MARSHALL - A Madison County veterinarian has formed a petition to allow residents to voice their disapproval to the county commissioners on their proposed health board takeover.
The idea was introduced in the commissioners' May 13 meeting in which the board voted to approve a motion to explore the potential takeover.
The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing in its July 8 meeting and potentially vote on whether to approve the takeover.
Suzanne Sheldon operates French Broad Mobile Vet.
In the petition, Sheldon said the county is "at a turning point" and that the commissioners' proposed takeover would be a move that would shift authority from trained public health professionals to "elected officials with no medical backgrounds."
Sheldon is one of the members on the 11-member Madison County Board of Health, along with Bob Adams, a retired longtime dentist and Madison County Board of Health chair. Adams said he was "mystified" by the Board of Commissioners' proposed takeover. Adams moved to Marshall and began working as a dentist in Madison County in 1975.
Adams, who has served on Madison County boards of health since at least 1980, said the current board is "so disappointed" that he wonders whether any of the current health board members would agree to stay on in an advisory board role should the takeover be approved.
"The whole staff is kind of jittery now," Adams said of the Health Department.
In Adams' view, the current Board of Health is thriving, citing the state's most recent re-accreditation process, which takes place every four years, in which the Madison County Health Department received an honors ranking.
In the petition, Sheldon points to the honors ranking and its track record throughout its more than 50-year operation.
"This health board has a 50+ year history of making unbiased, evidence-based decisions that cater to the diverse health needs of our citizens," Sheldon said in the petition.
Adams told The News-Record he wondered whether an increased workload with the proposed health board takeover would further strain a commissioner board already dealing with a Tropical Storm Helene rebuild.
"I just can't imagine why they would want to do that," Adams said. "I can't imagine that they're going to be able to spend the time that the current Board of Health spends — two to three hours every other month — getting presentations from the staff and talking about the functions and operations of the Health Department."
In the petition, Sheldon points to the commissioners' broad range of topics covered in regular meetings and said she felt the complexities of health care discussion and policy were better suited for health care professionals.
"I have serious concerns about how public health will be treated with the depth, time, and objectivity it requires under their control," the petition reads. "If the commissioners take control, then decisions about restaurant safety, clean water, disease prevention (including diseases spread by animals), health clinics, maternal and child nutrition, and more will be made NOT by medical professionals—but by politicians with no health background."
Background
The idea to explore the potential of assuming control of the health board was introduced in the May 13 Board of Commissioners meeting.
According to county attorney Donny Laws, North Carolina General Statute 153A-77 allows county commission boards to gain control over boards, agencies and commissions, such as a county Board of Health.
The statute reads, "the board of county commissioners may assume direct control of any activities theretofore conducted by or through any commission, board or agency by the adoption of a resolution assuming and conferring upon the board of county commissioners all powers, responsibilities and duties of any such commission, board or agency."
Local health care staff, including Adams, said they were blindsided by the commissioners' proposed takeover.
Tammy Cody is Madison County's health director.
“All of our operations at the Health Department are running well,” said Cody. “We have no financial concerns and continue to pass all of our audits. None of our programs have corrective action plans. I am truly blessed to work with a dedicated board and staff who love our communities and want the best for all of our residents.”
Madison County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Jeremy Hensley told The News-Record that increased liability was one of his main factors for voting to explore the takeover. He said the proposed takeover would provide some accountability for Madison County residents by holding the county's elected officials liable.
Hensley currently serves on the Board of Health. Commissioners Chair Matt Wechtel also previously served on the Board of Health.
As it exists now, Madison County Board of Health members are state personnel employees, as are the Department of Social Services employees, and a number of Madison County Sheriff's Office employees.
Hensley said the before the May 13 meeting, he had done a lot of research on the proposed takeover and the issue of liability was referenced throughout his research.
"Personally, I do not want an individual that is volunteering their time with no pay and not elected to be able to be sued personally or also to be making legal decisions that affects the citizens of this county," Hensley said.
According to Wechtel, there was not a specific incident that brought this on, nor was there a suit that had been brought against the county.
"Most people naturally assume that the Commissioners are responsible for the activities at the Health Department, so for me, it's about aligning things up to what public perception already is," Wechtel told The News-Record in an email.
The Petition to Maintain the Current Madison County Board of Health is available here.
The Madison County Board of Commissioners will hold its public hearing on the proposed health board takeover in its July 8 meeting at 7 p.m. at 258 Carolina Lane in Marshall.
Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The News-Record & Sentinel and The Citizen Times. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or [email protected].