The following was provided this afternoon to WSJD. A link to our previously posted story from Monday’s Wabash County Commissioner meeting can be found here:

https://wsjd.fm/new-blog-1/2023/4/19/dean-amp-wissel-tangle-over-wchd

To whom it may concern,

 As Wabash County Health Department employees, we have been saddened by the recent negative imagery painted by none other than our County Commissioner Rob Dean yet again. Monday nights meeting was a deliberate attack on the integrity of not only our Board of Health, Administrator, but our colleagues as well. This is not the first time, nor I’m sure will it be the last. What IS important is to truly touch on the topics that were brought to the table at Monday’s night meeting and clarify for those in the community that recognize the Health Department as an integral part of the whole Wabash County Community.

Is the Wabash County Health Department a “Cash Cow” that was repeatedly stated by both County Commissioner and Board of Health member, Rob Dean, and then mimicked by the “Help on the Board” Commissioner appointed Board of Health member Darrell Thompson… sure.  Throughout the lifespan of the Health Department, sound financial decisions have been made. Quality decision making on behalf of the management team and Board of Health has allowed us to continue providing the supports and services to this community. We also house a variety of grant driven programs. This is where the confusion for our County Commissioner/Board of Health Member comes in. Grants come to us from various entities, be it the State, Federal Government, or other avenue, through which we receive money. Sometimes this money comes as a directive from the state, pre-allocated for our specific Local Health Department. Many times, we, in house, spend our efforts writing intensive grants for the possibility of new grant funding so that we may increase our capacity as a HD with a new program or service that would be beneficial to our community. This money, a predetermined amount, is given to us with instructions. Grants determine, how, when, where, and on what the money is to be spent on. We do not make these deliverables; they are made for us. When money is given for employee retention, that’s what we spend it on. There are NO OTHER OPTIONS. What do you do if you don’t spend all of the money…. YOU GIVE IT BACK.  So, when there is need to spend money, that’s what you do. As for what Mr. Thompson stated, yes, we absolutely have a plan in place to spend money should we receive a grant fund. As should anyone with grant funding. 

What this “Cash cow” doesn’t have…. A building that promotes growth and an increase in services and supports. We have been housed in a too small building, restricted from growth and development of services, a building that does not have heat in all of the departments, a building that is not easily accessible to those with mobility challenges, although we are currently doing the best we can with what we have been given, and with our own MOOOney…..as determined by our County Commissioners.

As to Mr. Dean stating that we as employees are afraid of retaliation by Administrator/Management Staff, that is absolutely a false narrative. What we are afraid of is becoming a target, with sights set by none other than our very own board member. A board member whose duty is to protect and promote what is inherently public health and what is in the best interest of our community.  We have watched the last two years as he attacked the character and integrity of our Administrator. Watched as her pay became a hot topic, so much that she had to justify her worth to the public. We have watched as we employees have had to implement a timeclock system that will never correctly identify our staff hours to reflect our pay. It does not account for vacation, earned time, offsite events, trainings, etc. One that is also policed by none other than said Board Member/Commissioner by repeatedly requesting our time to find inconsistencies.  No other county entity is held to such standards. So we as health department employees have to validate earnings. Recently, we have experienced board meetings which are so heated we have heard Mr. Dean and Mr. Thompson yelling so loud it is heard in the basement. These meetings take place during hours of business with clients in the building. Who are we afraid?  Those that are aggressive. Those that repeatedly hold the health department in a negative light to the public that we serve. Those that make threatening comments in public forums. You know who that isn’t? Our Administrator and management staff.

This isn’t about pay, Lord knows we don’t make what we are worth. What we know is that we love our jobs. We love our colleagues. We love our clients.

 We are public health.

-Signed

Employees afraid of County Commissioner/Board Member retaliation