Modesto Bee Article

Garth Stapley Reports
last updated: October 28, 2009

By unanimous vote, Stanislaus County supervisors on Tuesday:

• Submitted a request for $1.44 million in state and federal public health funding to boost H1N1 preparedness. Of those afflicted in the county, 55 percent were female; ages have ranged from 3 months to 72 years, public health official John Walker said, with a median age of 31 years. "My enthusiastic recommendation is that those who are at high risk clearly should receive this vaccination," he said of shots to be available soon.

• Bought credit card scanners for $1,300, allowing library customers to make electronic payments at all 13 branches. That option only has been available at six libraries. Making it easier to pay fines could bring the county $6,500 more a year.

• Lowered residential garbage rates for unincorporated areas previously served by Modesto Disposal Inc. The new hauler for that area, generally west and east of Modesto, is Turlock Scavenger, which will serve 6,200 homes and 700 businesses. Monthly rates for typical 90-gallon carts will drop from $20.92 to $18.65. "I think this is a real good example of looking out for the needs of the community by allowing the competitive bid process to work," said Supervisor Jeff Grover.

• Approved new health benefit plans for the county's 4,000 workers. A key provision eliminates flex spending credits for dental and vision, replacing them with county-provided coverage. All 13 unions representing employees signed off on the changes, which should keep the county's annual cost of $52 million about the same.

• Spent an extra $181,000 on testing and monitoring the Fink Road Landfill and the closed Geer Road Landfill, for a total of $1.93 million through June. New state water rules require the additional work.