increase in medical services funds would be needed to expand mental health services with an additional job position. He mentioned a current mental health service position is present at the jail 40 hours a week. Council member Geoff McKim asked Crowe about the additional support.
Council member Kate Wilts said the total jail budget was approximately $6,060,000. Council members approved the proposed budget as amended to move meal funds to the Public Safety Local Income Tax fund. The final county budget hearing will be held in October.
Feature Report
Today, we begin a new podcast series on WFHB titled Prescription for Healthcare. In today’s episode, host Karen Green Stone talks to Dr. Rob Stone, a former emergency physician about healthcare reform in the U.S.
Prescription for Healthcare will air the second Friday of each month on the WFHB Local News.
Credits
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Prescription for Healthcare with help from Kade Young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
