Robin Canaday, Morrow County public health director, gave a quarterly report highlighting community outreach, immunization activity and program changes and asked the board for support on staffing tied to a state grant.

Canaday said county staff participated in outreach events and ran vaccine clinics; as of her report the county had administered 395 flu shots this season and is working with schools to ensure children are up to date. She emphasized the reach of the drug take-back program, noting, "in 2024, Oregon collected 30,000 pounds of unused medication," and explained the county mails free envelopes for residents to return unused pills and partners with local deposit sites to prevent accidental poisonings and diversion.

On environmental health, Canaday reported 297 wells in Morrow County measured above the 10 milligram-per-liter nitrate threshold in the state’s latest update (Nov. 30). She also summarized communicable-disease trends: chlamydia cases were down year over year while gonorrhea and pertussis have increased. Canaday said the county has not experienced a confirmed outbreak this season and emphasized laboratory confirmation is required for that designation.

Separately, county staff presented an out-of-cycle FTE request to add a second public health access specialist funded via an Oregon Health Authority intergovernmental agreement amendment (program element increase of approximately $96,253). Staff said the position is grant-reliant and will remain only while funding continues; commissioners approved the FTE request after discussion about budgeting conservative step levels and indirect costs.

The approved FTE will be presented for formal onboarding under the county’s hiring procedures; the position is intended to support nitrate-related work, clinic capacity and ongoing public-health program delivery.