County’s health board creation has stalled
Shelby County Chairman Mark Billingsley is removing his sponsorship of a resolution that would create a county board of health, an entity the county last had in 1911.
The Shelby County Commission was expected to approve the resolution Monday after passing it in committee with a “favorable recommendation” Wednesday.
Its other sponsor, Commissioner Van Turner, will either send it back to committee or advance the resolution Monday
“if changes are satisfactory,” Turner said in a text message Friday.
Billingsley wrote that he and Turner were making the changes because of a need for “more communication and collaboration.”
In an email to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Director of Health Alisa Haushalter — both of whom have advocated for the creation of the board — Billingsley wrote that “based on feedback from Municipal Mayors and the greater public, I believe it is obvious all need more communication regarding the establishment of a Health Department Board.
“You both have very good relationships with the area Mayors and the public and I would encourage you to reach out and have conversations with these leaders as well as better inform the greater public on this issue.”
The board, if approved, would exist alongside the Shelby County Health Department, governing the policies of the department, adopting rules and regulations and providing recommendations to the county mayor.
It will also enforce rules and regulations related to public health through the county health director or health officer. Regulations of a county board of health supersede less stringent or conflicting local ordinances.
Members of the board would include two physicians, one dentist, one pharmacist and one registered nurse, all of whom must be licensed to practice in Tennessee. There also would be a citizen representative and a doctor of veterinary medicine, commissioners decided Wednesday.
The members will be nominated by the county mayor and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The county health director and county health officer would serve as ex officio members to the board, with the county health director serving as secretary to
the board. If a vote is tied, the mayor or the mayor's designee has the authority to cast the deciding vote on the motion.
“This it not the time to divide up, especially in the midst of COVID-19,” Billingsley wrote. “... if you think a Health Dept Board is needed, let's involve more voices. I also know your efforts are for the safety of our community. I just believe more communication is needed. And, collaboration with our area Mayors is also essential.”
Turner wrote in a text message to Harris that he still supports the idea of creating a health board. He believes that such a board will continue the work of the current Memphis/shelby County COVID-19 Joint Task Force after the task force concludes its work.
“I do not believe creation of the (health board) will offend the (joint task force's) immediate work but will continue that work in the future!” Turner wrote. “Shelby County Commissioner Willie Brooks Jr. said he hasn't heard any criticism about the idea of a board of health, but believes such a board will be invaluable to elected officials who may not have backgrounds in public health.
Reach Katherine Burgess at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, or 901-529-2799.