The Jones County Board of Health took another step toward fee increases for environmental services as well as listening to the usual quarterly reports at their September meeting.
Board Chairman Ed Barbee called the Sept. 25 meeting to order. The meeting had been postponed from Sept. 4 in order to have a quorum of its members present.
The first order of business after the approval of past meeting’s minutes was Old Business, which consisted of the fees. Environmental Specialist Maggie Graham stated a public hearing was held July 26, and no comments about the fee increase was heard. The fee increase was approved by Board of Health members at their June 5 meeting.
Graham said, based on the outcome of the public hearing, she asked for approval for the final step in the process, presenting the increase to the Board of Commissioners for approval.
Her request to present the increase to the commissioners was unanimously approved.
At the June 5 meeting, Graham explained the reason for the fee increase. She said septic and water fees had not increased since 2010, and Jones County is trying to align with other counties.
The specialist said time and equipment studies were being done statewide, and the increase was not to make a profit. The intent is to cover the cost of the services.
The spreadsheet provided to board members included the actual cost of providing the service, an amount equaling 65 percent of the actual cost, the current fee charged by Jones County, the district average fee and the suggested new fee.
For example, the current fee for a site evaluation for a new septic system is $250. The actual cost of the service is $404 with 65 percent of that cost being $263. The suggest new fee is $265.
The fee for the evaluation of a new water system is currently $100. The actual cost to provide the service is $233 with 65 percent of that cost being $151. The suggested new fee is $150.00.
Graham said she calculated that the increase over the past year using the new fees would have added $5,270 in income.
Reports
At the conclusion of Old Business, there was no new business, and Barbee moved on to reports.
Graham was the first to report. She said Jones County now has 57 food services and nine schools to inspect. She said new restaurants are Surcheros, Dominos, Ribs-R-Us and Cone Crazy on Main.
“Food service complaints are down, and inspections are up,” she said.
The specialist said the septic permits and installs are up.
“People are building new homes,” she added.
With that, she said permits for new wells have also increased.
Graham said revenues are up.
She said the septic complaints that have been received are mostly in one area.
Nursing Director Sherry Bryant said her report is not impressive, but the income for the quarter had increased. She said they had started the schoolbased flu project at the elementary schools, but the numbers are not good.
“We don’t know the reason. We advertised,” Bryant said.
She said the next sites are Jones County High School, the middle schools and head start.
The director added that they are scheduled to give the vaccinations at the courthouse and the board office.
Bryant said they are seeing more interest in the prep and preexposure HIV medications.
“That’s a great thing,” she noted.
Sylvia Woodford presented the finance report for the quarter ending July 31. She said the total revenues were $40,471 and expenditures were $63,272. She pointed out that left a deficit of $22,800.
The total cash in the bank as of July 31 was $228,737.
Woodford said reimbursements are expected from the state for COLA merit increases.
“We did ask the county for more money but were not successful. We will need a budget revision midyear,” she said.
Interim District Director Dr. Thomas Craft spoke via Zoom.
He reminded the group that it was respiratory and viral season.
“We need to push flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines,” he said.
Craft said the new COVID-19 vaccine was now available and was more protective. He said the state legislative sessions were coming up, and they were reaching out to present items.
The director said the day had been overrun with storm preparations.
“Kudos to the district team for doing all they can to prepare. Water and wind will be the biggest impacts,” he said.
The next meeting of the Jones County Board of Health is scheduled Dec. 4.
