MONTICELLO — The county's Public Health Services is very busy this summer as they work on measles prevention.

In May the county adopted a Public Health Order that requires all children and staff at local summer camps to be vaccinated against measles. The order went into effect immediately and lasts until September 15.

“We've been very busy with measles response planning and the clinics are on a weekly basis now,” Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said on Thursday. “We're also sending out staff to various locations in the county.”

She told the legislators during the Health and Family Services committee meeting at the Government Center that her department has three Centers for Disease Control staff members and two State Health Department staff members on site assisting them.

In addition, the State Health Dept. sent down a team and reviewed about 42 camps. McGraw said the county will put together a team and go out to the remaining camps - around 120 - to review immunization records.

“We had a visit from the State Health Commissioner last week, and we went out and visited three camps with Refuah Health Center. We spoke with and met with about 35-40 rabbis, and we really believe that most of our camps are in pretty good shape in terms of their immunization status, so we continue to work on that,” McGraw said.

On July 3 Public Health Services held their annual camp meeting in partnership with the New York State Health Department District Office and the Jewish Camp Association. “Every year we present on common issues they need to be aware of like rabies and Lyme disease, but obviously the hot topic was measles prevention,” McGraw said.

DPW gives update on recent projects

Division of Public Works Commissioner Ed McAndrew gave a brief presentation to Sullivan County legislators on Thursday during the Public Works Committee meeting.

The county is busy with several projects underway, including work on roads, bridges and other construction.

“We're working all across the county with a number of different crews,” McAndrew said.

Now that the water line to the new Sullivan County Jail has been installed, a crew from the County's Division of Public Works was repaving Jefferson Street between the Government Center and Route 17B this past Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10. Paving is now complete.

Future projects

Sullivan County's Division of Public Works will conduct a public informational meeting to discuss the proposed replacement of a culvert on Eldred-Yulan Road/County Route 33 that is approximately 550 feet west of the intersection of Eldred-Yulan Road/CR 33 and Route 55 (CR 11).

The meeting will be held at the Highland Town Hall located at 4 Proctor Road in Eldred on Tuesday, July 23, from 7-9 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to obtain comments from interested parties and adjacent landowners related to the proposed project and to discuss environmental and traffic concerns.

This project is funded through the BridgeNY program. Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC, under contract with the county, is currently developing plans for this project in conjunction with NYS Department of Transportation requirements.

The project work being considered involves the removal and replacement of the existing concrete box culvert and replacement with a similar precast concrete structure. Planning and design work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019, with anticipated construction starting in the spring of 2020.

Should any attendee require a sign language interpreter or assistive listening system, or for any other questions or concerns, please contact Robert L. Trotta, PE, Sullivan County Division of Public Works, at 845-807-0278, at least seven days before the meeting.

DPW recently began a series of roadwork projects in Livingston Manor.

DPW workers will then turn their attention to County Route 149 (Main Street) in downtown Livingston Manor on Wednesday, July 17. Milling that day may lead to significant traffic and parking disruptions along the length of Main Street, first from CR 179 (Old Route 17) to Pearl Street, then down to Finch Street. Milling will continue through Friday, July 19. Main Street will then be repaved on Monday, July 22. (The above dates are all weather-dependent.)

This work will be done as expeditiously as possible, so as to minimize the impact to local businesses and residents. However, especially on the 17th and 22nd, the roadwork may disrupt traffic to a significant degree.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to repair and repave roads across the county,” stated District 7 Legislator Joe Perrello, chair of the Legislature's Public Works Committee. “Our employees are sensitive to the complexities involved, and we appreciate the public's patience and cooperation while we undertake this necessary and important roadwork.”

Sullivan County Public Health staff and County officials continue to collaborate with NYS Dept. of Health investigators regarding a confirmed case of measles outside of Monticello. No further measles cases have been confirmed at the location. Sullivan County has had 14 confirmed measles cases this year to date, all of which are no longer contagious. County and State health officials continue to actively monitor and respond to any suspected cases as they arise.