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Warrick County health board asks council to restore environmental inspector after state warning
Summary
The board voted to ask legal counsel to draft a resolution urging county leaders to restore a full‑time environmental inspector after a state environmentalist warned the department lacks capacity to handle environmental complaints.
The Warrick County Board of Health on Thursday voted to ask its legal counsel to draft a resolution urging the county council and commissioners to reconsider adding a full‑time environmental inspector position.
April Ecks, administrator of the Warrick County Health Department, told the board the department did not move the environmental inspector position into this year’s budget and is relying on a state environmentalist to assist with inspections and training. She said the department has received a written letter from the state calling attention to the staffing gap and its operational impact.
"Now that we have a letter from the state about the importance," Ecks said, "I think that could shift it, especially if he's saying like you guys need one as soon as possible." Board members discussed statutory requirements and the practical risk of operating without the position.
A motion instructing legal counsel to prepare a resolution describing the department’s needs and requesting the council and commissioners to reconsider the position was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members said they will review the draft resolution before an authorized representative signs and forwards it to elected officials.
Board members and staff described recent environmental workloads that include increased mold complaints and a multi‑year problem at Church Street Apartments in Lynnville. The department said it is working through complaints and, where warranted, will pursue abatement under procedures that would be enabled by appropriate local ordinances and staffing.
The board did not set a hiring timetable; members said the matter will be brought to county leaders with the state letter and a recommended resolution for consideration.
Next procedural steps: legal counsel will prepare the draft resolution for board review; the board will forward the resolution and the state's letter to the county council and commissioners for consideration.
