Hardin County public health announces free CPR, STI testing and safety services; county notes new vehicle title fees

A public-health representative for Hardin County briefed supervisors on expanded local services and training opportunities and urged residents to use them.

"We have free CPR classes to anybody who lives in or works in Hardin County," the public-health representative said during the meeting, describing classes where students pay only for the certification card. The county also will distribute free gun locks and condoms, and—new this season—Hardin County Public Health said it can provide free testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis for uninsured or low-income residents.

The presenter said antibiotics and treatment are available through a state contract that covers costs for eligible residents. The county remains a certified site for child passenger safety-seat checks, and staff noted programs such as WIC, a stop-the-bleed kit and training, and 'darkness to light' abuse-prevention programming for nonprofit partner organizations. The public-health representative also described outreach—assisting neighboring Webster County with seat checks—and encouraged grandparents and caregivers to check car seats for proper fit and expiration.

Board members and presenters also discussed training opportunities: an EMT class beginning Jan. 16 with gap funding available, and a firefighter training course starting Jan. 13 that is roughly 140 hours and runs two evenings per week through April; organizers said space is limited and instructed interested people to show up on opening night at 6 p.m.

Separately, a county official announced changes to motor-vehicle fees that took effect Jan. 1 under new state legislation. The title-transfer fee increased by $10 (from $25 to $35); lien-processing fees rose from $10 to $20; and the road-use tax remains 5% of the purchase price plus the state fee. The official told the board the additional $10 per title will be retained by counties and could help local revenue, but also cautioned that the ability of residents to complete title transfers in any county and possible dealer behavior could alter impacts for small counties.

The board did not take formal action on the fee announcement at the meeting; the notice was informational and intended to alert residents and county staff to the change.

What happens next: public-health programs are available through the county public-health office; EMT and firefighter training registration details were provided at the meeting. County staff will monitor the fiscal impact of the new title-transfer fee retention when local receipts are reported.