Conflict between RUSS and Mt. Union creates possible heath issues for area

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

The Henry County Board of Health is bracing for repercussions from issues between Regional Utility Service Systems (RUSS) and the City of Mt. Union.

With a current standstill between the two entities regarding a possible shutdown of many of the city?s septic systems, due to unpaid bills, the Board of Health met on Tuesday to discuss the issue, saying there is still much state health officials are unsure of at this point in time.

?I have gone up the chain of command and everyone is saying this is uncharted territory,? said Jodi Sutter, Henry County Environmental Health Specialist. ?From a health standpoint, there are still some questions as to how we would need to respond or how much we would need to do. But if those systems get shut off, we will have major health hazard situation in those homes.?

In addition, Henry County Public Health Director Travis Johnson, said the board of health has not received any inquires from any RUSS board members as to what the health risks would be should those systems be shut off. As it stands, the board is not required by law to act until they receive direction to do so from the state level or a complaint from a member of the public.

?Of course, we do believe that to not have a functioning sewer system or septic system in an occupied home is a major health hazard,? said Johnson. ?As far as the Board of Health is concerned, we don?t have any financial assistance or grant money available to help put in a system for someone. At this point, if the systems were to get shut off and someone were to issue a complaint of a health issue in a specific home, then we would get involved to the extent that we needed to in order to stay compliant with state regulations.?

With many questions yet to be answered from the state level, the board of health says they are resolved to wait for direction before acting on the health issues in Mt. Union should they arise.

Apart from an update from Sutter, the board also heard a presentation on the county?s ongoing I-Smile dental initiative assistance program. For the 2014-2015 school year program, Washington County Public Health offered dental screenings, dental sealants, fluoride varnish applications and other dental health assistance to children in both Washington and Henry Counties, mainly targeting third graders. Schools from the two counties that participated in the program had 40 percent or higher free and reduced lunch rates. In Henry County, those schools included Lincoln, Van Allen, Harlan, Salem, Winfield-Mt. Union, Clark and Crawfordsville.

Overall, the program provided 108 screening exams, 49 students were made eligible to receive sealants, 190 fluoride varnishes were provided and 32 referrals for routine care were issued for Henry County third graders. All local dentists were used as part of the I-Smile program.

According to Sheila Temple, the I-Smile Dental Coordinator for the Washington and Henry County program, in the past three years alone, the initiative has significantly reduced the amount of major dental health issues in local children and has increased education and awareness related to dental health.

The next Henry County Board of Health meeting will be held on Jan. 26, at 12:30 p.m., at Henry County Health Center.