Council approves redrafted Bear River Health Department interlocal agreement

The Cache County Council approved a redrafted interlocal agreement July 14 that restructures the Bear River Health Department as a multicounty united local health department.

Jordan Mathis, director of the Bear River Health Department, presented the updated text and described changes that explicitly anchor public‑health and behavioral‑health duties to state code, add two ex‑officio, non‑voting seats (one representing the Cache County Executive’s office and one representing Utah State University), and give the department delegated authority to modify agency contracts when necessary. Mathis also explained an ex‑officio seat for Bear River Behavioral Health on the Behavioral Health Advisory Council to provide operational expertise without creating voting conflicts.

Policy questions at the meeting focused on contract authority and the county’s continuing oversight role. After discussion, Councilmember Nolan Gunnell moved to suspend rules and approve Resolution 2026‑22; Vice Chair Kathryn Beus seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The council’s approval follows prior workshop review earlier in the month, where members requested a clean, corrected copy before formal action.

The resolution approved at the meeting directs the interlocal entity to continue oversight of both public health and the delegated behavioral health functions, requires annual reporting of the department’s budget to participating legislative bodies, and preserves county appropriation review processes. The vote was recorded 7–0 in favor.

The council’s action sets the structure for the Bear River Board of Health, establishes ex‑officio representation, and authorizes the department to pursue state and federal contract funding on behalf of the participating counties. The board will present annual budgets and reports to the counties, and the agreement requires the department to hold a public hearing each year for input on its Behavioral Health Programs Area Plan.