Swain County health director reports staffing gains, wins grants; board approves $10,000 MedAssist sponsorship and $200 lodging plan-review fee

Allison, representing the Swain County Health Department, told the Board of Commissioners the department is now fully staffed in nursing after hiring a nurse and that two environmental health specialists have begun training and are expected to be authorized next summer. She said the WIC program still has one vacant nutritionist/director position that could be filled by a registered nurse.

Allison reviewed grant activity over the past year. Through the Great Smokys Health Foundation the department received $10,000 over two years for a holiday-package program to support participants in a local chore program ($5,000 each year). The department also received a $15,000 award (reported as $7,500 annually) to support the “Know Your Numbers” health screenings held each January. An application to replace an autoclave in environmental health was denied, as was a collaborative food-insecurity application to Dogwood Health Trust. Highlands Cashiers Foundation awarded $30,000 of a $75,000 request for an outdoor play space at a foster-home site. Allison also said the department received $14,000 to provide medication lockboxes; staff distributed about 630 lockboxes at a senior celebration.

The health department completed its accreditation cycle (2019–2025) "with honors," Allison said, reporting the department met all 147 benchmarks. She said communicable-disease surveillance identified five cases of Campylobacter infection this summer; the cases occurred in different parts of the county and were not related, and all patients had recovered.

Allison described recent state-level environmental-health statutory changes affecting local authority, including provisions allowing private-sector on-site wastewater evaluators to prepare site-denial letters and changes to rules for private swimming pools and off-site food service for workplace events. She also proposed two local items for board approval: a new application and $200 plan-review fee for non-franchise ("mom-and-pop") lodging establishments, and participation in the NC over-the-counter MedAssist program at a $10,000 cost.

Commissioners discussed funding sources. Allison said region A may offer $5,000 toward MedAssist but requested the full $10,000 from the county in case outside funding fell through. Commissioner discussion identified fund-balance or interest from settlement money as potential sources. Commissioner (speaker 6) moved to sponsor the MedAssist program and a second was recorded; the board voted by raised hands and the motion passed. Later in the discussion Allison moved the $200 plan-review fee for local lodging; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

What happens next: the board approved the $10,000 MedAssist sponsorship (funded from fund balance/interest as discussed) and adopted the $200 local non-franchise lodging plan-review fee. Allison said staff will proceed with implementation and follow up with any required scheduling and vendor coordination for MedAssist.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 051 and concluded at SEG 271.