The regular meeting of the Columbus Board of Health was held in the
Administration Conference Room of the Health and Human Services Center on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 1:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
James H. Sullivan, M.D.
Mayor Jim Wetherington
Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
Howard Willis, M.D.
Banks H. Carroll, M.D.
James A. Lawrence, D.D.S.
Ms. Brenda Dozier
MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Zsolt Koppanyi, M. D.
Eileen Albritton
Pam Middleton
LaQuita Rogers
Cheryl Johnson
Karon Bush
Betty Bunn
Sonya Cochran
Jennifer Serda-WTVM Channel 3& Cameraman
Dr. Sullivan called the meeting to order and asked for a motion to approve the
minutes of the last meeting. A motion was made by Dr. Lawrence, seconded by Dr.
Carroll and approved by those members present.
Dr. Sullivan stated there were no Excused Absences today.
Dr. Sullivan asked if there was any Old Business in regards to the Action List.
Dr. Willis stated that the last minutes created an Action Item about the
reviewing of the Dental Program AR. Dr. Lawrence stated that he had stopped by
the Dental Clinic and was advised that the new equipment should be delivered
this week.
Page ? 2 of 4
Columbus Board of Health
Dr. Sullivan asked for any New Business. He stated there were several Service
Awards to be presented. Dr. Koppanyi presented the first Service Award to
Charlene Ellis and then to Brenda Wells, both for 30 years of service.
Dr. Sullivan called on Dr. Koppanyi for the Director?s Comments. Dr. Koppanyi
stated that the 8th DUI Re-enactment was held as a Community Event at the
Columbus Civic Center. Dr. Koppanyi was pleased with the presentation and the
attendance from the area schools. There was a presentation from a young man who
had an accident resulting in two deaths. He was DUI and is serving a 15 year
jail sentence as a result. There was a pre and post test given and comments
were evaluated. The comments received were extremely impressive.
Dr. Koppanyi stated that he attended the GPHA (Georgia Public Health
Association) meeting in Savannah. The meeting lasted a week. He stated that it
was truly ?the best? meeting yet with over 700 attendees. The Legislative
Committee assigned to study public health issues in Georgia held hearings
during the meeting. Ms. Dozier represented the Board very graciously. Eileen
Albritton presented testimony to the Committee. Mr. Ben Harbin, Chair of the
Study Committee, delivered the closing address. Mr. Harbin chose to depart from
his prepared remarks and spoke about the issues he had learned during
presentations, and testimonies. Dr. Koppanyi complemented Ms. Dozier on her
attendance in representing the Board. Ms. Dozier stated that out of the meeting
it was necessary to meet with the Mayor and City Council to provide an
in-service so they can understand the ramification of what their duties and
responsibilities would be should some pandemic events occur.
Dr. Kopppanyi stated there were some additional cases of West Nile Virus with
some associated publicity. Dr. Koppanyi stated that the public needs to know
that West Nile Virus is in this community and that we have had more cases this
year than in the previous two years. Dr. Koppanyi stated that he had made an
appearance on the public service television addressing the importance and
issues of cleaning up the breeding sites and stating that the mosquitoes are
found normally within 300 yards of where they hatch.
Page ? 3 of 4
Columbus Board of Health
Dr. Koppanyi also stated that Cheryl Johnson, PIO, is pursing a new career path
and will be leaving the health department.
Dr. Sullivan called on Pam Middleton to present the financial report to the
Board.
Mr. Hugley reminded the Board to look for more discussion about House
Resolution 900. Resolution 900 was a bill that was brought forward on the last
day of the Legislative Session by the speaker of the house and signed onto by
the Liminate within the House. It is a very active bill and the Speaker is
making presentations across the state regarding and promoting House Resolution
900 that will call for major tax reform. That tax reform if it occurs would
have impact on cities and counties across the state of Georgia and our city
would be impacted. It would institute a 4% sales tax on all goods and services
that are not currently being taxed. If you are a physician or lawyer, etc. you
will pay the usual tax on items not currently taxed. This city?s tax would be
based on cities or counties collections of 2006. Now, it is going to be based
on 2007 collections. If it is based on 2007 collections and not current
collections to date, we stand to lose revenue; for example if we collected $60
million dollars in property taxes and we projected in 2008 -$65 million
dollars, we would be getting a 5 or 10 million dollar reduction in our revenue
because all revenue go up to the state as the sales tax currently does and the
state would send you your guarantied amount based on 2007 collections in your
county which would be considerable less than what your current collections
would be. This could impact your current level of services and impact those
that are funded through property taxes. The local government would loose
control because all of the money would go to Atlanta and then flow back down to
your county or city versus your city collecting those monies so you loose
control. This imposes a number of other items that can hinder local control.
Dr. Sullivan called on Betty Bunn, BreasTest and More for the presentation to
the Board.
Dr. Sullivan asked if there was any other business to discuss. There being
none, the meeting was adjourned.
Page ? 4 of 4
Columbus Board of Health
Respectfully submitted:
____________________________
Pam Middleton, Secretary
Attachments
No attachments for this document.