By HOLLY GASKILL
In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Wells County Board of Health has recommended the county opt-in to Health First Indiana.
The County Commissioners have until June to decide whether or not the county will participate in the health funding program in 2025.
A motion recommending the program to the commissioners passed 4-0; board members Chris Esterling, Molly Hoag, Ann McNabb and Dr. Mary Donley were in favor, and Dr. Bart Hott, Tamara Troutt and Steve Bales were absent. Health Officer Dr. Brandon Huggins, appointed in March, was also absent.
Wells County was one of six counties that did not join the program in its flagship year. At the time, the commissioners cited multiple reasons for their decision, including the department’s understaffing and their skepticism over the new program. During the health board’s meeting on Monday, Public Health Nurse Lynn Blevins recognized this was the best decision at the time.
“In hindsight, thank you,” Blevins said, gesturing toward Commissioner Blake Gerber. “It would have been a (mess).”
According to the HFI website, Wells County is eligible for at least $549,510 through the program. The county will be required to submit a budget proposal for the funds to address a list of key performance indicators like chronic disease prevention and food protection.
The department has until September to submit this budget, Blevins said. He has worked with local officials and other county health departments to determine critical needs and purposes.
While Blevins expects to use a large portion of funding toward local grants, he and officials are first and foremost hoping to address internal needs within the department. “We need to get the health department healthy,” Blevins said.
Specifically, additional refrigerated storage and a generator are needed for vaccines and samples. Blevins also expressed the department needs additional staffing support; there are currently three full-time employees and one part-time.
Esterling recommended Blevins prioritize other needs first and consider asking for an additional position from the County Council. There has been hesitation in supporting an individual’s salary through HFI funding, currently only guaranteed through 2025. However, Blevins noted the program has received bipartisan support and believed it is not likely to disappear.
The County Council had also approved raises for two full-time positions with the apparent understanding that the department would not fill its vacancy for a second environmental specialist.
Administrator Sahara Wall advised that Ryan Bennett, the department’s sole environmental specialist, is currently managing food and septic inspections, and hiring isn’t an immediate need. She said they had internally discussed hiring a part-time environmental specialist or vital records clerk, intending to make the position full-time.
Blevins also mentioned the department had interviewed a part-time medical assistant but was unsure if there had been any progress.
“I don’t know how 3.5 people can do all that you guys are doing in running this county,” said McNabb.
“I mean, we have good leadership,” Blevins replied. He later recognized that the department employees cannot cover for each other in the event of sick leave or time off.
Regarding the potential for grants, McNabb asked Blevins to outline an application and approval process in a proposed budget. Gerber indicated the health board would take responsibility for applications. Blevins added that he had already received inquiries from local organizations.
“So are we going to get this done with meetings every two months?” asked Donley.
“I doubt it,” Blevins replied.
The board again discussed increasing the frequency of their meetings, at least while submitting plans for HFI, and possibly changing their regular meeting times. The board has been meeting at 6:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of every other month.
Esterling, the board’s president, indicated it’s difficult coordinating schedules. While meeting a quorum on Thursday, the meeting was notably missing three board members and the department health officer due to schedule conflicts, as well as Bennett due to a conference.
“When they responded to when they can or cannot be (here), is it like they can never do that because their schedule is always set?” Hoag asked. “If it’s quarterly, you can make adaptations to make it work, because that’s essentially what I think a lot of us are doing.”
Esterling advised he would again reach out to everyone about their availability.
While Huggins was not present Thursday, Blevins reported Huggins had been checking in during lunch nearly every Monday.
“He comes, just kind of gets an update, asks the right questions — so kudos to him,” Blevins said. “And it’s, you know, it’s a situation where we’ve had this communication, and it’s been lacking for a long time. So, it’s good.”
holly@news-banner.com
