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Franklin County health board to form task force to plan use of $300,000 in HFI funds
Summary
Board members agreed to form a task force to develop a spending plan for just over $300,000 in previously awarded Health Fund Initiative (HFI) monies, discussing priorities that include AEDs, shelter upgrades, telehealth and transportation vouchers.
The Franklin County Health Board voted to form a task force to develop a spending plan for just over $300,000 in prior-year HFI funds after state officials said the money should be actively spent rather than held in reserve. Staff and board members outlined project ideas and agreed not to make final allocations at the meeting.
Britney Schwab, administrator, told the board the state "let us know that we can't hold on to those funds as, like, a rainy day fund" and said staff were asking the board and health officer to help craft a plan. Board members discussed continuing the department's AED distribution program, upgrading a county community building for use as a disaster shelter (including special electrical "pigtail" hookups for generators), and re-establishing telehealth services in jails and schools.
Health Officer Dave Welsh said the county has been part of Region 6 rural health planning and urged members to consider projects that would demonstrate impact to state reviewers; he noted the Regional Rural Health Transformation work included proposals for EMS capacity surveys and transportation vouchers. The board agreed to assemble a small task force, consult the county EMA and commissioners, and return with prioritized options for the state rather than approving specific expenditures at this meeting.
