A grant to expand services of the Wood
County Community Health and Wellness Center could turn out to be a continuing source of funding.The
grant announced last week will award $787,500 to the center for a 15-month period beginning in 2014,
with about $650,000 to follow in 2015. The funds, a awarded by the Department of Health and Human
Services as a result of the Affordable Care Act, are meant to provide more services to more
under-insured people in Wood County.Cathy Corcella, a consultant and grant writer contracted by the
health district, gave an update on the grant at Thursday’s meeting of the Wood County Board of Health.If
the grant is used to successfully increase patients and services at the health center, it could turn
into a "long-term, stable source of funding," she said. After two years, other local
organizations that could serve the same population are eligible to apply for the grant, but "in
reality that almost never happens," Corcella said."I personally don’t know of any instance
where it’s ever happened," she added. "The organizations that get this grant hold it forever.
There are organizations that have had this grant for 40 years."It’s really a tremendous opportunity
to do long-term change in your community."While dollar amounts could be adjusted in the future, Ben
Batey, director of nursing for the health district and CEO of the health center, expressed optimism that
the grant will continue to serve Wood County for years to come. Health center support has historically
been popular with both Republicans and Democrats, with the two largest funding increases for those
organizations coming from presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he said."As long as we
continue to meet our requirements, we should be able to maintain it for as long as we can see into the
future."Batey said last week the money would be used to hire staff in several departments, as a
surge in clients newly-eligible for Medicaid is expected to begin soon under the ACA.Health Commissioner
Pam Butler elaborated during Thursday’s meeting, saying remodeling and restructuring of health district
space will occur, with additional potential for a building expansion.There will be four new exam rooms
converted from office space, and the district will work with a design firm to review the best ways to
reorganize. Butler said a new stand-alone board room could be constructed at the back of the current
building. That way, the current board room could be made into office or clinic space, while the new
structure could be made available as a meeting room to other county organizations, she said.That
building would, however, need to be paid for with health district funds rather than grant money, Batey
said. The grant is intended for operations rather than facilities, but it allows for up to $100,000 in
renovations to health center space in the first year.Batey said he plans to meet to discuss a building
option with county commissioners, whom he said were supportive of the grant application. Wood County was
one of 11 Ohio organizations to receive money under the program, with 236 recipients nationwide.The
health center operates out of the health district offices at 1840 East Gypsy Lane Road.In other
business, the board heard of several changes that will significantly alter the health district. Two
long-time employees announced their retirement, and several positions will be redefined within the
administration.Peggy Naus, a nursing employee since 1995, will retire Nov. 30. Sue Christiansen, senior
grants and accounting manager, has been with the health district since 1977, and will retire at the end
of March.The board opted to post and fill positions for a grants manager and a fiscal
officer/administrator. Previous administrator Bill Ault was also responsible for human resources and
management, but the new position will primarily handle financial matters. Human resources was rolled
into the duties of Julie Kauffman, who was awarded a 4-percent raise for the additional
responsibilities.The board praised Naus and Christiansen for their lengthy service, and lauded
Christiansen for providing advance notice of her retirement. Several board members noted that it will be
important to fill the restructured positions quickly to get new employees up to speed. Christiansen has
taken additional accounting duties since Ault was fired in September amidst allegations of improper
behavior by his subordinates.Several policies listed on Thursday’s agenda were tabled after board
members said they were not able to review them in advance. The policies centered on ethics, standard of
conduct, family medical leave and governance of the board.Separately, the board approved a $1,500 with
Poggemeyer Design Group for an accessibility audit of the health district’s compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.