The Harvey County Health Department asked the county commission to approve submission of its federal fiscal year 2026 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) grant application and to authorize the department director to sign, and commissioners approved the request.

Health Department Director Lynette Reddington told the commission the program serves "at least 551 individuals" monthly and the department is seeking $245,280 for staff salaries, fringe, required contracts and direct program costs. The WIC program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, she said.

Reddington also presented a 2025 midyear update to the department fee schedule. She said vaccine cost changes led to several line-item adjustments: the highest increase was an RSV infant vaccine (under 11 pounds) that rose $53; one meningitis B brand decreased by $34. The department will post the updated fees and continue filing insurance claims for services when applicable, Reddington said.

Commissioners approved a motion to submit the WIC application and to authorize the health department director to sign the application. They also approved the midyear fee schedule changes.

Reddington and county staff discussed logistics: the health department recently relocated to the second floor of the Pine Street Building and remains open while staff finish moving and unpacking. Reddington said the department uses state-supplied vaccine stock when available, bills private insurance where applicable, and maintains cold-chain capacity — including a generator — that helped protect vaccines during last week’s power outage.

The commission took no additional action beyond approving the application submission and fee schedule update.