County health board approved
Shelby County Commissioners have approved a resolution creating a county board of health.
Alisa Haushalter
The commission had delayed the measure, sought by county Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter, several times over wording that seemed to give the body the power to enforce guidelines.
Haushalter always said the board would be purely an advisory board to her. But the wording caused enough concern among suburban mayors and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland that the vote was delayed numerous times before approval Monday, Sept. 28, after wording about regulatory power was removed.
The board of public health and health care professionals will probably include the appointment of a local business owner, judging by the conversation commissioners had before the vote.
The body rejected a move by Commissioner Mick Wright to have an economist appointed to the panel.
The board will advise the county Health Department even beyond the current pandemic.
Haushalter moved to create the panel after working with a similar body at Nashville’s Health Department before she came to the Shelby County position.
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Shelby County Health Department Shelby County CommissionBill Dries on demand
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Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
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