By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
A Crawford Health District meeting on Monday produced tension, few solutions to funding issues, and an announcement from Health Commissioner Scott Kibler. Kibler announced he won’t be seeking a renewal when his contract expires in 18 months.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, Kibler addressed a question pertaining to the length of his contract.
“My original contract was for five years, we are about halfway through a three year contract renewal, and when that is up I won’t seek it,” Kibler said.
This came on the heels in which township trustees asked some pointed questions. Township representatives expressed frustration pertaining to higher assessments for the Health District and what they perceive as a lack of communication from Kibler.
Trustees asked how the money that they are releasing from their general funds to pay the Crawford District Advisory Council is being specifically used.
Kibler assured the group that every dollar spent by the district has been scrutinized with regular audits.
Other issues discussed were lack of promised quarterly reports which Kibler assured were getting sent out. He asked those who were not getting those reports to leave either their home or e-mail address.
After the questions for Kibler were asked, the meeting shifted to a presentation of the services provided by each department of the Crawford County District Board of Health.
During the presentation Fiscal Operations Officer Dawn Kocher said, “Townships and districts pay into the general fund, and mandated unfunded programs.”
Kocher further explained, “The assessments are set by Ohio Revised Code statutes and can change multiple times in a year.”
After the presentation, Polk Township Trustee Glen Cheesman addressed Kiber.
“This is not a witch hunt, we are just feeling the pressure from the townships. It is a survival of the townships.”
Also during the district’s advisory council meeting, the Council voted Milton Underwood as its chairman and Bucyrus Mayor Roger Moore as secretary. Phylis Crall will be the representative for Bucyrus on the Board of Health. Amanda Kovolyan, M.D. was elected to replace Antonio Rondon, MD, and Dan Sipe was elected to the Board of Health. Each will serve a five-year term.