The Ironton City Board of Health is nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the Ironton City Council.

Current members of the board are Mayor Rich Blankenship, Dr. Mark Pack, Patti Rice, Tyler Walters, Jennifer Willis and myself, Pat Wiseman.

The board meets the second Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. at the Ironton City Building. The public is invited to attend meetings. The board is governed by ORC-3709.281, agreement by a Board of Health to perform municipal services.

This board is the governing body for the Ironton City Health Department. It makes decisions concerning policies, procedures, goals and functions of the department.

The board is responsible for hiring, mentoring, and evaluating the Ironton City Health Commissioner. In turn, the Health Commissioner supervises two full time, one part-time and one contractual employee.

The board establishes the road map for these employees to follow. This road map includes six functions:

1. ADMINISTRATION: It supports the departments mission “Working together to make a difference in the health of our community” and its action statement “Ironton City Health Department, dedicated to making good health contagious.”

2. PROGRAM PLANNING AND BUDGET: The board performs needs assessments and targets populations to be served.

With the assistance of the City Finance Director it reviews the department budget monthly to develop realistic program plans.

3. ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS: The board provides quality assurance for the policies of the organization.

4. RETENTION OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER: In addition to hiring and evaluating the Health Commissioner, the board establishes conditions of employment and compensation.

5. FINANCIAL WATCHDOG: The board exercises care of the funds given by Ironton citizens to this agency. It establishes budgets, controls and audits. It works with the City Finance Director for long range planning.

6. PUBLIC RELATIONS: The board represents the interest of Ironton Citizens in harvesting health and reaping the benefits. It is the agency spokes person to the community.

The Ironton City Health Board is knowledgeable about current public health issues.

Members work to promote openness, trust and mutual respect between board members, staff and the public at large.

The board is committed, community conscious and constant in their quest to improve public health in the City of Ironton.

Pat Wiseman is a member of the Ironton City Health Board.