The Richland County commissioners have given the OK for the County Risk Management and Dog Warden’s places of work to use for an Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation grant for a challenge to cut back noise ranges on the county canine shelter. Loss Control Program Coordinator Jenny Phelps and Dog Warden Missy Houghton informed the board on Thursday that the challenge is geared toward lowering stress ranges for each the worker and the dogs.
Phelps stated an industrial hygienist from the BWC performed an evaluation of the noise ranges within the kennel areas in 2019, when there have been a “fraction” of the dogs at present being housed, and decided noise ranges have been over federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration ranges and have been approaching the permissible publicity restrict. Kennel attendants got listening to safety and officers began wanting into methods to cut back the noise.
Another research was finished in November 2023 after the BWC resumed the grant program following COVID and all seven areas sampled have been over motion ranges. Phelps stated ranges typically have been within the vary of excessive 80 to low 90 decibel ranges however under the 100-decibel federal restrict.
Phelps informed the board that whereas the kennel is on the level the place officers may need to have annual listening to assessments for kennel attendants, the BWC is aware of they’re wanting right into a strategy to keep away from the state of affairs. “It’s not a penalty. We’ve not been penalized. Nobody is down our backs, nothing like that. It’s being proactive,” she stated.
Phelps stated the BWC grant will reimburse the county for 75% of the cost of sound-deadening tasks as much as a complete of $40,000. Officials have a quote of $29,207 from Acoustical Systems of Dayton to place acoustical ceiling tiles in the primary kennel and the west wing of the shelter.
Phelps stated officers additionally checked out perforated steel acoustical panels that have been “considerably” dearer, acoustical curtains that could possibly be broken by the dogs and moisture from kennel cleansing and spray-on cellulose that might be troublesome to wash and be susceptible to mould. She stated the fabric from Acoustical Systems is wipeable and washable.
“They’re rated for high moisture environments. We talked about that in depth with the vendors,” Phelps stated.
Officials additionally identified that noise discount within the kennels will profit not solely the staff but additionally the dogs.
“It’s noisy and overwhelming, especially for the dogs that we get in that are already scared,” Houghton stated. “It raises the stress levels in the dogs which impacts their behavior and their overall demeanor. The longer they’re exposed to it, the longer it takes them to decompress from the shelter environment.”
The Richland County Dog Shelter at present homes 99 dogs, which is larger than the quantity final fall however not as little as officers want to see it.
Commissioners agreed to pay the county’s share of the cost with county reinvestment fund {dollars}.
Several county contracts renewed
Commissioners additionally voted Thursday to renew contracts for ground cleansing service, gasoline for county-owned autos and metered mail service.
The board accepted the primary of two doable one-year renewals with Commercial Cleaning Enterprises of Galion for ground cleansing on the courthouse, Park Building, the Longview and upkeep buildings and the Peoples Center. The county spent $51,941 in 2023 beneath the primary 12 months of the contract.
“I think they’ve done a fantastic job on our floors. The shine in them has lasted and I don’t have any issues with them,” stated Central Services Manager Rachael Troyer.
Commissioners additionally renewed a contract with Englefield Oil to supply gasoline and diesel gasoline for county autos, aside from the Engineers’ Department, at a cost of 11 cents lower than posted at Englefield-owned BP/Duke and Duchess shops. Troyer stated the sheriff’s workplace was the most important consumer final 12 months, spending $360,284, adopted intently by Richland Newhope.
Troyre stated the engineer has a bulk tank and buys by way of state buying.
The ultimate renewal was with SunGraphics for bulk mailing providers for county places of work, which incorporates choosing up mail, placing on postage and taking the mail to the submit workplace at a cost of 80 cents for first mail, which incorporates the present cost of 68 cents for a stamp.
“We have looked into the possibility of a mailroom in the past, and the cost and never would have saved us to have that,” Troyer stated.
In different business, commissioners agreed to spend $100,488 in county reinvestment funds to equip and finalize funding for the acquisition of six sheriffs’ cruisers that was approved final 12 months.
