Health department making ends meet ... for now

PRINCETON — The Bureau County Health Department isn't needing to borrow any money just yet from the county.

At Tuesday’s Bureau County Board meeting, board member Loretta Volker, who also serves on the health department's board, reported the health department has been able to meet its payroll and expenses.

In December, Volker and Bureau County Health Department Director Diana Rawlings came before the county board to ask for a possible $100,000 loan, in case the health department did not receive late payments from the state and other money owed the department.

At Tuesday’s county board meeting, Volker said the health department has received some of its overdue money and has met expenses. The publicity about the possible loan apparently brought the need to the attention of those owing money to the health department, Volker said.

“So far we have not needed to borrow one dime from the county,” Volker said.

Hopefully, the state will be able to catch up with some of its late payments, especially under the leadership of the new governor, Pat Quinn, Volker said. If not, the health department could still need to borrow some money from the county to meet its March bills.

On Wednesday, Pat Lebahn, communicable disease coordinator for the local health department, said she's pleased the health department has not yet had to borrow money from the county. However, it's too soon to tell if the health department will receive enough funds to meet expenses in March.

"It's still up in the air, as far as March. It is possible we could need some help from the county," Lebahn said. "But I'm very pleased we've not had to cut any of our services or staff so far. We have trimmed expenses where we could. We've tightened our belt. We've consolidated some office space. We are doing everything we can to continue providing the same services and programs for the people of Bureau County."

Lebahn said some of the larger services and programs of the local health department include its dental clinic, childhood immunization program, flu clinics, restaurant inspections, its WIC voucher  program and its health education program for area schools.