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Board approves recommendation to use Division of Public Health funds for COVID‑era staff recognition and bonuses
Summary
The HHS board voted April 14 to forward a proposal to use Division of Public Health COVID‑19 allocation to pay $44,500 in recognition bonuses and plaques to 33 county personnel who worked on pandemic response; Finance and Personnel and county board action required for final approval.
The Richland County Health and Human Services Board voted April 14 to forward to Finance and Personnel a proposal to spend $44,500 from its Division of Public Health COVID‑19 allocation to provide recognition bonuses and plaques for 33 county personnel who contributed to the pandemic response.
Director Tracy Thorson said Division of Public Health staff confirmed the allocation could be used for recognition and that the proposed structure would award bonuses ranging from $500 to $2,000 based on level of involvement over the pandemic period. The list of 33 individuals includes public‑health nurses, emergency management, ambulance staff, program staff and administrative personnel who supported testing, vaccination clinics, disease investigation and emergency operations center duties, Thorson said.
Thorson described the pandemic response as requiring extended hours and, for some staff, duties comparable to adding multiple full‑time equivalents over the two‑year period. The proposal would use Division of Public Health COVID‑19 allocation funds (not ARPA funds) to pay the bonuses and purchase commendation plaques; the proposal was moved and seconded and the board voted to forward it to Finance and Personnel and county board for approval.
A board member asked whether the funding source was distinct from the previous agenda item; staff confirmed the bonus proposal would be funded from public‑health allocation dollars available to the department and not the 2021 carryover funds discussed earlier.
The board’s approval at the April 14 meeting authorized forwarding the recommendation; final disbursement and recipient eligibility are subject to Finance and Personnel and county board approval.
