Health board opens year with nonprofit news

The Carroll County Board of Health held its first meeting of the year Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Health Commissioner Kelly Morris announced that Stronger Together Carroll County has received nonprofit status, allowing it to accept donations and conduct its own fundraising. Stronger Together will be eligible to apply for grants after it has been in existence for two years, in accordance with eligibility rules.

Morris also reported she developed a chronic disease profile for Carroll County using the Ohio Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Atlas. According to Morris, the atlas “puts maps across the whole state of Ohio and has different prevalence rates for chronic disease.” The atlas also includes mortality rates and contributing factors.

The health district also is working with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and Stark County’s Health and Healing Center to bring grief services to Tuscarawas and Carroll counties. “We’re still in discussion about what that looks like,” Morris said.

Office Administrator Amy Campbell said she was selected for one of 10 available spots in the Strategic Planning Financial Planning Series, a pilot program through the Public Health Services Council of Ohio. There were 40 applicants, and only two counties from each region were accepted. The board congratulated Campbell.

Morris delivered the environmental health report in place of Tina Bernard, who was absent. Bernard has been working with an HR consultant on leadership development and team building to strengthen her management skills as a new director. Morris also reported the Ohio Department of Health conducted its triennial pool and campground survey Jan. 14 with no citations. Bernard continues work on five Water Pollution Control Loan Fund projects.

Nursing Director Jessica Slater said she has been closing out the Reproductive Health Grant, which has ended. Tasks have included determining what to do with leftover medications and IUDs and completing year-end reporting. Slater also said Ember Newsome and Theresa Harrison have been sending birthday cards to children in the Complex Medical Health Program, a state initiative that helps children with special health care needs.

Slater said she has been working with the Local Public Health Collaborative to transition CMH charting into eClinicalWorks and phase out the HDIS charting system. She said the change will reduce double documentation and improve efficiency.

Morris reported influenza hospitalizations doubled from four in December to eight in January as of the meeting date. Because influenza is reported only when a person is hospitalized, Morris noted the figure does not reflect the likely higher number of positive cases in the community.

In fiscal business, Campbell reported year-to-date revenue of $1,805,650 and year-to-date expenses of $1,700,242. The balance, including carryover, was $787,116.

The board also

— approved the December budget and payment of expenses totaling $138,958.65

— approved payment for materials purchased without a properly executed purchase order, requiring a “then and now” certificate under Ohio Revised Code 5705.41(D)

— approved appropriations in the Water Pollution Control Loan, Public Health Workforce and Health funds to cover additional projected expenses for the fiscal year

— approved reversal of year-end advances from November and December totaling $27,000 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund into the General Health Fund

— approved a refund to the Ohio Department of Health of $504 due to a billing error and duplicate payment in the CMH program

— approved out-of-county travel requests totaling $487.88

— approved an agreement with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank for pop-up pantry services through June

— approved a training and consulting agreement with You Thrive LLC to continue collective impact facilitation through Dec. 22 for $35,000

— approved renewal of the annual tuberculosis agreement with the Carroll County commissioners, effective Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, for $8,000 for the Carroll County General Health District to serve as the county’s TB control unit

— approved an emergency resolution amending Resolution 25-101 adopted Dec. 17, 2025, establishing food service operation and retail food establishment license fees for the licensing year, with new decreased local fees effective immediately

— and adjourned at 6:33 p.m.