City opens door to health district merger talks

COSHOCTON - Mayor Steve Mercer said he will invite city and county health board representatives to meet next month to consider establishing an exploratory committee to look into consolidating the two health districts.

The city's board of health gave Mercer the go-ahead Monday to open those talks to determine whether county officials are interested in exploring the possibility.

Mercer said he plans to meet sometime in August to open communication on the topic, while the City Council and the City Board of Health take their summer breaks. Both of those panels will return to work in September.

Dr. Wendy Redmond, city health commissioner, said she does not think merging the city and county health districts will save money for the city.

"I think it's going to cost us more money in the long run," she said. "They are going to have to pay for all the studies and extra services."

The city health department remains open and viable, she said, and provides home health care services, which the county does not offer.

Redmond said either she or Laura Roberts, director of nursing and deputy registrar, will represent the City Health Department in the mayor's meeting, depending on when it is scheduled.

Mercer serves as nonvoting president of the City Board of Health, which met Monday night in City Hall. While the panel took no formal vote on the merger proposal, members did agree to let Mercer open the talks.

The consideration comes at the request of Coshocton resident Bob Brems, who contends consolidating the two health departments would eliminate duplication of services, save money and help the local health department achieve accreditation. Brems is the father of the late Coshocton County Health Commissioner, Robert Brems Jr.

Actual approval to merge would have to come from the City Council and the County District Advisory Council, or through a majority of voters on a ballot.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

740-295-3417

Twitter: @JoeTribune