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Wasatch County Board of Health presents annual report to Midway council; surveillance, nutrition and funding concerns highlighted
Summary
The Wasatch County Board of Health delivered its annual report to the Midway City Council, outlining infectious-disease investigations, senior nutrition support, WIC updates and concerns about potential future federal grant cuts after COVID-era funding ended.
Sarah Simonson (speaker 13), vice chair of the Wasatch County Board of Health, and Jay Eckersley (speaker 15), a past board chair, presented the board’s annual report to the Midway City Council and distributed printed materials summarizing 2024 program highlights.
Simonson summarized services and outreach, saying the health department expanded access to WIC through virtual appointments and eWIC cards and worked with partners to provide produce vouchers for income-eligible seniors. She described the department’s infectious-disease work in 2024: the report lists about 428 disease investigations and 234 confirmed cases across reportable conditions, and staff noted trends showing declines in hospitalized influenza and COVID but increases in some sexually transmitted and foodborne illnesses.
Jay Eckersley praised director Jonelle Fitzgerald (health officer) and urged the council to help the health department convey an accurate public image of its broad services, from epidemiology to environmental health. Eckersley said the board appreciates Midway’s partnership and asked the council to explain the health department’s services to the community so residents understand what public health does and how to use it.
Why it matters: The county health department provides direct clinical and public-health services, emergency preparedness support and surveillance that affect local residents’ well-being. Presenters asked the council to help maintain positive, accurate awareness of available services and warned about uncertainty in federal funding going forward.
Representative quotes
"We had over 200 investigations… and 234 confirmed cases," Sarah Simonson said of the health department’s 2024 surveillance work. "We have vaccine available anytime and ready for folks."
"We'd always appreciate a little bit of help from you… to make our image accurate and positive," Jay Eckersley said, noting the board’s desire for partnership in communicating services.
Next steps
Council members thanked the board and asked staff to keep lines of communication open. The council noted emergency-preparedness items on its agenda and welcomed the health department as a resource for planning and outreach.
