Board of Supervisors ask questions about HHCC website

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Board of Supervisors questioned the purpose and use of the Healthy Henry County website at their regular meeting Thursday, July 27 and Henry County Public Healthy Community Outreach Coordinator Kelly Carr questioned their lack of communication.

According to Supervisor Marc Lindeen, during their July 20 meeting the board became aware of a request for the county to pay for a website for Health Henry County Communities despite the county website already containing information for Henry County Public Health.

Lindeen questioned the need for the Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) website and redundancy.

According to Carr, the current tab for Public Health on the county website redirects to the Healthy Henry County Communities website and they share the website for information. Carr explained that the county website is not set up to contain the amount of information that HHCC makes available.

“Currently there are 25 pages on the website that I keep up to date, way more than what we’re seeing on the one page that is on the county website,” Carr said.

According to Carr, the site is used by the public and last year it saw 6,162 new visitors.

“This is one of our primary ways that we get information out to the public,” Carr said. “If we weren’t able to use that website, we would be spending a ton more in advertising dollars for getting information out when we have new things coming up like the COVID vaccine and RSV vaccine last year.”

Carr further stated that the website receives many visitors looking for immunization clinic hours. Public health and HHCC also use the website to share educational materials, raise awareness, and share resources in the community.

Additionally, Carr stated that she maintains the HHCC website and that maintenance would be difficult if working through the county’s current website service.

“The county’s website was just so limiting,” Carr said.

Supervisors further questioned if it was acceptable for the county to pay for anything related to HHCC when discussions in 2018 indicated that they could not support a nonprofit.

Carr explained that HHCC is no longer a nonprofit, but functions under the umbrella of the county’s public health department. Additionally, she stated that the group that meets to discuss HHCC is strictly a volunteer coalition open to the public. According to Carr, the concerns from 2018 are no longer valid as HHCC is not structured the same way.

“The nonprofit doesn’t exist,” Carr stated. “They exist, but they’re not active. The coalition is the one doing all the work.”

According to Supervisor Chad White, the Henry County Attorney stated in 2018 that public funds could not be gifted or spent in general support of HHCC voluntary programs such as a director’s salary without a two-thirds vote finding that special services provided are for a public purpose.

Henry County General Assistance Director Sarah Berndt told the supervisors that the information on the website is primarily for the public health department.

“It wouldn’t exist if it were HHCC driven,” Berndt stated.

The supervisors did not act on any of the information pertaining to HHCC in the discussion at the meeting, but did agree to continue conversations moving forward.

“I just want to say one thing,” Carr said to the supervisors as the discussion came to a close. “I know you're trying to improve communication within county departments, but I just wished you would have called us or come over or even told me that this was on the agenda today. Because if I hadn't happened to look at the agenda, I wouldn’t have even known you were having a discussion, and I don't know how you having discussion without the facts from somebody involved. So I'm happy to answer any questions. So, come to me.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com