N.C. 251 drive, site of fatal crash that killed two cyclists
This video shows a drive along N.C. 251, the road where cyclists Jake Hill and Lennie Antonelli were fatally struck by a dump truck on July 1.
- Madison County’s environmental health department is critically understaffed, potentially impacting public health.
- Low pay compared to neighboring counties, especially Buncombe, makes it difficult to retain staff.
- The department’s struggles are causing delays in essential services like septic tank inspections.
MARSHALL – Madison County’s environmental health department is in dire straits, facing critical understaffing and staring at a potential “significant health impact” on the community.
The Madison County Board of Health met for the first time since five new members were appointed to the board: Shannon Dowler, Cynthia Niles, Dyatt Smathers, Melissa Sluder and Robin Smith.
The health board’s meeting marked its first since the Madison County Board of Commissioners’ July 8 meeting, in which it voted to not take over the board of health following public outcry, with one former commissioner and retired judge, Jim Baker, referring to the proposed takeover as an idea “generally regarded by the public as a terrible and illogical idea.”
In the meeting, the board and County Health Director Tammy Cody emphasized the county’s critical understaffing in its environmental health department. Ultimately, Cody and the board felt that working with the county human resources and finance departments to rework a proposed compensation package to hire an additional three employees would be the county’s best option moving forward.
In North Carolina, environmental health departments hold a number of responsibilities, including overseeing food safety, water quality, lodging and institutions, and permitting of septic pools and wells, among other things.
The county health director said in order to meet the needs of the county, the environmental health department would need a minimum of three, dedicated on-site environmental health workers, with another employee handling food and lodging duties.
But Smathers and Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Jeremy Hensley said he felt asking the county commissioners for a budget amendment mid-cycle, after the county just approved its 2025-26 budget, would be a tough ask of the commissioners.
Smathers and Hensley said Cody would be able to transfer funds from lapsed salaries to hire one or two employees in the interim.
Cody was due to present the plan back to the health board by Aug. 1.
Dowler said the Health Department and health board would need the support of the commissioners “that is a new and different approach,” and said the county is in “a crisis” that has health impacts for the community.
‘A huge issue’
In the Madison County Board of Commissioners July 8 meeting, in which the board voted to not take over control of the Board of Health, Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Jeremy Hensley said the county commissioners receive complaints about the environmental health department, particularly the drawn-out permitting process.
“I’ve been on the Board of Commission for two and a half years, and we get complaints all the time. The environmental health side of the department is a disaster,” Hensley said.
“It’s crazy when someone wants to build a house and they’re held up two and a half months because a septic tank’s not getting inspected.”
Cody said she was “very concerned,” emphasizing the critical need of the environmental health department protecting against public health crises.
The county health director referred to the environmental health understaffing as “a huge issue,” and one that has been an issue throughout her tenure.
“Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve had a shortage of environmental health specialists,” Cody told the board, adding that a shortage of environmental health specialists throughout the state and the county’s lesser pay when compared to Buncombe County, were also factors.
Cody said once an employee receives the state certifications, they can receive up to $20,000 more per year working for Buncombe County.
But in its current state, the county’s environmental health department is especially slim, as Jamie List, an employee of 31 years, recently retired. Additionally, two of the department’s part-time staff members are set to retire in August. Another employee, Burgin Mackey, tendered their resignation recently as well.
Once the two part-time staff members, who are retired Buncombe County environmental health workers, officially retire from Madison County in August, the department’s staff will be down to one member.
Cody said the county is in “desperate need” for exploring how to get environmental health specialists.
According to the county health director, in addition to the pay differential, another factor contributing to employees’ dissatisfaction is the number of residences requiring septic inspections.
“That frustrates that department terribly,” Cody said. “There are so many people moving to our beautiful county, and that’s great in one way. But if they don’t have appropriate septic systems, it is very frustrating for the staff down there.”
According to the county health director, in the past, the county has paid to send employees to Raleigh for trainings, as well as other expenses including lodging during their training, investing thousands of dollars into the employee, only for them to then leave for a better-paying job after a short time.
“Once they get their authorizations, they’re very valuable to go someplace else, and Buncombe County will make them an offer that’s $25,000 to $30,000 more than what we’re paying,” Cody said.
Board members, including Dr. Melissa Robinson, discussed the county offering signing bonuses and increasing the salary to attract talent.
The salary listed for environmental health specialists with all state authorizations at Madison County is roughly $66,000. According to Cody, nearby rural counties, such as Yancey County, typically pay higher health department salaries than Madison.
“We sit right next to Buncombe, so we are going to have to have a higher salary than a place that doesn’t have that competition,” Robinson said.
Marshall resident Matthew Ponder spoke during public comments of the health board meeting.
“We will not function as a community without this doing well,” Ponder said, adding that he felt it would take a $100,000 salary to bring in an employee.
Cody said that once the two part-time employees leave Aug. 8, the county will be without a food and lodging inspector, further highlighting the critical nature of the department’s understaffing.
“If we had a food outbreak, one of our nursing homes has issues, our day cares, in addition to keeping people working in jobs with on-site work,” Cody said. “I’m very concerned.”
Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or [email protected].
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