Scott County ranks well in access to health care
BENTON -- When compared with other rural counties, Scott County is doing well with health care but not so well with crime and paychecks.
Joel Evans, county developer, reported during Tuesday's regular County Commission meeting on the Southeast Missouri economic conference he attended Friday.
During the conference, Dr. Bruce Domazlicky, director of the Center for Economic and Business Research at Southeast Missouri State University, presented the research results of a comparison of 81 non-metropolitan counties, according to Evans.
In comparing access to health care, "Scott County was very strong in population per position," Evans said. Scott County was ranked 11 as compared with the Southeast Missouri index of 41.4. "With that indicator, the lower the number the better," he explained.
One of the county's significant weaknesses -- one it shares with Cape Girardeau -- is a higher-than-average crime rate, Evans reported.
"We also had a very low per capita income," he said. Cape Girardeau, Evans said, was rated No. 1 in per capita income.
In other business Tuesday:
* Evans reported the estimated cost for a sound reinforcement system for the main courtroom at the courthouse.
Circuit Judge David Dolan has noted acoustics in this courtroom are poor, according to Evans, making it hard for observers to hear.
The estimated cost for "a pretty extensive system" Evans checked on is less than estimated a few years ago, Burger noted.
* Nancy Howland, library director for the Riverside Regional Library, presented her annual report "on what's happening with the Riverside branches in Scott County."
"Everything is going really well," Howland said.
* Marshia Morton, captain of Scott County Search and Rescue K-9 Unit, reported on equipment purchased for the unit's trailer with assistance from the county.
* A group of Oran students will tour county government Monday, according to Evans.
"It's at the request of Kristy Unger, principal of Oran Elementary," he said. "It's the second year they've come. They come do a tour of each of the offices. They'll also tour the sheriff's office and the jail."