The City of Lima and the West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) get the word out about removing dangerous lead from people's homes. They hosted a panel discussion called "Let's Talk Lead" to help inform the public about the different programs that are out there to help remove lead paint that can be found in homes built before 1978. Lima tests its water regularly, and there have not been any dangers of lead in the water. Officials say that's because the pipes have been lined with protective material, but there is funding available to replace lead service lines that connect homes to the public water.
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People are learning the proper techniques to remove lead from homes, which could turn into a future business for them. CleanAir RX was teaching a class to people going after a federal certificate for lead abatement to become a Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) contractor. If you are not certified, you can face large fines if you remove lead paint from a home. Besides learning the rules, the participants got some hands-on training to properly remove lead paint from a home. With the certificate, there are a variety of avenues that people can explore.
Area residents getting educated on the issue of lead in Allen County homes and what they can do to help. The NAACP held a training session on Friday, showing people what steps to take in order to get their lead abatement license. The class was led by Keith Lockhart, a liaison and contractor for the Ohio Department of Development. Those with a lead abatement license will be certified to properly inspect and remove lead from homes in materials like paint on walls and in window frames. Lead has been shown to cause a long list of health problems.
Governor Mike DeWine says Ohio's Department of Medicaid has received federal approval for its plan to enhance and expand Medicaid's lead abatement program. DeWine said in a release on Tuesday that the Children's Health Insurance Program initiative was recently approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He says that means Medicaid dollars can be used in "more meaningful ways" to abate lead in homes.