The question we get a lot is — are these sales people legit?  Does the City regulate their activity?  Do they need to show a permit?  Is it even safe to answer the door?  These are all great questions and they will be the main focus of the public meeting which like the previous month is scheduled to begin at 7 pm at the Kent Police Training room.   

The Kent Health Department is affiliated with the City of Kent, meaning we share office space and many administrative functions, but it’s less an official agency of the City than it is an extension of a state agency since it is funded through a combination of state aid and fees for services, and most of its authority relates to the protection and enforcement of state codes.  The Health Commissioner works at city hall so the natural assumption is that he’s another department head like the Police Chief or Fire Chief but that’s not actually true.  While the City department heads report to the City Manager, the Health Commissioner reports to the members of his Health Board in the same way that I report to the City Council.  Our missions are tied together but the administration of Health Department programs is actually fairly autonomous. 

The Department of Public health states its mission as the control and prevention of diseases that they accomplish through a variety of programs, all of which aim to promote a better quality of life for all citizens.   Here’s a look at the Health Department functions:

The City of Kent Health Department provides numerous public health-related services to the citizens of Kent.  These services include annual licensing and inspection of restaurants, vending machines, public swimming pools, sanitation vehicles and multiple use housing.  The Health Department is also responsible for vital statistics, providing medical assistance to indigent Kent residents, sponsoring a monthly immunization program, and administering the City’s mosquito control program.  The Health Department contracts with Robinson Memorial Visiting Nurses for the provision of nursing services and clinics, and with Townhall II for the provision of acute medical services.  The department responds to citizen complaints concerning threats to public health, e.g., noise, noxious odor, rats, etc.  The department also manages the pretreatment of industrial wastes prior to processing at the City’s water reclamation facility.   

In total, the Kent Health Services budget is $900,000 a year.  Roughly 70% of that is related to the personnel that provide public health services in our community.   

______________________________ 

(press release on Kent Healthy Community Service Award)

MHRB awards recognize community service

Nearly 100 friends of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County were on hand for the county organization’s annual event at The Tannery in downtown Kent during national Mental Health Month.  Board Chairman Ron Heineking of Kent and Executive Director Hal Farrier were in charge of the program and giving out awards to 11 individuals and four organizations.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Portage County 2010 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. This year’s recipient is Officer Jeff Futo of Kent State University Police Services. He was introduced by Dean Tondiglia, associate director of Public Safety for KSU.  The honor is given annually by the Mental Health & Recovery Board and the Portage County Police Chiefs’ Association. It recognizes the outstanding work of an officer who has been trained in the national Crisis Intervention Team program and is using those skills on the job. CIT provides officers and other law enforcement professionals with education and hands-on training to deal effectively with persons in crisis situations, especially if those individuals have mental illness.

In its fourth year, more than 180 Portage County professionals from police agencies, the courts, corrections, hospital and human service agencies have completed the week-long course. The program is coordinated by the Mental Health Recovery Board of Portage County with the assistance of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. CIT is offered through the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a national organization of persons with mental illness, family members and advocates who work to improve the lives of those with mental illness.

The Mental Health & Recovery Board also awarded the first Chairman’s Distinguished Service Award to Melissa Millis of Ravenna for her volunteer work with consumers. Major Dennis Missimi of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the CIT Founder’s Award for establishing and expanding the CIT program in Portage County. 

Healthy Communities Service Recognition honors went to the Portage County Health Department, the Ravenna City Health Department, Kent City Health Department and the Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for their roles in fighting the H1N1 pandemic.

The event also celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Family-to-Family Education Program which provides a free education course and support to families and loved ones of children and adults with mental illness. Mary Ann Doerzbacher of Aurora, who served on the MRHB, worked with the board and local NAMI chapter to start the program. She was honored at the reception along with other instructors, Joe Vero of Aurora, Tracy Stamm of Mantua and Terri McGuckin of Kent.

When you make a choice to live in city, with neighbors in close proximity, you have to be willing to make some accomodations for the good of the whole — which on July 4th means foregoing your desire to re-enact the sites and sounds of a civil war battlefield using some fireworks you bought at a roadside stand.  I realize that sounds almost anti-American, as we feel like we have the right to life, liberty and launching fireworks to celebrate our Independence Day, but work with us here and put down the smoke bombs. 

Here’s some of the facts behind the use of fireworks in the City of Kent:

THE KENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ANNOUNCES A COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR THE POSITION OF FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC

           Examination Date:     July 10, 2010 (Saturday)
           Examination Time      9:00 A.M.
           Location:        Lecture Room 133, Bowman Hall, Kent State University

            Starting Salary:          Effective 8/30/2010 – $17.66 per hour
                        (above rate based on 2600 total annual hours)

Examination will be used to establish an eligibility list for future Firefighter/Paramedic positions with the City of Kent.

 Copies of Proof of Possession of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification required at time of Application and must be submitted with the Civil Service Application.          

Proof of Possession of Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P)

Certification required at Time of Appointment.  And, if the Applicant possesses EMT-P Certificate at time of application, a copy of such certificate must be submitted with the Civil Service Application.  

 An Application Fee of  $10.00 must be submitted at time of Application.  Personal Checks, Cash, and Money Orders to cover the Application Fee will be accepted.  Checks and Money Orders should be made payable to the “City of Kent.”

 Special Note: Employees of the Kent Fire Department shall be required to reside within Portage County, or any County adjacent to Portage County in the State of Ohio.

Application: Applications and Information may be obtained from the Kent Civil Service Commission located at 221 East Summit Street (corner of East Summit and South Depeyster Streets, next door to the Office of the Mayor, and directly across parking lot from Kent City Hall). 

Information and Applications are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Applications and Information also available on the City of Kent’s Web site – www.kentohio.org .  Civil Service Applications must be submitted to the Kent Civil Service Commission by 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 30, 2010.  Please note that in the event of tie scores on the examination, priority on the eligibility list shall be determined by the date and time the Civil Service Application was filed with the Commission.      

Responsibility: The Firefighter/Paramedic is responsible for the preservation of life and property through the use of fire suppression, emergency, medical, fire prevention, and specialized rescue techniques.  Work requires residence at station for twenty-four hours at a time.  Works with or without direct supervision of a Captain or Lieutenant.  Performs other job-related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications: High school graduate or possession of GED.  Possession of EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN–PARAMEDIC (EMT-P) CERTIFICATION or ability to obtain EMT-P Certification by time of appointment.  Must maintain Paramedic Certification as a condition of continued employment.  Minimum age to be appointed is twenty-one.  Must become State-Certified Firefighter by completion of the probationary period, which is one year after the date of hire.  Must be a licensed driver with a good driving record as evidenced by insurability as determined by the City of Kent’s motor vehicle insurance carrier; free from felonious driving record convictions or six-point BMV administrative actions within the past three years; and eligible to obtain Ohio Driver’s License within thirty days of appointment to the position.  Must be able to maintain a good driving record at all times.  Must be in good physical condition, free from fear of heights, water, and working in confined spaces; good medical condition; good vision including color perception; and good hearing.  Must possess good judgment, mechanical aptitude, math ability, and reading comprehension.  Ability to follow and carry out orders/instructions.  Ability to adapt previous knowledge to atypical situations.  Ability to work in dangerous conditions and in inclement weather while wearing uniform or protective equipment in excess of fifty pounds; ability to work twenty-four hour shifts; ability to communicate orally and in writing; ability to learn street routes and locations; ability to work in smoke-filled areas, climb ladders, and work in considerable heights and in unsafe structures; ability to drive and operate large apparatus; ability to work well with others and with the public.

Typical Tasks (Illustrative Only): As a member of a fire suppression team, responds to alarms or accidents by truck, engine, or rescue vehicles.  Forcible entry and/or ventilation may require the use of tools such as crow bars, sledge hammers, saws, torches, axes, hydraulic equipment, raising of ladders.  Entry may be made at ground level, from roofs, through windows, and/or from ladders or other means necessary to gain entry. Extinguishes fire by advancing charged hose line and/or other extinguishing agents from ground level, from ladders, platforms, other buildings, or any other source.  Operates or uses equipment and tools such as hammers, saws, sledge hammers, axes, generators, fans, cutting torches, picks, pry bars, coupling hoses, hose tips, ladders, air masks, two-way radios, pumps, pike poles, and ropes.  Performs salvage operations.  Duties may require the Firefighter/Paramedic to walk or crawl on weakened structures, beams, roof tops; and duties may also require other precarious and difficult situations.  Ventilates structures by chopping holes, breaking windows, or other forms of venting.  Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers and removing charred materials, water, and debris.  May secure premises by boarding windows, doors, holes in roofs, and any other form of egress.  Is alert for arson conditions.  Operates  pumper and calculates pressure needed to supply water to nozzle tip.  Is exposed to dangerous heat, flame, toxic smoke, chemical gas, explosions, and other risks.  May work as a member of a hazardous material team in hazardous environments and/or in encapsulated suits.  Searches for and rescues trapped victims at accident or other emergency incidents by carrying them up or down ladders, carrying, dragging, or guiding through openings.  Administers emergency medical treatment and transports to hospital.  May be exposed to contagious disease(s).

Cleans and maintains apparatus, quarters, buildings, equipment, grounds, hydrants, and other relevant equipment.  Participates in training classes.  Performs building inspection and hydrant inspection. Participates in fitness activities.  May be involved in a variety of special rescue situations including water rescue, ice rescue, high angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue requiring the use of ropes, boats, shovels, life vests, harnesses, webbing, air shores, saws, hammers, tape measures, or other specialized rescue equipment.  Gives public tours.  Teaches fire prevention classes to a variety of audiences.  Speaks to public groups.  Prepares reports.

Essential/Critical Job Functions: Responds to fire, emergency medical incidents, or other rescue incidents by driving or riding on fire engine, ladder truck, rescue truck, or other vehicles that are requested.  Forcibly enters structures by breaking windows, forcing doors using a variety of tools or other means necessary.  Rescues trapped or injured persons from vehicles or from burning or from smoke-filled buildings by carrying, dragging, or guiding victims as they leave the structures.  Provides emergency medical treatment to injured or by performing venipuncture, intubation, EKG interpretation; administers drugs using mathematical formulas or other treatment require by protocol.  Carries and/or lifts victims to medical unit, then transports them to hospital.  Carries fire hoses and heavy equipment such as fans, tools, ladders, extinguishers to and from roof tops, basements, up and down ladders and steps, through windows to reach fire scene.  Extinguishes fire by advancing charged hose lines, ventilating structure and/or applying other extinguishing agents from the ground ladders, roof tops, platforms, or other base of purchase.  Walks, climbs, and/or crawls on roof tops, beams, flooring in smoke-filled structure that may be unsafe in highly dangerous, stressful, and physically demanding conditions, while wearing uniform or protective equipment weighing more than fifty pounds.  Identifies odors, signs and sounds of danger, and colors of smoke.  Uses tools and equipment such as pumps, hammers, saws, sledge hammers, axes, generators, ropes, fans, cutting torches, wrenches, coupling picks, pry bars, air masks, two-way radios, hoses, and ladders.  Overhauls structures by removing debris, funneling water, or chopping holes in walls, floors, or other structural members to complete fire extinguishment.  Replaces equipment on vehicles after emergency incident by loading hose, cleaning or repairing equipment, fills air bottles, washes and dries vehicles.  Cleans and maintains apparatus, quarters, buildings, equipment, grounds, and hydrants.  Responds calmly and effectively with the public, doctors, nurses, police officers, and co-workers.  Prepares written reports and gives oral reports.  Ties knots to secure equipment, vehicles, or themselves in rescue situations.  Walks or crawls in confined spaces above or below ground in light or darkness.

Examination Process: All applicants must successfully complete (pass) the written examination to attain placement on the Firefighter/Paramedic eligibility list.  Ranking of candidates on the eligibility list shall be determined by their scores on the written examination, with the highest score, including any applicable credits, having the highest score.  In order to obtain any applicable, special examination credit as prescribed by the Kent Civil Service Commission, candidates shall be required to receive a passing grade on the written examination.  The available additional special credits are described in the “Information to Firefighter/Paramedic Applicants” information brochure which is available with the Kent Civil Service Application.  Please also note that in order to receive additional credit on the written examination, copies of all applicable supporting documents MUST BE  SUBMITTED WITH THE KENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION APPLICATION.                    

Accommodation for Testing: Prior to the written examination, persons requesting an accommodation for testing must provide seventy-two hours’ written notice to the Kent Civil Service Commission in order to have the request considered.                                                                       

Special Notes: Admission Forms for the Firefighter/Paramedic Written Examination shall be mailed to all eligible applicants prior to the written examination date (July 10, 2010).  Eligible applicants who do not receive an Admission Form in the mail and who have an Application on file for the July 10, 2010 Firefighter/Paramedic Written Examination should appear at the examination site with valid identification and a duplicate Admission Form will be issued at the site. 

   ***   On Monday, June 21, 2010, the Civil Service Commission Office will not open until 1:00 p.m. ***

THE CITY OF KENT PROVIDES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL EMPLOYEE AND APPLICANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, PREGNANCY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, AGE, DISABILITY, GENETICS, OR MILITARY STATUS IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS.

The tv commercials show non-seat belt wearers covered in pink tickets — which is probably gentler than showing what happens in car wrecks to people that aren’t buckled-up — but it’s certainly still effective.  In case you’re thinking that it’s just a PR tactic that won’t be backed-up, think again. 

I’ve seen a copy of the memo from the Kent Police Chief to the troops advising them of his expectations that they fully participate in the statewide enforcement initiative to increase compliance in the state’s safety belt law which according to the Ohio insurance industry runs around 65%.   I looked up the Kent Police statistics and it turns out that they issue an average of 300 traffic citations a month or about 10 a day – don’t let yourself be one of them for a seatbelt violation. 

If you’re not sure what the Ohio seat belt law says, let me help:

Ohio’s safety belt law was enacted in March, 1986 and revised in November, 1992. The law requires front-seat passengers of cars, vans, pickup and delivery trucks, taxicabs, commercial trucks and tractor-trailers, and buses with safety belts installed to wear them when these vehicles are driven on public roadways.

Drivers who violate the law are fined $25, while front-seat passengers are fined $15. Funds generated from the fines are partially directed to Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) programs that increase public awareness to help Ohio reach a 70% safety belt usage rate.

Exempt from compliance are children already covered by the child safety seat law; persons with medically-certified physical impairments; persons operating vehicles to deliver the mail or newspapers for home delivery; and persons in vehicles manufactured prior to 1966.

Currently, law enforcement officials are prohibited from stopping a vehicle solely to enforce Ohio’s safety belt law. Citations can only be issued as a secondary action to another suspected offense. A violation of this law does not result in the assessment of points to an individual’s driving record.

Evidence regarding the proper use of safety belts is admissible against certain parties in a claim for damages for the injury or death of the occupant of the vehicle.

_____________

Mogadore Road BETWEEN CHERRY STREET AND OVERHOLT ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS, BEGINNING TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010.

AS PART OF THE CONTINUING WORK ON THE PLUM CREEK STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT, MOGADORE ROAD (BETWEEN CHERRY STREET AND OVERHOLT ROAD) WILL BE CLOSED FOR APROXIMATELY 60 DAYS, BEGINNING MAY 25, 2010.

MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO AVOID THE AREA AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAVEL TIME WHEN LEAVING FOR THEIR DESTINATION.  ROAD CLOSED SIGNS AND DETOUR SIGNS WILL BE POSTED.

THE RECOMMENDED DETOUR FOR CARS IS TO USE S.R. 261 TO CHERRY STREET TO MOGADORE ROAD. THE DETOUR FOR TRUCKS IS S.R. 43 TO S.R. 261 TO MOGADORE ROAD. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, RESIDENTS MAY CONTACT THE ENGINEERING DIVISION AT (330) 678-8106.City of Kent, Ohio
James S. Bowling,
City Engineer

___________________________

If you haven’t had a chance to see the project here’s a few images that show how mother nature is taking the stream back in a great meandering stream bed:

On Saturday May 8^th, the German Shepherd Club of Northern Ohio held their annual banquet and awards ceremony.  They presented a Top Honor Achievement Memorial Award to K-9 Jessy and handler Jim Ennemoser for Devotion to Duty.  A 2009 Top Honor Rookie Award was awarded to K-9 Aiko and handler Jim Ennemoser.  The 2009 Top Honor Apprehension & Protection Award was presented to K-9 Felo and handler Marty Gilliland. 

Congratulations to everyone involved in the City’s canine program!  Thanks for keeping us safe.

I also wanted to publicly thank all of the City employees, University staff, University students, and regional partners that made this one of the safest end of semester seasons in years.  A lot of planning went into preparations for the spring events and things seemed to run smoothly thanks to the cooperation displayed by everyone involved.  I saw news reports from Ohio University and Miami University that imposed serious sanctions on members of the Greek community for unruly behavior and I was grateful that a more appreciative and respectful attitude prevailed by all parties this year in Kent.  I hope this trend will carry over into the year to come.