April 19, 2024

4 things to know from the Jasper County Board of Health meeting

By Jamee A

Jasper County Board of Health members Stephanie Bantell, Margot Voshell and John Van Ryswyk hear from the health department during a board meeting on Thursday. (Jamee A)

1. The Jasper County Health Department is settled into its new location at 116 W. Fourth St. S. The department moved to the new building from the basement of the Jasper County Annex Building where it has been housed since its inception two years ago.

“It has really come together nice, it is a nice area,” JCHD Director Becky Pryor said. “We’re happy here and it was better than what we even thought.”

Pryor said a lot of the areas are being used as multi-use spaces to maximum what is available in the building. A sign has also been ordered for the building to help those who are served locate it easier.

2. Two educators have been hired for the Parents as Teachers program. Melissa Gray and Brittany Eckert are currently in Kansas City, Mo. for a week-long training session to become certified in the program.

“We’re excited. We have a lot of parenting activities we would like to do. We’re trying to develop the program from the ground up,” Pryor said. “We have about 17 people on the waiting list ready for the program and we hope to start taking clients by the end of the month.”

3. The budget for the health department was presented to the board of supervisors at a recent budget meeting, Pryor reported. She said she received very few questions from the board.

“I think the budget looks good,” Pryor said. “The raises and the health insurance cost is the increase in the budget.”

For the county, insurance premiums are increasing 13.7 percent, the largest increase for the county across the board.

“I would still like to explore the county getting involved in seeing if there is anything this group can do it assist the employees to get some of those insurance premiums down,” board chair Margot Voshell said. “Possibly a health or wellness program to try to drive down some of these insurance premiums down.”

4. Supervisor Joe Brock is joining the board of health as a representative from the board of supervisors. He is replacing Jackie Sparks who recently concluded her term of service.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com