Providing a “fair, equitable, across the board” overtime policy for both salaried and hourly employees was the major concern at the Washington County Board of Health meeting on December 16.  It also was the first official meeting for new department administrator Emily Tokheim, who agreed with interim administrator Chris Estle that the issue, which impacts budget issues, could warrant a special work session with the supervisors.

The supervisors already set January 5-17 for budget considerations with Public Health, and changed its next meeting to January 13 from January 20, in a move “to get ahead of [the budget],” especially with changes in funding and shifts in classifications for services at the state level.

A key issue, noted by board member and supervisor representative Jack Seward, Jr. is the separation of operation expenses and employee wages/benefits in the budget. In the past, the supervisors have mentioned the same operating expenses level, but provided for necessary increases as they arose for all county departments and agencies. It also was noted that any policy regarding overtime warranted a full board discussion.

During the discussion, it was stressed that the county departments are not identical in operations or services, unlike the private sector. In regard to the budget itself, the board first sets its budget, then, like all other county departments, presents it to the supervisors for final approval, following work sessions with the supervisors.

The overtime wage issue has been discussed previously by the supervisors and was the agenda item for a work session on December 6, regarding 180 hours of overtime in September-November for Ambulance Director Jeremy Peck.  The hours, as Peck told the board, were not for more than 40 hours in the office, but for night and weekend shifts, a result of a paramedic shortage in the department.

While supervisors agreed there need to be compensation, the discussion on December 6 led to how to provide it.

The board also agreed with Estelle’s recommendation that no extension of the 28E agreement with Jefferson County for interim services was needed because Tokheim “hit the floor running.” The agreement went into effect August 21 and expires January 1, 2022. Board members extended appreciation to Estle for her interim service.

In other business, the board:

• officially approved a change to the employee handbook to change the employee mileage rate from the state rate to the federal one, currently 56 cents per mile.  The supervisors previously approved the change;

• noted no change regarding COVID-19 federal mandate policy, as the issue is still in the courts;

• learned there was no anticipated change in the state Local Public Health Services grant that assists with delivery and coverage of home health services to county residents;

•received a report from Environmental Health director Jason Taylor about a dog bite issue in Crawfordsville where two dogs attacked and killed some sheep. County code requires two incidents for the animal to be labeled vicious or dangerous; however the killing of the sheep does make the dog owner liable in a civil suit. If rabies if found in the dogs, criminal charges are possible. Taylor noted that the owner has four or five dogs;

• received an update about the septic system involving a mobile home in rural Wellman, where there are issues between the landowner (“who will not pay for the septic system” said Taylor) and the trailer owner.  There also is some question regarding the contractor for the work since the current septic system is not up to code. But, Taylor said, the system has been pumped and is functioning.  The issue is still being reviewed; and

• received an agency update from Tokheim noting the department goals are being met, including for the Maternal Child and Adolescent Care (MCAHC) and the January 13 zoom meeting will be at noon in the Washington Public Library meeting room.