Telepharmacy is a 'go' in Winfield

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? Good news outweighed the bad news at the July 13 Winfield City Council meeting.

Mayor Chris Finnell told council members that the Telepharmacy is a go and Windstream is adding extending fiber optic lines into the community.

On the flip side, the council learned that the swimming pool at the Twin Lake Recreation Area needs substantial repair work soon.

The Telepharmacy will be located in the building formerly housed by Paul Revere Pizza, Finnell said, but gave no date as to when it would be opening.

?I did a lot of research (on the Telepharmacy) and I believe it to be legit?I felt the (community?s) risk was fairly minimal,? the mayor said.

Winfield will have the first Telepharmacy in southeastern Iowa and Finnell said Wayland is also considering a Telepharmacy. New London discussed a Telepharmacy but opted not to proceed.

The Telepharmacy will be staffed by a pharmacy technician who will fill the prescription and take a photo of the pills and labeling and send it to a registered pharmacist for approval. There will also be a video hookup for the customer to have a private consultation with the pharmacist.

Finnell said he has discussed expanding the Winfield clinic, operated by the Henry County Health Center, from three to five days and said he ?feels good? about the clinic?s hours being expanded.

It?s a ?win-win? situation, he said, referring to the Telepharmacy. Their community investment is much more than ours. I am really excited about it and support it because I feel it could be a big win for Winfield.?

The city and the Winfield Betterment Group made a $50,000 investment in securing the pharmacy. However, 25 percent of the profits from the business will be returned to the city. Finnell said Telepharmacy officials are projecting a five-year payoff, but Winfield will continue receiving 25 percent of the profits for as long as the pharmacy operates in the community.

Regarding the fiber optic lines being installed by Windstream, Finnell said it might be time to consider running fiber through the business section.

?Some businesses are complaining about slow internet,? he said. ?I think it would make a big difference.?

Representatives from Twin Lake told the council that the pool at the country club is 50 years old and showing its age. The 25-year-old pump needs replacing at a cost of $4,000-$7,000. That?s just a start, one official said. ?If we want to keep the pool open, basically we have to put money into everything above ground,? the Twin Lake representative noted.

Grant funds may be available to help fund the repairs, the council said. Council members want to keep a swimming pool in the community and a future meeting may be scheduled between the council and the Twin Lake board of directors.

Finnell also had high praise for the Winfield Public Library and its summer reading program.

?The library is doing a fantastic job with the summer reading program. It is a real positive program,? Finnell praised.

He said the program attracted 180 participants this year, ranging in age from 0-100. However, only 35 percent of the participants completed the program and the library is going to strive for a better completion rate next year.

?I am very proud of our librarian,? Finnell remarked.

After considerable discussion, the council approved fiscal 2016 salary increases for city employees. The council had budgeted a 3-percent increase for workers, but instead, gave a 44-cent per-hour increases for full-time employees and 55 cents per hour for part-time employees.

Council member Jan Towne noted that the city offers full family health-insurance coverage including a self-insured program for workers. The premium will be increasing by $545 next year or 1.43 percent, she said. ?The school only pays the single premium for health insurance and very few companies provide full family coverage,? Towne pointed out.

Larry and Sue Roedruck visited with the council about flooding at the intersection of Huntsberry and Pine streets. The couple said they thought a pipe might be plugged and the repair should not be difficult or costly. Council members said they would direct city workers to take a look at the problem.

Final action saw the council:

? Being informed that two council seats and the mayor?s position will be on the ballot in November. Candidates may gain nomination papers from the city clerk and the filing period is between Aug. 24 and Sept. 17.

? Approved a bid from Nutri-Ject Systems for more aerators at the city sanitation sewer plant. A total of 8-10 aerators will be added at a total cost of $7,700.

? Learned that the bid for this year?s sidewalk program is $19.20 per linear foot. Under terms of the city sidewalk program, the city and property owner each pay 50 percent of the cost of the new sidewalk.

Winfield council members meet again in regular session Monday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. in City Hall.