More than $81,000 is coming to Mower County for child and teen checkup administrative services next year.

The Mower County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement between the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Mower County Public Health at Tuesday's meeting.

Margene Gunderson, public health director, received the commissioners' approval for the request as well as their approval for a $6,684 grant agreement between the county and the state DHS for immunization registry.

Ruth Lumley, a public health nurse, also got the commissioners' endorsement of revisions to the county's infection control/tuberculosis policy.

According to Lumley, the revisions were needed to reduce the risk of occupational exposure to tuberculosis.

Garry Ellingson, 5th District county commissioner, said the policy is already in place in the Mower County Sheriff's Department to protect, among others, deputies and jail detention officers.

Among the policy's provisions are a thorough tuberculosis symptoms checklist.

Gunderson also won the commissioners' support for a letter to Congressman Gil Gutknecht, urging him to support an appropriations bill that sends public health funds to agencies throughout the nation.

County Board chairman, Len Miller, 4th District, agreed to sign a proclamation for "Let's Talk Month" in October.

The public awareness effort encourages parents and youths to open lines of communication on health matters of mutual concern.

Lastly, Gunderson delivered community health assessment survey forms to each county commissioner and requested their attention to the information-gathering effort.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com