Change in village public health services still under review

By Dave Fidlin

Correspondent

Questions still surround the issue of which organization will provide restaurant inspections, immunizations and other health services to Union Grove residents in 2013 and beyond.

Village officials this month continued to weigh their options, following continued discussion about the cost of contracting with longtime provider Western Racine County Health Department. The agreement between both parties expires Dec. 31.

Wisconsin state law requires all municipalities to have an agreement in place with a health department to handle public health issues.

While Union Grove officials insist that the village’s relationship with WRCHD is not officially severed, other options are being reviewed. Cost and quality of service are among the factors being considered.

Three of the seven village trustees serve on the Administration and Finance Committee. Members have been reviewing all options and have taken several steps, including a meeting with staff at the WRCHD.

Village trustee Gordon Svendsen, who chairs the committee, said he anticipates a recommendation being brought forth to the full Village Board in the near future. For now, the examination of different options continues.

Most counties have a joint health department servicing all residents, making Racine County an anomaly. As its name suggests, Burlington-based WRCHD serves municipalities on the western end.

Another organization, the Central Racine County Health Department, located in Franksville, services residents on the opposite end of the county. The City of Racine has its own department.

Regardless of which route Union Grove chooses to go for a health department provider, there are a number of core services that must be provided.

State law outlines the different levels of service within the purview of a health department.

So-called “Level I” services are required and include immunizations, inspections at commercial establishment and ongoing development of an enforceable plan to communicable disease outbreaks.

According to documents from WRCHD, Union Grove was billed $31,513 in 2011 – a figure that reflects a combination of factors, including population and overall usage of WRCHD services.