The Kansas Department of Health and Environment made a stop in Lawrence on its annual Listening Tour Thursday night, though few citizens were present to comment or ask questions.

For the five people present and KDHE Secretary Roderick Bremby and the KDHE management team, the evening offered an informal dialogue to learn about the various facets of the agency. KDHE has traveled to several locations this week to discuss health- and environment-related issues and to seek comments from the public as well as business and community partners.

Dan Partridge, director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, inquired how the two departments could collaborate to create a yearly community health profile. It could be done with data already collected by KDHE, he said.

Bremby said one of KDHE’s goals is to make information available at a county level, which would provide a better assessment for communities to help themselves.

Another goal the agency has for 2008 is improving public outreach and “move to an educational role” more than a disciplinary role, Bremby said. He said often KDHE is seen as the “bearer of bad news,” when it finds a person is not complying with a state law.

Bremby said a recurring compliance issue deals with child care. KDHE is responsible for licensing and regulating daycares and preschools. He said it often finds adult caretakers have too many infants in their care.

Emergency preparedness was another issue. John Mitchell, director of the Bureau of Environmental Field Services, said KDHE began staffing employees in disaster sites such as tornado-ravaged Greensburg and post-flood Coffeyville.

“Having staff locally was the best idea,” he said.

Bremby said a software program is almost ready that will help organize medical professionals who wish to volunteer in disasters.

KDHE’s decision to deny permits for two 700-megawatt coal-burning power plants in western Kansas and the criticism Bremby has faced in the aftermath was an issue left untouched.

After the public meeting, Bremby said his next step is to work with industries contributing to greenhouse gas and to create a climate change action plan.

“It’s time to stop the discussion about the harm and let’s talk about what we can build together,” he said.