The Jones County Board of Health approved next year’s budget and granted a waiver for repairs of a septic system at an older home at its quarterly meeting.
Board Chairman Ed Barbee called the June 4 meeting to order. There was no Old Business on the agenda, and the septic system waiver was the first item of New Business.
Environmental Specialist Margaret Graham said repairs of the system began in January. She said the home has existed since 1966 and has the original septic system. A soil study was done, and the waiver is to allow a drain field replacement used with the existing system.
Board member Chris Weidner made the motion to approve the waiver, and the vote in favor was unanimous.
Graham gave the county environmental report. She said the county has 67 food service facilities and nine food trucks. The specialist said they are working with the new restaurant Osaka that is preparing to open, and construction is set to begin on Slim Chickens restaurant. Graham said Trinabells recently opened.
The county has four hotels and two pools that require inspections. She said this quarter there were 15 food inspections conducted. She said the permits for both wells and septic systems have gone up this quarter.
Nursing Director Sherry Bryant reported that the number of program services have gone up in 2025.
Syliva Woodford presented the financial report and the FY2026 proposed budget. The estimated budget is in the amount of $842,304. The budget amount is approximately $88,000 less than the current actual budget.
Weidner made the motion to approve the FY2026 budget, and it was unanimously approved.
Woodford went on to the budget ending April 30, which is 83 percent of the FY2025 budget. She said the total revenues are $702,660 and total expenses $774,556.98.
The cash in the bank as of April 30 was $262,727.14.
North Central Health District Director Dr. Thomas Craft shared district updates. He said there is a new Public Health Committee for the state. Five state representatives make up the committee whose purpose is to look for ways to help public health due to federal cuts.
The committee chairman is Rep. Darlene Taylor, and the other members are Rep. Matt Hatchett, Rep. Butch Parrish, Rep. Dexter Sharper and Rep. Angie O’Steen.
Craft said the DPH staff cannot lobby the committee, but board members can if asked.
The director said flu season is over, and it was the worst in 15 years.
“The peak lasted several weeks. There were 165 confirmed flu-related deaths, which is higher than usual,” he said.
Craft suggested encouraging flu shots, especially for the elderly and those with health risks. He stated that measles are still a problem. The United States had two pediatric deaths and one adult death. He said vaccination rates are low and pointed out that all the deaths occurred in people not vaccinated.
“The Macon District had no measle cases, but it only takes one to be a tremendous impact to school systems. We need to encourage vaccinations,” the director said.
He went on to say pertussis is a concern in children, and it is also a danger to pregnant women. Craft again encouraged vaccinations.
The director announced this would be his last meeting as NCHD interim director. He said a new director for the district has been hired.
Barbee thanked Craft for his leadership, and Bryant added an additional thank you.
With no more business, the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the Jones County Board of Health is Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
