The Jones County Board of Health had its quarterly meeting March 4 with a new chairman and board member.
The meeting was called to order by new Board of Health Chairman Leslie Coleman, who previously served as vice chairman. According to the minutes of the meeting, board members voted to appoint Joni Milner as vice chairman.
New business
Jones County School Superintendent Dr.
Jessica Graves was sworn in as a new member of the board.
Carlela Green gave an introduction to the Perinatal Home Visiting Program for high-risk mothers during their pregnancy until the first year of their baby’s life.
The program is at no cost to the patients or providers.
The state program focuses on assisting pregnant women with conditions or risk factors that increase the likelihood of poor pregnancy outcomes.
The number of the Jones County Health Department for more information about the program is 478-9863164. The Health Department is located at 114 Forest St. in Gray, behind the Jones County Library.
Reports
Neal Modi presented the Environmental report. Jones County has 71 restaurants with Slim Chickens and Wendy’s added since the previous meeting. The number of food inspections during the quarter was 47.
Modi said new septic permits were down from 29 in 2025 with 22 in 2026. Septic inspections were also down from 27 in 2025 and 10 in 2026. The report is based on fiscal years that begin July 1.
Fees collected in 2026 were listed as $10,455.
Chassidy Harper presented the nursing report and stated the numbers were relatively the same as the previous year. The report shows the total of patient visits were down from 585 in 2025 to 351 in 2026.
Immunizations were also down from 344 in 2025 to 191 in 2026.
Harper said the department had only one trained nurse since the end of September.
A new nurse was hired in December. Another nurse started in January and is currently in training.
Sylvia Woodford presented the financial report for the month ending Jan. 31, which she said is 58 percent of the year. Woodford said the total revenue was $419,321 and total expenditures $398,781.
As of Jan. 31, the total cash in the bank was $465,610.
District Director Dr.
Kim Cook introduced the district’s new epidemiology director, Ben O’Neal, who presented a report about recent surges of the flu and measles. He said nationally the flu numbers have decreased, but in the North Central Health District area the numbers are still relatively high.
O’Neal reported that last year’s measles outbreak was the biggest in 35 years. He suggested the surge could be a result of the decreased vaccination rate.
The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the reports.
