Originally, the meeting was scheduled for last Tuesday, but snow forced it to be rescheduled.
“A lot of health departments, as a convenience to the public, have started to allow the public to pay with a debit or credit card,” Health Director Tommy Jarrell told the board. “The majority of those around us do accept debit and credit cards.”
He told the board that not only is the measure more convenient for the general public, but it has also helped other health departments to collect fees.
“We’ve found that it’s better to get something when they’re in front of you, because a lot of times people will say they’re going to mail in a payment, and the payment never comes,” Jarrell said.
The next step in this process is for the health department to prepare a letter to the county’s Chief Financial Officer R. M. Steagall Jr.
Also at the meeting, the Board of Health elected County Commissioner Thad Ussery to serve as chairman, and Abby Covington to serve as co-chair.
Both of these served in this capacity over the course of 2008 as well, were the only nominations for the position and were elected by unanimous vote.
In other business:
n The board was read a resignation letter from board member Dr. P. R. Rankin Jr. He cited health reasons for his resignation.
The issue of recommending a replacement for Rankin was tabled until the meeting in February.
n The board received the 2008 State of the County Health Report.
The report outlined data concerning the county’s population and racial profile, county unemployment, leading causes of death, teen pregnancy rates, communicable diseases and childhood obesity.
It will also be distributed to the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, county libraries and other organizations, as well as being posted on the website www.publichealth.southernregionalahec.org/Richmond.
Next year, a more comprehensive report is scheduled for preparation, Jarrell told the board.
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