County requests board minutes, deliverables before funding mobile health unit and PAMS program

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners heard an extended review of the history and contractual terms tied to a mobile health unit (the “bus”) and the Prescription Assistance & Medical Services (PAMS) program, and asked the Gaston Community Health Council to provide records and deliverables before the county will approve any operational funding.

County counsel presented a historical summary of prior government funding streams and agreements. Counsel said records show a 2008 memorandum of understanding that expired in 2011 and a later Florida Department of Health contract that provided initial funds for a mobile unit and included multiple program deliverables. Counsel reported direct funding of $81,120 in 2010 for two PAMS positions and described a $266,000 flow of funds through the county to the health department in earlier years. Counsel also said audits and later memoranda directed that some funds should not pass through the county health department and that contract deliverables required hiring medical staff and an agreement with the county for storage and maintenance of the unit.

Commissioners and the county attorney focused on three documentation items before the board could consider funding: (1) evidence that the Gaston Community Health Council maintains an active board (current board roster and meeting minutes); (2) clear line-item budgeting demonstrating how any requested county funds would be used (administrative vs. programmatic costs); and (3) a concise one-page roadmap of deliverables and proposed metrics for the mobile unit and PAMS services. Commissioners said those items are necessary because historical funding streams appear to have shifted over time and because state contract terms had specific performance requirements tied to monthly progress reports.

The county attorney said he had reviewed the Florida Department of Health contract that funded the bus, noting the contract required an agreement with Gadsden County for storage at the county Emergency Operations Center and established monthly progress-reporting and hiring deliverables. The attorney said the county’s formal obligations in that state contract were limited to storage and maintenance, while the health council had primary operational responsibilities under the state grant.

Reverend Hannah (representing the Gaston Community Health Council) acknowledged that some listed board members on the organization’s website were no longer current and said he was recruiting replacements. He agreed to supply the requested materials; commissioners urged a short, one-page deliverable list the county attorney could use to prepare a legally actionable contract if the board decides to provide operating funds.

Ending: Commissioners did not approve operating funding for the PAMS program or bus at the meeting. The board instructed the Gaston Community Health Council to submit current board rosters, meeting minutes and a one-page deliverables/budget worksheet; the county attorney and staff will review those materials and return a recommended contract or agenda item for consideration at a future meeting.