MENTZ - Federal stimulus money will soon fund health care services for the Port Byron Health Center, a component of the Finger Lakes Migrant Health Community Health Care Project, Inc.

Mary Riley, front desk receptionist at the Port Byron facility, informed the Mentz Town Board Tuesday night that $1.17 million was awarded for two years initially and then will be ongoing as long as the center continues to provide services based on Federal Community Health Center guidelines.

Riley said a subsidizing fee scale would be implemented, allowing a discounted rate of $30 for dental work.

“People coming to the center will receive the same care as those who have health insurance,” Riley said.

A regular dental hygenist, an oral surgeon and a case worker will be there more once the building is expanded to allow four medical examination rooms instead of the two now being used, along with a triage room and a lab for dental services.

“The building is probably going to double in size,” Riley said.

They hope to start the expansion in the summer or early fall.

“We are also partnering with Cayuga Counseling,” she said. “Money will go to serve all the patients in the building.”

Mentz owns the building where the center is located and there are plans to secure additional funding to expand the physical space to allow more patient services. The town will be a partner in the project as it moves forward.

Included in the grant is a one-time line item of $71,000 to buy medical, dental, and office equipment previously requested, according to Mary Zelazny, executive director of the project, centered in Penn Yan.

The Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care will provide the grant money. The project now receives federal funds to serve farmworkers and will now have funds to provide services to all community patients as well. Besides the Port Byron Health Center, the Finger Lakes Migrant Health Community Health Care Project includes clinics in Sodus and Geneva.

In other news:

#&149; The Haiti Bridge project is moving along. Next week, engineers will be at the site testing for pylons with a big rig.

#&149; The snow plow will be repaired rather than buying a new one, as the truck it's attached to is also wearing out. The town will try to make the plow last as long as the truck by welding some of the repairs.

#&149; Buildings and grounds will be cleaned and painted with the help of county inmates. The board will contact Sgt. Butler at the sheriff's office to make arrangements.

#&149; A concession stand in the middle of the ballfield needs to be moved this week while the ground is still frozen. The town and village also need to discuss removing a fence in order to create off-street parking on Green Street.

#&149; A contract for Barton and Loguidice to monitor the old landfill was proposed at the same fee as last year - $4,800.

#&149; The town's Web site is almost done. It now contains announcements, town board minutes, ZBA minutes. Planning board minutes will also be included. Residents can log on to: townofmentz.com. A possible geneological link was discussed for accessing the town's vital statistics.

#&149; Board members made a list of objectives for 2009 including: a dog census, upgrading the cemetery, completing the surveying of the rest of the town's property, auditing of town equipment and an inventory of where it is warehoused along with who is in charge of it. Also, painting the salt shed, cleaning the fence around the ballfield, long-range planning for a recreational field, shared services with school, other towns, and the village; a multi-year financial plan, and Owasco River maintenance. The board will prioritize the list at its next meeting.

#&149; Heritage Day made a profit of $615 at its Valentine's Day event. A bake sale for March 20, a plant sale on May 9 and a picnic basket raffle on July 4 are scheduled.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net