The Jones County Health Department is operating under budget so far this year, but expected cuts has board members looking for more ways to cut expenses.

North Central Health District Director Dr. David Harvey began the Sept. 3 quarterly meeting by stating that the state is short of money and has already issued a 6 percent budget cut to the agency. He said some state employees have been furloughed for one day a month, which is effectively cutting their salaries by 4-1/2 percent.

Raises have been deferred, and the prediction is that departments will be cut an additional 8 to 10 percent next year.

“The major part of our budget is salary, and counties get concerned, especially when things happen like the homestead exemptions being removed,” he said. “Despite the cuts, we are going to do our best to take care of everyone.”

Harvey explained that health departments are being moved from the Department of Human Resources under a restructuring of the agency by a task force appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Health departments will be placed under a new Department of Health, which will be under the Department of Community Health.

Four-day week

The director also talked about departments going to a four-day workweek.

“We are also looking at services that provide revenue, and the 10-hour days could attract more people. We have to keep up production, but we are willing to let any department try the new schedule,” Harvey said.

The director said the current schedule or four-day week both involve keeping the centers open 40 hours and will not save on utilities.

“We think it will give our employees a break and pick up more clients with the extended hours,” he said.

Harvey said the new hours will be advertised at the heath department and in the newspaper. He said the extended hours will begin in October.

Environmental report

Floyd Comer presented the environmental health report for the past quarter. He said Jones County has had 13 fewer well permits and 80 fewer septic permits than for the previous year.

“Due to this we have not hired another environmentalist. I’m able to keep up with the restaurant inspections, but I have cut down the frequency to two times a year,” he said.

Comer said he would like to do the inspections three times a year, but that is not possible. He did say, however, that the schools and nursing homes will be inspected three times a year because he considers them the most highly susceptible populations.

David Blankenship of the North Central Health District said twice a year is the state minimum for restaurant inspections.

Nursing director Goldie Hicks said the Jones County department has been working on day care and kindergarten immunization audits. She said the next project is the flu campaign, and that usually begins in October.

Hicks reported that Jones County Emergency Management Director Allan Green, who is also the county’s pandemic flu chairman, recently received pandemic flu kits. She said the kits, which would be used in the case of an outbreak of an infectious disease, will be housed at Green’s office and are on wheels so they can be mobile.

Linda Harrell presented the financial report for the agency and said it is in good shape. She said department members are watching the budget, which is currently $15,089 over in revenue.

Harrell reported that the Jones County staff would like to try the four-day work schedule and is working out the details. The new schedule will be implemented beginning the week of Oct. 6, and the hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. She said during weeks that have a holiday, the remaining four days will revert to an eight-hour schedule.

Comer said he will not be joining the other department members in the four-day work week.

“Contractors don’t work four days, and if someone has a problem, environmental health has to be there,” he said.

Board member Preston Hawkins asked if being off on Monday would work better for him than Friday.

“Mondays and Fridays are our two busiest days,” Comer said.



Board members voted in favor of the change in schedule, and Jim LeBrun suggested looking at the way the schedule is working at the next board meeting.

“We need to make sure revenue is not falling off,” he said.

Flu shots

District representative Carol Tanner reported that some schools in the North Central District are dispersing flu vaccines to elementary children under the Vaccines for Children program. She asked if Jones County would be interested, and LeBrun explained that the county has three Title One schools with a total of 1,300 children.

Tanner said the nasal mist appears to be the choice for the campaign, but that many children would require additional personnel to administer the vaccine.

Harvey said it would be possible to pick one of the three schools for a pilot program, but Tanner said it would be difficult to get the project ready and suggested it be considered next year.

“You may not have time this year. That will give you the opportunity to see what happens in the other counties,” she said, and added that the flu vaccine is plentiful this year and should cost between $25 or $30.

LeBrun said the school systems could help this year by distributing a flyer about the benefits of getting a flu shot.