The Clinton County Council finally received a long-awaited report on the Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Tuesday morning. ADA Task Force Council Representative Jake Myers said the report is basically what they expected.
“It’s a very lengthy report,” said Myers. “We just got a brief overview of what’s going to go on in the county over the next few years. The biggest thing is that on any improvements we’ve got to be ADA compliant.”
Comprised of five major parts, or “titles”, the ADA’s stated purpose was to provide a “clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” It is estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau that over 50 million U.S. residents have a disability, and over 50 percent of senior citizens age 65 or older have a disability.”
The report also states that in performing this self-evaluation, only areas open to the public were assessed at the following County-owned or leased facilities where County programs/services are provided, including County Courthouse, Sheriff Office/Jail facility, County Parkview Home, Extension Office, Health Department, Highway Department, Fairgrounds, EMA/Coroner, EMS, Hospital (exterior site only), Soil and Water Conservation District, Community Corrections and Doan Building.
The probable cost to fix these facilities is listed as $539,530. The county is also responsible for sidewalks and curb ramps in the Brickridge Subdivision, as well as Hillisburg, Scircleville, Forest and Sedalia. This would be an additional cost of $403,220.
“To see the numbers finally is a little staggering,” said Myers.
The county does have 20 years to complete the program. Myers said he thinks work will start in some form on the courthouse and fairgrounds this year.
“We’ll do what we can financially,” said Myers.
This report will be discussed at the next Clinton County Commissioners meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, January 16.
The County Council is considering establishing councilmatic committees like the City of Frankfort currently has.
“We’ve never had that,” said County Council President Alan Dunn. “We’ve had more of an ad-hoc committee structure where when as issue comes up that needs to have a committee address it we appoint a committee at that time. They deal with it at that time and the committee more or less dissolves.
“i’d like to get some standing committees going as a way to develop some leadership opportunities for council members,” Dunn added.
Dunn was also selected to another one-year term as president of the Council. Jeff Chynoweth was named vice president.