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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Health District will begin using Clemans Nelson & Associates for Human Resources consulting services and to update the personnel policy and procedures manual.
Board members approved two separate contracts with the Columbus firm, one for consulting at a cost of $250 per month and one for a special project to update the policy manual at a cost not to exceed $7,250, which is a reduced fee since the health district is a retainer client.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Wes Vins said Clemans actually wrote the original policy manual from 1988. The company works with a lot of health departments.
"They seem to know our business very well," Vins said.
The board asked him to look into options for Human Resources shortly after losing longtime environmental director Lori Barnes and health services administrator Courtney Stryffeler. Barnes had been with the department 19 years while Stryffeler had been there since October 2022. At the last meeting, there was some personnel restructuring announced.
In other business, both Vins and Environmental Director Laura Fauss urged residents to visit the county health department site at the Columbiana County Fair from July 31 to August 6 where interns will demonstrate mosquito traps. Cars seats and pack and plays will be on display, too. There will also be giveaways funded by the mosquito surveillance grant with items available called bits and dunks that can be placed in a standing water source outside. The bits and dunks don't allow mosquitos to breed. There will also be personal mosquito repellant, plus lots of flyers about health department programs.
"Come and learn about what the health department does," Fauss said.
In her report, Fauss told the board about oral rabies vaccine baiting that's going to kick off on July 31 and continue through Aug. 25. According to a press release about the baiting, target areas in the county will include Lisbon and the area just south of Lisbon known as Jordanville.
Hand baiting will occur from July 31 through Aug. 25, helicopter baiting will occur Aug. 8 through Aug. 12, and fixed winged aircraft baiting will occur Aug. 18 through Aug 22. The distribution will be done by the Wildlife Services Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Health.
Fauss warned residents that if they do find one of the baits, they should leave it alone, but if they need to move it from a place where pets or children play, they should wear gloves and toss it in a wooded area.
She noted that it's an important program, especially since nearby Mahoning County had one positive rabies test result this year. For information about rabies and the surveillance testing drop-offs, call the health department at 330-424-0272.
The board was introduced to Amanda Amato, the new health services administrator for the health district.
In other matters, the board approved a board order for Justin Cathey, Mahoning Avenue, Alliance, for a septic nuisance violation that's been an issue since March 2022 at his property, ordering him to get a permit and install a replacement household sewage treatment system.
The board also approved travel for Vins and health district medical director Dr. Gretchen Nickell to attend the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners fall conference in Columbus, where they've been invited to present information on the department's response to the East Palestine train derailment.
A refund of $1,760 was approved for the law firm Fitch, Kendall, Cecil, Robinson and Barry of Salem. The law firm had already paid for site and soil evaluations for two lots in Unity Township, but then learned they weren't necessary. The evaluations had not been done yet, so the health department will refund the money.
Vins shared with the board a compliment received from the office of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance regarding the staff and the health department's response to the East Palestine train derailment aftermath. Some constituents apparently spoke highly of the staff and the senator's office wanted to pass that information along. The department is still taking water samples.
"We hope residents have what they need," Vins said, adding if they don't, they should call the health department.
The next board meeting is 4:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the health department, 7360 state Route 45, Lisbon.
mgreier@mojonews.com