USE – The Jefferson County Board of Health met in regular session Tuesday. — Christopher Dacanay
STEUBENVILLE – The first naloxone distribution boxes from a new order from the Jefferson County General Health District have been placed in various locations, and there are more available for local agencies to claim.
JCGHD received eight emergency-type boxes through a joint nationwide grant program. Those boxes will be placed in offshore areas, where organizations are willing to receive them, and provide a publicly available supply of the drug naloxone that replaces the drug in bulk with the health department’s stock.
Health Commissioner Andrew Henry reported during Tuesday’s Jefferson County Health Board meeting that two of the eight boxes have been placed in the Jefferson County Tower Building next to existing AEDs — one is and in the lobby and one in the health department offices on the sixth floor.
“We still have six emergency procedures that can go to any facility that wants them,” Henry said.
In addition, JCGHD is awaiting an order for four newspaper boxes that serve the same purpose, Henry said. Those are highly requested but behind. The Brilliant Treatment Center and Trinity Health System are scheduled to receive a newspaper-style box upon arrival.
Separately, the board approved a $5,300 purchase order for the YMCA Wellness Center in St. Louis. John Arena for inventing the elliptical trainer.
Funding for the purchase comes from an Ohio Department of Aging Health Grant, totaling more than $300,000, awarded to JCGHD in November and distributed in chunks to various senior-related programs in the state.
Henry said the goal is to end the grant funding by the end of the month, depending on the program’s needs. Some of the money was used to buy items for the health fair on Monday, although a portion should be allocated to use to increase digital literacy. With those funds, Henry said, JCGHD plans to purchase iPads and provide user training to adults.
Also, Nurse Director Kylie Smogonovich reports that the JCGHD diaper bank has served 301 children since it was established about seven months ago. In support of the bank, JCGHD employees will hold a strike at Friday’s Steubenville High School football game, in partnership with the SHS Key Club, and the Dashing for Diapers 5-K Dec. 14, will begin and end at Historic Fort Steuben. and provide financial assistance.
“This is a good program for the segments of the population that we deal with,” board member Terry Bell said of the diaper bank. “Those numbers are amazing, what you collected and what you gave.”
Smogonovich reports that the nursing staff is scheduling their flu clinics. There are currently two clinics planned for October – one at Urban Mission Ministries Inc. while the other is Richmond Quaker Days. Naloxone distribution will accompany those clinics.
In other businesses:
• Henry reported that JCGHD has been invited to present at the Amish Life Conference Nov. 14 Salt Fork State Park, regarding staff response to the December meningitis outbreak in North and Northwest Jefferson County.
• The Board approved five contracts or memorandums of understanding, including the Baldwin Group for environmental assessment modules, the Center for Marketing and Opinion Research for the JCGHD’s 2025 Public Health Assessment and Project work of Public Health Improvement, Environmental Protection Agency for public area monitoring. sanitary disposal systems, the city of Steubenville for cooperation in the city’s Choice Neighborhoods provides the first operation and the Jefferson Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority for providing solid waste analysis.
• The Board authorized the purchase of $18,875.00 from CMOR in CHIP and CHA for 2025. The $28,250 owed to CHA will be split with Trinity Health System for $14,125 each, although each organization is will pay $4,750 for its CHA.
• The board approved the revised patient finance policy, which previously stated that credit and debit card transaction fees would be $2.50. However, Henry said, if transactions exceed a certain limit, the fee can be raised. So, the policy was developed to be readable “Credit card or debit card payments are subject to transaction fees” to show that difference.
• The board approved the decision to implement a revised fee schedule for the operation of mobile food services for the 2024 license year. Influenced by changes made to the Ohio Administrative Code, the revised schedule now distinguishes between hazardous and less hazardous telefood operations – identified by the type of food prepared – and charges the operation that the lower of the local fee is reduced by 50 percent.
• The board has had the first of three of its 2025 environmental program fees.
• Marc Maragos, director of environmental health, reported that there were 22 calls to the Apex Landfill odor complaint line in August and 12 so far this month.
• Maragos also reported that the environmental division has signed a letter of support with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District to continue their partnership to eliminate sewage in the Jefferson County area through the Ohio EPA Water Fund. The Pollution Control Loan Fund, is aimed at low-income people who cannot afford the improvements themselves.
• WIC Director Stephanie Chester reported that the community is experiencing shortages of two types of infant formula due to weather-related incidents at manufacturing plants. However, large shipments are expected to hit stores soon, with Wal-Mart being the first.
• Chester also reported that the WIC program had 10 local farmers market coupon booklets left for participants to pick up and redeem at the Steubenville and Wintersville farmers markets last year. Redemptions have started slowly, Chester said, but are historically higher than in previous years because of WIC workers handing them out to the market themselves.
• The board approved the retirement of Emma Gray, hygienist in training, effective Oct. 4. Gray, who will serve in the Columbiana County Health District, was praised by board members and health department officials for his service in the environmental sector.
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