By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Union Grove officials continue to examine options to answer a looming question: Who will provide health services to the village in 2013 and beyond?
The requirement to have a health department on hand to handle a myriad of tasks – ranging from restaurant inspections to immunization clinics – is outlined in state statutes.
While the Western Racine County Health Department (WRCHD) has long offered its services to residents of Union Grove through a contractual agreement, the village is considering a move in a different direction.
Members of the Village Board’s Administration and Finance Committee have been charged with reviewing the contract with WRCHD and examining the possibility of a more cost-effective model.
“We’re still in the process of looking at all our options,” said Village Board Trustee Gordon Svendsen, who chairs the committee. “We continue to proceed, and we haven’t ruled anything out yet.”
Svendsen said he and other committee members agree the contractor – whether it is WRCHD or another provider – should offer the necessary services in a cost-effective manner.
“We want to be sure that the residents are getting the services they need,” Svendsen said. “But we also have to be looking at our budget.”
In December, the Village Board voted to not renew its contract with WRCHD in 2013, citing the cost and strain on the overall village budget.
Throughout the recent review, committee members have stated that a reversal of the decision could be made if several concerns – including WRCHD’s presence in the community and costs – are addressed.
WRCHD, based in Burlington, has a contract with Union Grove through Dec. 31, 2012.
According to documents from the health department, Union Grove was billed $31,513 in 2011 – a figure that reflects a combination of factors, including population and overall usage of WRCHD services.
Last month, committee members expressed misgivings about WRCHD’s lack of immunization clinics within Union Grove. While local residents can still receive the service through WRCHD, they have to drive to Burlington.
C heryl Mazmanian, director and health officer with WRCHD, said that decision was made because of the cost associated with having a traveling clinic. In Union Grove, she said the clinics had not been well attended.
Regardless of which route Union Grove chooses to go for a health department provider, there are a number of core services that will have to be provided.
State law outlines the different levels of service within the purview of a health department.
So-called “Level I” services are a requirement and include immunizations, inspections at commercial establishment and ongoing development of an enforceable plan to communicable disease outbreaks.
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