Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Board of Health met Sept. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order 

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Dick Joyce	Board of Health Member	Present
Eric Rasmusson	Board Member	Present
Ann Marie Struck	Board of Health Secretary	Present
Joan Harrop	Board of Health President	Present
Dana Howd	Board of Health Vice President	Present
Dean Marketti	Board of Health Member	Present
Kathy Ulivi	Board of Health Member	Present
Mary Menz	Board Member	Present

Also attending was: Tania Schwer; Public Heath Administrator, Tarcha Hurley-Howard; Director of Environmental Health, Kathryn Harrison; Director of Nursing, Tamra Peppler; Director of Finance, Operation and Compliance and Megan Black; Office Coordinator.

Absent was: Kasie Hoffman; Director of Senior Programs.

II. Public Portion 

None.

III. Approval of Agenda** 

1. Motion to approve the Agenda for the Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Board of Health Meeting

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dana Howd, Board of Health Vice President SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

IV. Approval of BOH minutes** 

1. Board of Health - Regular Meeting - Aug 20, 2025 6:30 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

V. Health Department Programmatic and Operations Report

1. Health Department Programmatic and Operations Report

Administration: Tania Schwer, Public Health Administrator, updated the present board of health members on administrative programs and operations. The Grundy County Health Department continues to collaborate with Biel Consulting and Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers on the IPLAN and Community Health Needs Assessment. The recertification application for the Grundy County Health Department will be completed in December. Per recommendation from Biel Consulting, the Grundy County Health Department will complete an Organization Self-Assessment. Biel Consulting has provided tools to complete the Organization Self-Assessment. Soon, the assessment will be brought to Board of Health for review. Dr. Vohra, the Director for Illinois Department of Public Health, visited the Grundy County Health Department. Dr. Vohra is aware of recent changes. He visited with staff of health department, met with county leadership and discussed possibilities for a senior community center and epidemiology services. He had inquires about how the pillars of public health are being supported. Wage inquiries that Dr. Vohra had were brought to county leadership. Tania Schwer attended an IPHA Local Health Department Administrators Workshop on 9/09, were she listened to speaker, Dr. Keim and learned about strategic planning. Health Department staff members attended an Annual Retreat on 9/16/2025 where they listened to speaker, Dr. Kelly, and learned about how effective and motivated teams succeed. Grundy County Health Department FaceBook has begun highlighting teams of the health department. Tania Schwer had a meeting with AgeGuide leadership to discuss possibilities of a community center, sharing that county leadership is in support of the center.

Nursing: Kathryn Harrison, Director of Nursing, updated the present board of health members on nursing programs and operations. Kathryn shared that a staff member of the division has resigned. The division welcomed back a staff member who is coming back to the office. There is one vacant contractual position posted. The division has begun providing onsite flu clinics at Saratoga Towers, Elliot Manor and Church of Hope. Kathryn provided an update on the most recent information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Board members shared information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

Environmental Health: Tarcha Hurley-Howard, Director of Environmental Health, updated the present board of health members on environmental health programs and operations. The division is starting the annual tick drags in the community. To satisfy the Tick grant, 6 drags must be completed every year, 3 in the Fall and 3 in the Spring. At the end of FY2024, 8 ticks were submitted to the state for identification. 1 tick was identified as a black-legged tick, those that can carry Lyme disease, 6 ticks were identified as American Dog ticks, those that you can find in your backyard, and 1 tick was to small too identify. The division received approval last week that they will receive the full grant amount for the Tobacco program. The division will begin conducting inspections at stores that sell tobacco products. The division will continue to enforce the Smoke-Free IL Act for public facilities.

Senior Programs: Tania Schwer, Public Health Administrator, updated the present board of health members on senior division programs and operations. Amber Naser and Jacob Ramos are Care Coordinator Certified. Kasie Hoffman's delivered her baby. Tania Schwer shared stats and discussed the interim schedule.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VI. Claims 

1. Motion to approve the Health Department Claims for August 2025

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary SECONDER: Eric Rasmusson, Board Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VII. Health Department Financial Report 

1. Health Department Financial Report

Tamra Peppler, Director of Finance, Operations and Compliance, reported on finances for the Health Department.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Dana Howd, Board of Health Vice President AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

VIII. Old Business 

None.

IX. New Business 

1. Job Description: Director of Finance, Operations and Compliance

The present Board of Health members approved revisions for the presented job description.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dana Howd, Board of Health Vice President SECONDER: Joan Harrop, Board of Health President AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

2. Job Description: Finance and Administrative Asst.

The present Board of Health members approved revisions for the presented job description.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

X. Executive Session 

A. Motion to Exit Open Session and Enter Closed Session 

1. Motion to Exit Open Session and Enter Closed Session

At 7:17pm, the Board of Health went into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) matters on a motion made by Board of Health member Marketti and seconded by Board of Health member Struck. On a roll call vote, said motion prevailed by the following vote:

Ayes: Joyce, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Menz, Rasmusson, Struck, Ulivi

Nays: None

Absent: None

Excused: None.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dean Marketti, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

B. Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) 

C. Motion to Exit Closed Session and Enter Open Session 

1. Motion to Exit Closed Session and Enter Open Session

At 7:29pm, the Board of Health conducted a motion to exit executive session and enter back into open session on a motion made by Board of Health member Joyce and seconded by Board of Health member Menz. On a roll call vote, said motion prevailed by the following vote:

Ayes: Joyce, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Menz, Rasmusson, Struck, Ulivi

Nays: None

Absent: None

Excused: None

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Mary Menz, Board Member AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

XI. Action as Result of Executive Session 

No action needed as the result of the Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Board of Health meeting.

XII. Adjournment 

1. Motion to Adjourn the Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Board of Health Meeting

At 7:30pm the Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Board of Health Meeting was adjourned. The recording was stopped.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Dick Joyce, Board of Health Member SECONDER: Ann Marie Struck, Board of Health Secretary AYES: Joyce, Rasmusson, Struck, Harrop, Howd, Marketti, Ulivi, Menz

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