PUBLIC HEALTH
The quarterly meeting for Jones County’s Board of Health began with an update of renovations for the building that houses the Jones County Health Department.
The Sept. 8 meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Ed Barbee, and Morris Hutcheson presented the building update.
Hutcheson said the requests for bids for the renovation project had been sent out by Jones County and should be opened on Sept. 15.
“We had six companies tour the building. That’s a good thing,” he said.
Hutcheson said he and Nursing Director Sherry Bryant had been working with the Jones County School System regarding the temporary facility in the pre-K complex. He said they are looking at four rooms in the same wing that houses the Friends of the Library.
The speaker said the issue is there is no heat. They are getting proposals for wall units for the rooms. One option is mini splits that can provide heat and air at a cost of $4,800 plus installation.
Hutcheson said those units are in stock. He said the health department will pay the excess utilities while occupying the building.
“I hope we can resolve this in the next few weeks and move out in mid-October,” he said.
Hutcheson requested a vote from the Board of Health to approve the closure to the health department for a few days when the move is made. Board member Kara Moore made the motion to approve the closure, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Hutcheson said he is excited about the bid opening.
“I’m anxious to see the prices to find out if we are close to our budget or will have to adjust the project,” he said.
North Central Health District Director Renee Haynes talked to the board about the availability of $25 per meeting compensation. She said the compensation is paid annually, and the office manager would track meeting attendance.
Haynes added that members may elect to be excluded from the compensation. Barbee and Board member Chris Weidner asked to be excluded from the compensation.
Barbee noted that the terms for board members Joni Milner and Jennifer Goldsberry would expire in December. He said both agreed to serve another term and would be reappointed.
Bryant said the Board of Commissioners reduced the funding for the health department. She said they had been receiving $8,000 a month, and the August check was for $1,193.
The county previously funded the health department with $85,000, a year and the new amount was $14,293 a year, the minimum required by the state. Bryant said she called County Administrator Jason Rizner about the change and was told the funding was reduced because of the health department’s large fund balance.
Weidner, who serves on the Board of Health due to his position as Chairman of the Jones County Board of Commissioners, explained that county departments are funded according to what is needed to provide services.
“We have to watch taxpayers’ money and looks for areas to save. The county will always help if there is a need,” he stated.
Bryant said she planned to get on the county’s agenda to explain to the commissioners what the health department does.
Syliva Woodford said the health department would have to adjust its budget because the $85,000 was already included.
Bryant said the main concern was the expenses of the upcoming renovations.
Reports
Environmental Health Specialist Margaret Graham presented the County Environmental Health report from April to June. She said there were 39 new septic permits, 34 septic repair permits, 13 residential septic system inspections and 102 follow-up inspections.
Graham reported 27 new well permits and 15 wells tested. She said Jones County has 49 permitted food-service facilities and 92 routine food-service inspections.
She said the county has seven new food service facilities and one new motel in 2022.
Bryant’s nursing report included 483 total patient visits for the fourth quarter, with 207 of those immunizations. She said school audits have been started, and she wants them to be done before the move.
Woodford presented the finance report for the period ending July 31. The total revenues were $54,665.76 and total expenditures $53,301.86. The total cash in the bank is $784,417.
Dr. Amber Erickson presented the epidemiology report. She said the North Central Health District reported 18,000 COVID cases last week and 204 hospitalizations.
NCHD includes Baldwin, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Macon-Bibb, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson counties.
Erickson said most of Georgia is now in the medium spread level.
“The numbers look good, but we don’t believe all the positive cases are being reported,” she said.
Erickson said the department is waiting for the new COVID boosters to come in. As for Monkey Pox, she said 1,500 cases have been reported in Georgia with 29 reported in the district.
Erickson said Monkey Pox was not declared an emergency in Georgia.
The Jones County Health Department will be closed Sept. 16 for the districtwide Employee Appreciation Day that will be held at recreation center in Macon/Bibb.
The next meeting of the Jones County Board of Health is scheduled Dec. 7.
