Gates County approves up to $7,819.44 from fund balance to buy Lions Club vision screener

The Gates County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to provide up to $7,819.44 from county fund balance to support the Gates County Lions Club’s purchase of a PlusOptix S2 vision screener.

At a presentation to the board, Lions volunteers Jennifer Samper and Lindsey Vick said the device would allow the club to expand free, early vision screenings for local children, including preschool and elementary students. “We are respectfully requesting the board's consideration and support for the purchase of a Plus Optics S2 vision screener for our county,” Samper told commissioners.

The presenters described training club members have already completed to operate the device, and outlined screening plans for Head Start, pre-K, school nurses and community events. The Lions emphasized that the equipment would supplement, not replace, professional eye exams and that screening results would prompt referrals to eye-care providers when necessary.

Commissioners asked about county coordination with schools and the number of eye-care providers within Gates County. Presenters said there are no in-county eye doctors and that the device would help identify refractive problems early. After brief discussion a commissioner moved to fund the full quoted amount and then amended the motion to specify the money would come from general fund balance; the motion to move $7,819.44 from fund balance was seconded and approved by a unanimous show-of-hands vote.

The board directed staff to bring a budget amendment for formal appropriation and inclusion in the minutes at the next meeting. The chair noted the Lions Club also organizes the county’s annual Christmas parade and thanked volunteers for their community work.

The county will post the budget-amendment item on the agenda for a future meeting to finalize the appropriation.