MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Health approved two contracts to promote smoking cessation at its meeting Monday night. The contracts, one with Barnes Advertising for $2,945 for a series of billboards and the other with I-Conn Productions for $4,000 for audio and video spots were made possible by the tobacco funds grant.
“These both come from the tobacco grant,” said Pam Palm promotions director. “One of the things the Ohio Department of Health has wanted us to do is create some video and audio spots. We will be using four local persons who have stopped smoking or are attempting to quit to speak about quitting.”
The video will be run on the health department’s web site as well as the Mount Vernon News’ website and other local outlets. The audio will be used for radio spots on local stations.
The billboards, which are still being designed, will be on U.S. 62 near Danville, Ohio 13 near Fredericktown and on Harcourt Road.
The board also approved a contract for up to $5,000 to Derr Design for redesign of the department’s website.
Fiscal Officer Linette Vance reported on some of the small changes in the 2011 permanent appropriations. She said there is some extra money available if needed for the purchase of computers, software and replacement of dental equipment.
“The budget will meet all of our needs for 2011,” she said. “We will do some necessary server upgrades and [increase] storage capacity and dental equipment. As far as computer software, we will get GIS software.”
Environmental Health Director Stuart Lentz noted the GIS software will be useful to accurately map sewer and water projects and could be used to map contagious disease clusters.
