On Tuesday, the St. Louis County Council will begin its weekly meeting at a new time to discuss legislation dealing with health and public safety.
The County Council will now start its meeting at 6:30 p.m. instead of the original 6:00 time after Councilman Mark Harder’s legislation was passed.
According to Harder, the 30 minute delay will allow more St. Louis County residents the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions at the council meetings. Harder said constituents often complain that because of the original 6:00 p.m. starting time, it was difficult to make it to the meeting.
One of the bills to be heard on final passage is Councilman Sam Page’s legislation that would authorize St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger to accept a grant from the Deaconess Foundation for $162,188 to go towards the support of the Pediatric Outreach Program.
Dr. Faisal Khan, the director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, said the purpose of this legislation is for the Department of Public Health workers to conduct outreach in schools and work with school officials to design unique behavioral health programs to meet student needs in order to reduce behavioral challenges for disadvantaged youth in the region.
In addition to that bill, a piece of legislation that would allow the county to accept a grant that would help implement an evidence-based STI and HIV prevention service across the St. Louis Region will also be heard on Tuesday.
Another bill that will be introduced at the meeting would allow the director of Public Health to authorize a contract with Abbott Ambulance, Inc. to provide medical and emergency transport services for the Buzz Westfall Justice Center and the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center.
The contract is for one year with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms as long as the contract doesn’t exceed $400,000 per year.