Legislature approves new public health director

SCHUYLER--The Schuyler County Legislature officially approved the hiring of current County Health Department Public Health Nurse Jill Kasprzyk as the new public health director during the Monday, Aug. 8 meeting. Kasprzyk follows in the footsteps of her mother who also previously served as Schuyler County Public Health Director.
"It's a good choice," said Legislator Phil Barnes of the hiring.
According to county officials, Kasprzyk, who is a registered nurse and has a master's degree in the public health field, had to also have her hiring approved by the state before she could officially take the job.
"She has been with the department going on 12 years," said County Administrator Fonda Chronis.
During the meeting, Chronis also gave an update on the county's efforts to create a new ambulance service.
"On Friday we had a great meeting with hospital representatives... and we met for well over an hour and talked about operations and different things and they will present a proposal to this group on the 22nd (regarding the creation of a new ambulance service)," said Chronis.
Chronis went on to say that the legislature will actually have three proposals to consider, and that he would analyze them to make his own official recommendation.
"We have to do this, there are too many people in the county who are not getting service right now so we have to move fast," said Legislative Chair Carl Blowers. "We have to expedite this move regardless of which of the three choices (is selected) and get the service up."
According to Chronis, no matter which ambulance service proposal is selected it still must meet certain operational thresholds that include three rigs and two crews on at all times, amongst others.
Chronis also gave an update on June sales tax figures and said that the month rebounded nicely after some concerning early numbers due to readjustments on state allocations.
"I am worried about what the state is doing with allocations... I will keep an eye on it," added Chronis.