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County health board to take up license fee schedule in January

County health board to take up license fee schedule in January
Taylor County Board of Health members gathered on Wednesday, July 2 to discuss when any changes to the transient food license fee structure could take place as well as to discuss grant funding, Man Therapy, the nail care program and communicable diseases. MANDEE ELLIS/THE STAR NEWS
County health board to take up license fee schedule in January
Taylor County Board of Health members gathered on Wednesday, July 2 to discuss when any changes to the transient food license fee structure could take place as well as to discuss grant funding, Man Therapy, the nail care program and communicable diseases. MANDEE ELLIS/THE STAR NEWS

The Taylor County Board of Health plans to discuss possible transient food license fee structure changes at the first meeting of 2026 according to the committee who gathered on Wednesday, July 2.

Committee chair Scott Mildbrand read a prepared statement during the public comment portion of the meeting, stating that he and county health officer Michelle Cahoon met with community members regarding the transient license fee.

“I made a decision not to put it on the agenda as an agenda item, there was a misunderstanding with people involved and I think that was pretty well cleared up,” Mildbrand said.

In other business: -The board heard that Aspirus plans to partner with them for the suicide prevention t-shirts which are done yearly.

-The board introduced new member Bill Klingbeil who is taking the place of Sally Nazer.

-The board heard that county sanitarian Brooke Jahner has caught the department up on work that had been backlogged and plans to be at both the fair and Parkfest for inspections.

-Cahoon reported that grant funding is currently at a standstill, other than the emergency preparedness grant which will be decreasing from $40,000 to roughly $27,000. “We have not seen any contracts, nothing is coming through yet… counties just don’t have the money to be able to fund everything that we do,” she said.

-The board learned that public health coordinator Melissa Moore has partnered with human services for a grant to teach people about lethal means and suicide prevention.

-Cahoon stated that they are working with Enbridge for a grant that would allow the county to replace some of their older automatic external defibrillators (AED’s), some of which are close to 20 years old. Enbridge is the company that has pipelines running through Gilman, Lublin, and Jump River.

-The board heard that the county board will fund Man Therapy through the opioid fund.

-Cahoon reported that there will soon be medication and sharps disposal boxes outside the jail with availability for use around the clock. The county will have to dispose of the items in the boxes by weight and is encouraging people to use them appropriately.

-The board learned that communicable diseases have been ramping up, mostly with people suffering from enteric symptoms as some children have swallowed lake and pond water. In addition there has been an increase in tickborne illnesses, specifically powassen, a virus primarily spread through the bite of an infected deer tick. The health department will have tick kits which include a tick puller, identification guide, and an envelope for sending the tick out for testing.

-Cahoon stated that Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) renewals were sent out and anyone who submits their renewal late will be charged a late fee of $100. She reported that there is never a late fee for transient licenses.

-The board heard that the Fair Before the Fair will take place on July 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. The ADRC of Taylor County will host the event and plans to have vendors, snacks, games and prizes. The health department will promote their nail care program and paint nails.

-The board heard that there was a community health and resources fair at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Medford on June 19 and that another one will be held on July 17 from 3-5:30 p.m.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday, September 4 at 9 a.m.

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