Board of health receives award

EPHRATA – The Grant County Board of Health (GCBOH) has been honored with the Board of Health Gold Award from the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH).

This award is presented to a board of health which has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment in the areas of board development, public health policy or public health priorities. The award will be presented on August 14 at the 21st Annual NALBOH Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The GCBOH was selected to receive this award by demonstrating a state and national model for shared local leadership and funding of public health, according to publicist Theresa Adkinson.

Washington state law requires counties to fund local public health agencies. However, cities are not required to fund public health.

In 2005 cities began contributing to the funding of the Grant County Health District (GCHD). Each city was asked for $2 per resident to fund critical public health services.

The cities responded by contributing nearly $30,000, Adkinson said. Over the years, even during the current economic downturn, the amount has increased, with 2013 seeing nearly $89,000.

Grant County continues its commitment by providing $160,000 per year in addition to two office spaces and payroll/treasury services to the Grant County Health District.

The Grant County Board of Health governs the Grant County Health District. The members are:

Tony Massa, Chair - Warden Mayor (Representing George, Warden, Royal City, and Mattawa).

Mark Wanke, Vice Chair - Ephrata City Council.

Richard Stevens - Grant County Commissioner.

Cindy Carter - Grant County Commissioner.

Carolann Swartz - Grant County Commissioner.

Raymond Kelby - Wilson Creek City Council (Representing Wilson Creek, Krupp, and Soap Lake).

David Curnel - Moses Lake City Council.

Tom Harris - Quincy City Council.

Marie Chuinard - Electric City Council (Representing Electric City, Coulee City, Grand Coulee, and Hartline).

The Grant County Board of Health meets on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m.at the Grant County Public Works meeting room at 124 Enterprise Street S.E. in Ephrata. Meetings are open to the public.