Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Madison County is at a turning point. Our county commissioners are considering a vote this July to take over control of the county’s Board of Health (BOH) — a move that would shift authority from trained public health professionals to elected officials with no medical backgrounds.
I’m reaching out to you, not just as one of the few veterinarians in Madison County, but as a member of our county BOH. I feel a deep responsibility to let you know about a serious threat to the independence of our public health system.
If the commissioners take control, then decisions about restaurant safety, clean water, disease prevention (including diseases spread by animals), health clinics, maternal and child nutrition, and more will be made NOT by medical professionals—but by politicians with no health background.
Our current BOH is a volunteer group of 11 dedicated experts who meet regularly for several hours at a time to carefully analyze complex health issues. In the state’s most recent re-accreditation process, Madison County Health Department received the state’s highest ranking – HONORS. This health board has a 50+ year history of making unbiased, evidence-based decisions that cater to the diverse health needs of our citizens.
The commissioners, on the other hand, have no medical training and meet monthly to cover an incredibly broad range of topics. I have serious concerns about how public health will be treated with the depth, time, and objectivity it requires under their control.
So, what can Madison County residents do?
Your greatest support would come in sending an email to the county commissioners expressing your concerns and desire to see the governing of public health remain under control of the current county Board of Health. Additionally, please consider sharing this information/email with your neighbors, friends and family and attending the commissioner’s meeting in June and July.