Health department reports programs, staffing and completed community needs assessment

Ryan Tawken, director of the health department, gave a department overview and summarized recent work and programs.

Tawken opened with a brief history of the department and then outlined core divisions and services: environmental public health inspections (food, lodging, day care, mosquito control), animal control and nuisance response, medical services (vaccinations and communicable‑disease investigations), WIC (a grant‑funded supplemental nutrition program for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under 5), emergency preparedness and a newer worksite‑wellness program.

"All of our numbers are trending in the right direction," Tawken said, pointing to increases in calls for service, vaccinations and vital records issued. He noted the department completed a community health needs assessment and gap analysis under FAB grant funding and said staff will present those findings in more depth at an upcoming meeting.

Tawken highlighted staff continuity and experience, noting long‑tenured employees across divisions and a range of service years; he named Mary White as an administrative assistant with 54 years of service. He also said some WIC positions were open at the time of the presentation.

Tawken listed recent projects including a large environmental health software update, hepatitis C testing and measles preparedness, trainings with school nurses, and grant and contract management work.

Council thanked the health department for the update and for its work across programs. Tawken said the department will review initiatives in more depth at the next meeting.

The department promised a fuller presentation of initiatives and metrics at the upcoming session.