LISBON — Swim safety topped the topics during a recent Columbiana County Health District Board meeting, with the idea of a water watcher being suggested by both the county and the state.

“Someone to observe people in the pool,” county Health District Public Information Officer Laura Fauss said.

That’s the definition of a water watcher, someone to watch over the swimmers.

Fauss said 23% of childhood drownings occur during family gatherings due to distractions.

According to the Ohio Department of Health website at odh.ohio.gov, there are several actions that can be taken to lower the risk of drowning, including:

— Consider a person’s ability to swim.

— Ensure barriers are in place that prevent water access.

— Ensure close supervision while swimming.

— Always wear a life jacket.

— Avoid alcohol use.

— Consider medical conditions that can increase risk.

ODH also said to be a water watcher, avoid distractions, always have a swim buddy, secure the pool when no one is around, know where all safety equipment is located and wear age-appropriate safety gear.

As the county Health District Director of Environmental Health, Fauss also said, “Don’t swim if sick or having gastrointestinal issues.”

Even though pools have chlorine in the water, that doesn’t mean it will kill all types of bugs, she said.

The health department inspects public swimming pools, looking at safety equipment and the chemistry of the water, but private swimming pools or hot tubs are unregulated and uninspected.

In other business, Health Services Administrator Amanda Amato reported the vaccines for children program was audited by ODH in May and there were no compliance issues. The last audit was in 2023. The district experienced a 30% increase in patients for the vaccines, with 935 for this audit and 710 during the audit in 2023.

She also reported ODH is working with the county to assist patients with navigation and finances if there’s an issue discovered during a cervical cancer screening. The help will depend on having an income 300 % below the poverty level. Patients who are 21 years old or older who qualify can be referred to the program. There’s also a full Medicaid benefit related to the breast cancer screenings. An agreement for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program assistance was approved by the board.

During a recent PSA clinic for prostate cancer screenings on June 16, 37 men were screened and there’s nearly a full schedule for the first ultrasound clinic for the mobile Tiffany Cancer Center for women who may have had a finding of dense breast tissue during their mammogram.

“Every patient I spoke to was very grateful to have the service offered here at the health department,” Amato said.

Under old business, the board awarded the contract for the number five Water Pollution Control Loan Fund project to Colian Multi-Service of Salem for $25,600 as the lone bidder. The board also learned that the contractor for WPCLF groups 1 and 2 completed the jobs after receiving additional time.

Under new business, the board approved a medical waste contract with Daniels to pick up sharps containers at a cost of $84.95 per month, but with the understanding the health district may skip a month. The previous provider of the service had increased the cost three times since March 2025, so the health district looked for a new provider and identified Daniels, which will result in a substantial savings.

Three agreements for the health district to provide epidemiology services to other districts were extended from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with $21,000 per year for Noble County, $22,000 per year for Portsmouth and $22,500 per year for Lawrence County. An agreement to provide Public Health Emergency Preparedness services to Carroll County was extended from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 for $29,000 per year.

The board hired Michael Bucko of Boardman as the new PHEP Coordinator, with a start date of July 13 with an average monthly salary of $4,160. Fauss said he served in the military and while serving, he worked on public health preparedness. The board also reposted a position for environmental health sanitarian in training after the resignation of Logan Barna.

In other matters, the board approved an agreement for eight cell phones and two tablets through Verizon at a cost of $293 per month through a government contract, approved updates to the performance management/quality improvement plan and appropriated partial carryover for the $20,000 mosquito grant.

The next meeting of the health district board will be 4:30 p.m. July 15 at the health district building, 7360 state Route 45, Lisbon.