[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6164918,"mediaKeyId","5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503","parentId",5426599,"title","Environmental health update: new food establishments, septic and well activity, pool inspections and vector control","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1794000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503&start=1794&end=1794","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503/thumbnail_1794000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164918/Boone-County/Indiana/Environmental-health-update-new-food-establishments-septic-and-well-activity-pool-inspections-and-vector-control","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164918-e5275ccb245bc1bef15ec852296cb2e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771052889&Signature=TbnsCXdSD1~8agGYoFleaHvvderslOc3~IgWv8wbgiAVpxGwxF9Ru6XkDuq8V0VjNvtLkjhQRbAeyVSFGdB9Qo6wqnKkxNT6N8dfZPcFfpQPBBBJIpVbpkoYSWC4cMDAjt77yfKwVp2JXqaLAnH~n2U-I8RgIVf0wN39v8pNoNT3J1KqPDXzAsO751gpr-bZ-mEVqzDR5SZ1sURbJT84hbEVZnNVNLQh0YLsuYQq8mm~GMfImhkVQ53FwS3Te1U7P9SVUvhKEVn3JAorNle2TAXtRKCqFE--MOlU~O-VzhoJrsKpd4s3UHpr8jFAzmGiwiHE607omD~zjXbLoYuUtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boone County IN","date","2025-07-18T14:14:38Z","article","Casey Skink, filling in for Abby Messenger in environmental health, briefed the Boone County Health Board on recent inspections and program activity, reporting new food establishments, septic and well permit work, pool inspections and vector control measures.

Skink said food inspectors attended state training and several new food-service businesses opened in May, including a new central elementary-related facility, Taco Bell, a new Indian restaurant, and multiple other establishments. Inspectors also attended the AFDO conference to learn about Indiana’s new food code. For events and farmers markets, the inspectors completed six event inspections and responded to six complaints in the past two months.

On septic and wells, Clayton Campbell (septic and wells inspector) returned from leave and issued 20 letters of requirement and 14 septic permits. Staff noted increased demand for property research connected to land development inquiries.

Pools and housing: The environmental programs reported 275 pool inspections for May–June, six pool closures, review of 581 water reports, 18 housing inspections with one house deemed unfit for human habitation, two dumpster placements and one lead risk assessment completed (linked to a nursing division lead case). The department said an intern performs annual outdoor-pool inspections.

Vector control: Claire reported 27 animal-bite reports in May and 18 in June; two bats were submitted to the state for testing and both tested negative for rabies. Staff completed 16 larvicide treatments, multiple tick drags and one abatement order for a flea infestation in a rental property.

Preparedness and outreach: Randy hosted safe-worship and disaster-recovery classes, secured bicycle helmets for a community bike rodeo and is slated to host additional training for rural disaster recovery.

These items were presented as an informational administrative update; the board took no regulatory action or votes in this segment.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are drawn from the meeting record and identified by name and role at first reference.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Boone County Health Board Meeting 07-16-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Boone County environmental health staff reported new food-service openings, septic and well permit activity, high outdoor pool inspection volumes, housing and lead inspections, and ongoing vector-control responses including animal-bite reports and larvicide treatments.","taxTitle","Boone County, Indiana","taxId",52300,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6164922,"Boone County Health Department highlights TB testing partnership, clinics and new interim partners",1589,37000,1626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503&start=37&end=1626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6164922/Boone-County/Indiana/Boone-County-Health-Department-highlights-TB-testing-partnership-clinics-and-new-interim-partners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164922-79d810ee9c7cef8fb9ec984d496f1145/orig.mp4?Expires=1771052889&Signature=Lh9flEQyLgi71rEfAsygrcPhgIv14aoWi2sopJGLSug9tiXO085gdYeAWyBcezydv0nUC1CfIO0G9e-cwnDSy02mWdsaiSsFfBGCDcFjkgmIZpnDwja8zdz43QSboDD31lpGqXvEYr7lT17TzX4vca0oZ0yRoxiKM3qR4Tz94Kazx45fBBCnBSGEt63Bwfjjf34HCvHZvNDL6Cm33ZvYFljnmyLI9eDb0a2T8cFTp~UdxIXDstkbA2peQBJ3s62~LOIcjr3raV-aYpTXg0d6GjKZRTA3A~W9ARHYR8GBIK7r5AEC4r4BEHNAECk35puV3gA-4syIkSc96evgpVYYvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Melissa Hodgson Aslan introduced herself to the Boone County Health Board as the interim public health administrator for Clinton County and presented a community partnership award to the Boone County Health Department for collaboration on public-health initiatives, including TB testing.

Aslan said she has 30 years’ experience in nursing and has been serving in the interim role since June 3. “I am Melissa Hodgson Aslan. I'm a registered nurse of 30 years,” she told the board. She described local collaboration between the counties on public-health functions such as sharing county orders, industrial inspections and, specifically, QuantiFERON TB testing: Clinton County has served as a testing site that Boone County uses for latent tuberculosis infection detection.

The department also introduced a new public health nurse, Alyssa Weldon, who joined after a vacancy from November to March. Lisa (identified in the meeting as health department staff) and department presenters emphasized rebuilding capacity and continuing services.

Program statistics cited to the board:
- Vital records: 84 birth certificates and 796 death certificates issued. Staff noted the larger number of death certificates reflects administrative processes that allow funeral homes to obtain death records at different county offices, not necessarily a local mortality spike.
- Latent tuberculosis: Four new latent TB infections were reported; three individuals declined treatment and one accepted treatment through the health department. The department reported six open latent TB infection cases, with five being treated at the health department and one treated elsewhere.
- Lead and blood testing: Three elevated blood lead levels were reported (one pending confirmation, two confirmed). The department is providing case management for 10 open lead cases and reported closing four cases.
- Immunizations and clinics: Routine immunization clinic served 85 patients and administered 187 vaccines. School-based clinics vaccinated 97 students with 202 vaccines this year. The back-to-school walk-in vaccine clinic ran the day of the meeting (08:30–18:30) and staff said about 150 students had been served to that point. The STD clinic reported 20 patients over May and June and continues to offer free vaccinations for clinic patients.

Outreach and community work: The health department provided Narcan training at Georgetown Library, participated in Lebanon Library summer reading pickup, distributed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and first-aid kits, and partnered with Boone County Cancer Society on an anti-vaping pilot program. The department also partnered with the Boone County Community Foundation to translate the Boone County Resource Guide into Spanish, French and Haitian Creole and said printed copies will be available soon.

No formal board action was taken on these program items; the segment was an administrative update. Board members thanked presenters and asked procedural questions, including whether translated guides were available the same day and staff noting ongoing vaccine clinic activity.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are drawn from the meeting record and identified by name and role at first reference.","The health department reported a community partnership award from Clinton County for collaborative TB testing, introduced an interim public health administrator and a new public health nurse, and gave program statistics including vaccinations, latent TB cases and translated resource guides.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6164926,"Boone County Health Board votes to obtain legal opinions after commissioners question outside counsel contract",1184,296000,1480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503&start=296&end=1480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426599-9af14f3204fe5311cceef90e611f5503/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6164926/Boone-County/Indiana/Boone-County-Health-Board-votes-to-obtain-legal-opinions-after-commissioners-question-outside-counsel-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164926-fa521a90a92b835101e88a9f80dfd4c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771052889&Signature=HbWQ7h2uI5Y3sn~AJDU~6mupsmscAcXTIBWClNky3evF-hsgNZARiGo-S1uSjmDMcw96N4ULjEAoEgttVim5mOZ93o2Z225y7h-UvDDDR6YmHnqfkF4efbOYFK58R3CpuSsKj4H2afHuJHi2P6Z7hQbAHzqBFEy3on9DgIVkykSABRZoWzNoGg64GUHuZGZqFuzmk~dh6TF43Ng8NNiJfyIi-3sxC8FJ~k5wiN-pXwt4G2ncfKa3WIIFUqL~6XCw6NsKOv5zQX7PFiVZ2dH2-AMKl~tXuMm36x~IAmWxxz4Pn-ldWkhWSNz1FayzKyCwRaW08mlgLHsniFIOBBUc6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boone County Health Board member John Casey said the board will seek formal legal opinions after county commissioners moved to invalidate a contract the board had entered for outside legal services. The board voted to authorize obtaining legal opinions on the scope of the commissioners’ authority and the board’s authority to hire counsel.

The move followed a June 16 county commissioners meeting in which commissioners raised concerns about a contract the health board had with an outside attorney. “If the commissioners, in fact, have the right to invalidate a contract that we enter into with an attorney to provide legal services for the board … they have a right to choose the attorney that the health department would be using,” John Casey told the board, describing the commissioners’ action and the need for clarification.

Why it matters: The question affects who can lawfully enter and fund contracts for the health department and whether the health board can independently hire outside counsel. Casey told the board the answers matter not only for the single contract at issue but for the board’s routine contractual authority.

Casey summarized the board’s concerns and proposed three specific legal questions: whether county commissioners have authority to review or disapprove health board or health department contracts; whether the health board has authority to hire an attorney for general legal services; and whether the county commissioners or the county council has authority to authorize expenditure of county funds by the health department for attorney services.

County Commissioner Tim Beyer urged the board to pause and consult the county attorney before spending on outside opinions. “Beth Copeland, who’s the county attorney, has not been approached by anybody on the board about this issue,” Beyer said, and recommended tabling the matter until there is direct conversation with the county attorney. Beyer also described the fiscal concern that prompted commissioners’ scrutiny: an increase in yearly legal payments from about $3,500 historically to an amount the commissioners found unjustified (a contract discussed at the commissioners’ meeting referenced a higher annual figure).

Casey emphasized the board was not seeking litigation but rather a neutral legal determination. He said a formal legal opinion would state what the law is and whether the board would have a meritorious cause of action if it chose to pursue the matter later. “Legal opinions are a formal opinion as to what the law is on a particular subject,” he said.

After discussion, the board made and carried a motion to obtain legal opinions addressing the listed questions. The transcript records the chair calling for the vote and members responding “Aye” and the motion carrying; the record does not contain a roll-call vote or individual vote tally by name.

This action is limited to obtaining opinions; the board did not vote to initiate litigation or to hire a particular attorney in the meeting. The record shows differing recollections among officials about prior communications with the county attorney and about why the commissioners took their action; the board directed staff to pursue neutral legal analysis to clarify authorities and next steps.

What remains open: The legal questions the board asked—authority to hire counsel, authority of commissioners to disapprove contracts, and which body controls funding for attorney services—were sent for formal opinion. The transcript does not show the opinions themselves or a timeline for when they will be returned.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are drawn from the meeting record and identified by name and role at first reference.","After county commissioners suspended payment under a new contract for outside legal services, the Boone County Health Board voted to obtain formal legal opinions to clarify who may approve health department contracts and who controls spending for attorney services.","actionData","errors"]

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Environmental health update: new food establishments, septic and well activity, pool inspections and vector control

Boone County Health Department highlights TB testing partnership, clinics and new interim partners

Boone County Health Board votes to obtain legal opinions after commissioners question outside counsel contract