LISBON — Columbiana County Health Commissioner Wes Vins has a new five-year contract and a new title before his name after earning a doctorate in public policy and administration.

The county health district board on Wednesday congratulated Vins and renewed his employment contract as health commissioner, setting his gross income per pay every two weeks at $5,380. The board also removed a personnel policy which paid Vins an additional $1,000 per bi-weekly pay during the pandemic, with the removal of the policy taking effect Jan. 7 and ending the merit pay.

Vins earned his doctorate from West Chester University located in Pennsylvania. When contacted, he said this was a long road for him, but very fulfilling and he learned a lot along the way. He said this adds to the stability of the department. He also noted others in the health district are getting more education.

“Public health is modernizing and I think it’s important that Columbiana County stay pace with that,” Vins said.

He’s looking forward to continuing the development of the staff and continuing to make them effective in making “our county a healthier place to live, work and play. I’m proud of how far we’ve come over the past 14 years. I look forward to continuing that growth.”

In a press release about the meeting, he acknowledged how grateful he was to lead the department and “having a front row seat to witness the many achievements the department and its staff have reached.”

In the last few years alone, Vins and district personnel met the enormous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and also earned accreditation, an indication of how well the department serves the citizens.

“We’re positioned well right now for the demands of public health,” Vins said.

In other business, the board approved the third and final readings for increases to the yearly fees for food service vendors, public pool and spa operators and campground operators licensed by the health district. No one attended a public hearing on the fee increases earlier this month.

Fees are based on a cost methodology process which takes into account the amount of time put into each program by health district employees. Fees will take effect Feb. 1.

The board also approved moving the nurse for Children with Medical Handicaps from part-time to full-time, tabled an equipment purchase, appointed Lance Willard of Columbiana to another two-year term on the county sewage appeals board and agreed to issue board orders against Garrett James LLC, Lakemore, for nuisance violations at 343 Georgetown Road, Salem.

The next meeting will be 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the health district, 7360 state Route 45, Lisbon.

mgreier@mojonews.com