NORWICH – The Chenango County Public Health Department has received notice from the federal government of the following funds coming the county’s way: $34,000 in stimulus money for obesity prevention and $27,800 from the federal Homeland Security Office to supplement expenses in the case of an H1N1 influenza outbreak.

The regulations for applying both funding streams aren’t specifically spelled out and the county department isn’t sure whether they are to be received as reimbursements or cash up front.

As for the obesity prevention stimulus, Public Health Director Marcas Flindt said, “The regs are so loose it’s unbelievable. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in a grant before.”

Some obesity prevention ideas discussed at a meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday were: funding new walking trails or athletic equipment for youths, providing healthy snacks for schools to distribute to children, supplementing a town’s recreational programs, or affording lifeguards for town pools.