Logan County Health District officials honored a board of health member’s dedication Wednesday afternoon at her last meeting, following her 16 years of service to the community.
Health Commissioner Travis Irvan read a resolution thanking Board Vice President Robin Price for her four terms on the board and wishing her happy retirement with her family. She and was presented with flowers on behalf of the agency.
“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to be on the board and having the chance to see the front line people and all that you do for our community,” Price said.
“COVID has taken an all-hands on deck approach by all of the staff, and I’m grateful for you.”
The Logan County Health District Advisory Board will be voting on a replacement board member for her seat at their annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the Logan County Fairgrounds Grange Building.
Three interested board candidates attended Wednesday’s meeting as well: Kathy Smith from Community Health & Wellness Partners; Judy McAdams, who retired from the public health field; and Kristen Wish, who has worked as an occupational therapist in the area.
Members noted that there also will be a board vacancy next year, with the planned retirement in 2023 of Board President Bob Harrison.
Also during the meeting, Irvan and Nursing Director Kelly Irvan reported on the dramatic decrease in COVID-19 cases in the county. The health commissioner said there had been no new hospitalization admissions reported related to the virus.
“The number of hospital beds available regionally is looking better than it has in the last two years,” he said, noting the low community risk as well.
Reaver said COVID-19 vaccine clinics have also slowed in the last two years, and the agency will be ending its Friday clinics for that reason. The complete vaccine clinic schedule is available at www.loganhealth.org.
Irvan noted that the incentives are still available for individuals receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine. Grant funding is providing the incentives for up to 40 people this year.
In administrative matters, the board approved a retention bonus to be paid to staff coming up in July through funding received by the Workforce Development Grant. Full and part-time permanent staff members who worked at the health district in 2021 and are still employed will be eligible for a bonus up to $1,500 or 3 percent of their salary, whichever is less.
The $25,000 expected cost for the bonus will be paid through the grant.
Administrators also are looking at potentially closing the health district office on Friday afternoons to better accommodate full-time staff’s working schedule of 35 hours per week. Current office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Irvan said the agency will officially announce the change in the upcoming weeks, expecting to begin the week of April 4.
In other action, the board:
• honored Kara Gaines, personnel specialist and administrative assistant, as the employee of the month, noting all of her work in serving as a team player and helping to catch up vaccine billing;
• ordered William Miller, 3601 Bruce St., Bellefontaine, to remove demolition debris and solid wastes from his property to a licensed disposal facility within seven days;
• approved the 2023 preliminary budget and the 2021 Financial Statement by REA Associates; and
• noted that Women Infants and Children clinics are going well at their new location at the Logan County Job and Family Services, 1 Hunter Place, Bellefontaine, with 550 WIC clients served in January.
The next board of health meeting is 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.