Board of health rescinds decision

On Thursday afternoon, Dec. 18, the Washington County Board of Health rescinded action the members took at their Nov. 20 board meeting.

The minutes of the Nov. 20 meeting indicate that Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski had informed the board's Building and Finance Committee that "the Vetter lot remained available for purchase at the previous price of $75K."

At the Nov. 20 meeting, the board approved a motion to recommend to the Washington County Board of Supervisors to move forward with plans for a new building and to purchase a property option for the Vetter lot.

Board chair Virginia Bordwell said there are other opportunities available to the building committee, and no one has moved forward with the option.

"The day after our last board meeting, we had an opportunity to look at some other property options and we want to do our due diligence to make sure we are looking at the best property for our new home," Pettit-Majewski said. "We're hoping to have more information at the next board meeting."

Board member and county supervisor Jack Seward Jr. said that he is working with the county treasurer, auditor and budget administrator to find out how much bonding capacity the county has. He said, " We'll talk about that once we have a little better handle on what our county budget is going to look like, and what we may be able to afford as a capacity for bonding."

Bordwell said the most important decision at this point in time is the location.

" Speaking from experience, if you ask the public to vote on something when you don't have a place in mind, it is a mistake," she said.