The Jones County Board of Health had its final quarterly meeting of 2025 in December with three new restaurants added to the inspection list.
Board Chairman Ed Barbee led the Dec. 3 meeting for the final time as his second and final term as chairman concluded with the meeting.
With no new or old business on the agenda, the reports began with Environmental Health Specialist Maggie Graham. She reported the county has 73 permitted food service facilities, and 18 of them were inspected during the quarter.
Graham said Wendys, Slim Chickens and Sippin’ & Grazin’ were added. She also talked about the number of permits and inspections of wells and septic systems.
Graham said revenue was down for the quarter, but invoices were mailed, and an increase should follow.
Nursing director Judy McChargue introduced Jones County’s new nursing manager, Chassidy Harper. The manager said the numbers were down with only one nurse seeing patients, but a new nurse had been hired Dec. 1.
“It will take six to eight months for her training, but she can start providing services as it goes,” Harper said.
She reported that 180 vaccinations for school-based flu had been given. The manager said they are seeing more hesitancy toward vaccines since COVID-19.
NCHD Director Dr. Kim Cook asked McChargue the number of religious exemptions for vaccines. She later responded that the percentage in 2021 was 1.34 precent but in 2024 the percentage had grown to 6.11 percent.
Finance officer Sylvia Woodford presented the financial update for the quarter ending Oct. 31. She said total of revenues was $232,550 and the total expenditures $256,511. The cash in the bank was $421,112.
Woodford also gave a report of the financial audit for the fiscal year. She said Jones County’s net position had improved, but it is still recovering from the renovations.
The officer did report the county had a clean audit, and income had increased.
Director’s report
Cook talked about the Department of Public Health Home Visiting Program that was almost ready to get underway.
The program is grant funded and provides services by public health department nurses and trained staff to expectant mothers. The home visiting service is from pregnancy until the first year of the baby’s life,at no cost to patients or providers. The program focuses on assisting pregnant women with high-risk conditions or risk factors that increase the likelihood of poor pregnancy outcomes.
Cook said a program manager had been selected and one nurse and health technician hired.
The director said he was hopeful they would be ready to start taking clients soon. They have one more public health nurse to hire and are contacting obstetrician offices for patient referrals.
Cook said the program has been well received in other districts.
The director said flu season is here, and according to public health tracing, the district level is low to minimum but rising.
He said there was a single case of meningitis reported in a nearby county. The patient has been treated and did very well.
“Public health followed the case. Fortunately, it is not easily contracted, and no other cases have been reported,” Cook said.
At the conclusion of the reports, Barbee stated he had enjoyed his terms as chairman and the opportunities the position had provided. He said the vice chairman would step into the role at the next meeting, and new officers would need to be selected.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
The next Board of Health meeting is scheduled March 4 at 5:30 p.m.
