Health department seeks permanent hour increases, cites Health First Indiana and preparedness grants

Melissa Osler, representing the Board of Health, asked the Clinton County council to approve transfers that would increase two health‑department positions from 32 to 35 hours: a clinical medical assistant/clinic coordinator (Kayla Cheek) and a community health worker (Karina Martinez). Osler said the positions are funded by Health First Indiana (HFI) monies already allocated to the county and that the hour change would reduce accumulated compensatory time, improve scheduling for evening and weekend clinics, and sustain outreach and translation services.

Osler described the two employees’ expanded duties — clinic coordination, immunization backup and community outreach — and said the hour increases would likely be permanent. She reported that the county’s current HFI balance covers the requested transfers and that the positions are expected to remain HFI‑funded into 2027. The council took the health‑department items under advisement during the appropriations discussion and ultimately approved them as part of the full slate of appropriations.

Osler also briefed the council on Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PEP/PEF) grant activity: her office is spending down the current grant period to avoid returning funds and expects roughly $25,000 for the next grant cycle. She described a model the health department used this past year that designates two certified existing staff members as the half‑time preparedness coordinator (instead of hiring an outside coordinator), noting that it reduced equipment purchases and allowed more funds for supplies and repairs. Osler said the council could opt to continue that model or instead authorize hiring an outside coordinator during the next budget cycle.

Council members asked operational questions — comp‑bank caps, how payroll hours would be structured if grant funding paid a portion of preparedness duties, and whether the board of health supported the staffing approach. Osler said the board approved the pilot model and that roughly $10,000 in grant reimbursements went to staff reimbursement in the past year. Council deferred additional structural decisions to staff and suggested Osler work with Commissioner Carol and the auditor to finalize the plan before the next budget cycle.