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Health director outlines workforce gains, programs and a $4,465 bad-debt write-off
Summary
Alexander County Health Director Billy Walker reviewed the department's 10 essential services, workforce metrics and a social-determinants screening program; the board approved a $4,465.40 bad-debt write-off (accreditation item) by voice vote and asked staff to return with a template to review ordinances and policies ahead of reaccreditation.
Health Director Billy Walker told the Alexander County Board of Commissioners that the public-health department met its 10 essential services for 2025–26 and described workforce and service metrics, new partnerships and steps to prepare for reaccreditation.
Walker said the department has 36 positions of which 33 are filled and reported a 20% turnover rate over the past year. He outlined workforce-development work, including outreach to junior-high and high-school students about public-health careers and an internal workforce-development plan (policy admin 5.5). “We have 36 positions at the health department and 33 of those are filled. Our turnover rate was 20% this past year,” Walker said.
Walker explained social-determinants screening the department uses at childhood visits and the referral pathway for needs such as food, transportation and housing instability. He described partnerships and referral resources such as WIC, DSS and the Alexander Resource Center.
Bad-debt write-off approved: As part of accreditation requirements Walker brought a bad-debt write-off for six months totaling $4,465.40 (largely dental). He said the write-off is an accounting/standards item and that the county retains avenues to recoup funds. The board moved, seconded and approved the write-off by voice vote; no roll-call was recorded. Walker summarized comparative numbers and noted the county uses internal processes and appeals before the Board of Health and other avenues if necessary.
Policy and ordinance review: Walker said a new accreditation standard requires boards to review existing rules and ordinances. He proposed a simple template to assess whether ordinances (for example the county’s tobacco ordinance/T21) remain current and recommended the board consider a tool to evaluate ordinances ahead of reaccreditation in October.
The board asked questions about the write-off process and the accreditation timeline. Walker said many appeals are resolved at the informal level and that more detailed reports would be provided to commissioners in future presentations.
The board approved the administrative bad-debt write-off and accepted Walker's update; no additional action was taken on ordinance changes at this meeting.
