Butler County commissioners voted 5‑0 to approve a hiring‑bonus policy for registered nurses after Health Department Director Jamie Down told the board the department faced the possible loss of WIC and maternal‑child health services because of nurse vacancies.

Down briefed commissioners that two recent nurse candidates had declined offers because of pay, and that a recent resignation left the department unable to staff WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clinics and other duties with existing personnel. “If I’m unable to hire a nurse for WIC, we may be forced to let that program go,” Down said, adding that loss of WIC would likely remove the linked maternal‑child health grant as well.

The hiring‑bonus policy approved by the board offers $10,000 for full‑time RNs and $5,000 for part‑time RNs, with half paid after 30 days and half after six months; bonuses carry a 24‑month commitment and a prorated clawback if an employee leaves after six months. Down said she will fund the sign‑on bonuses from a workforce‑development grant.

Commissioner Jackson moved approval; Commissioner Herzet seconded the motion and it passed 5‑0.

Separately, the commission paused from agenda business to thank health‑department employees who assisted in flood response work. Down recognized staff who set up emergency shelters, organized tetanus clinics and staffed a multi‑agency resource center after the June flood. She said staff had “set up pop‑up drive through tetanus clinics in the affected neighborhoods” and “cleared their schedules so that they could cover the front desk so that all other staff could assist at the shelter and tetanus clinics.”

Down specifically named multiple staff members for their work, including Broderick Bean, Emily Cornell, Beth Drennan, Jerica Fowler, Tracy Hall, Chastity Hendershot, Jessica Horner, Sarah Karst, Bailey Malujin, Macy (last name not specified), Samantha Schneider, Shannon Seehi, Mikaylee Stevens and Vicky Weebie.

Why it matters: The hiring bonus is intended to stabilize core public‑health services that serve hundreds of county residents. The board’s approval preserves WIC and maternal‑child health program capacity in the near term, contingent on successful recruitment.