Shelby safety committee update covers grant, inspections, health, more
By David Jacobs
City Councilman Derrin Roberts, chairman of Shelby council's Safety Committee, delivered a wide-ranging public safety update during Monday's City Council meeting, highlighting new funding, health inspections, and the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Mike Thompson.
Shelby’s Fire Department received a $4,161 grant from the Ohio Division of EMS to purchase non-disposable supplies.
“They got to use that money, that money’s got to be spent by Dec. 31st,” Roberts said.
Fire hydrant flushing and flow tests are scheduled to begin July 14 through the street department, weather permitting.
Roberts also noted Chief Thompson's retirement soon. "His last day and shift at the station will be on the 31st of July and the last official day is (Aug.) 12th,” Roberts said.
He relayed a message from the chief: “He wanted to thank council, administration, City, fire department staff, family, and citizens for all the help and support through the years. He greatly appreciates everything that we got accomplished together — fire station, vehicles — so thank you.”
On police matters, Roberts reported an upcoming civil service meeting on July 10.
In public health updates, seasonal complaints and inspections continue. “We had five animal bite complaints. This is the time of year we get nuisance complaints, and the health department’s been dealing with that,” he also said.
The Shelby City Health Department has also inspected manufactured home lots in town and conducted separate inspections of food trailers during the recent downtown car show, Roberts said.
With Shelby Bicycle Days approaching on July 11-12, Roberts said inspections will continue.
Shelby’s new director of nursing and health education, Nikki Webster, has begun community outreach.
“She’s taking the first month or so to meet different people and let everybody know who she is around town,” he said of Webster.
A recent COVID-19 outbreak was reported at a local nursing home and was controlled, Roberts said.
Mosquito season response is underway with trapping, spraying, and monitoring active.
Roberts closed with vital statistics from the latest reporting period. “Thirty-one birth certificates presented and 25 death certificates,” he said, adding that a new reporting system “will help take care of those birth certificates and make everything more streamlined.”
The update was delivered at the council’s regular meeting on July 7. The safety committee met five days earlier.
