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~~ <br />counties in the district. He added that there were many organizational <br />structures to be put together, however, Orange County's first concern <br />was to provide the best health delivery of services to its citizens. <br />Commissioner Walker asked what could be done to strengthen the <br />district to satify this Board without withdrawing from the district. <br />He stated that he had been happy with the district arrangement and <br />wanted to work to cooperate in any way. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that this would involve a number of <br />major changes because the present structure is not sensitive to the <br />needs of Orange County. He added that he wanted to consider all options. <br />Chairman Whitted stated that Orange County was rapidly becoming <br />an urban county and that some of the problems that relate to the <br />sanitarian could best be met by a single county. He added that one <br />question which has arose was.."can the district have separate ordinances <br />or regulations for one particular county and one answer has been that <br />it has to be on a district-wide basis. If this be the case, do we <br />have enough similar problems to have these kinds of single regulations <br />to apply district wide? <br />Discussion ensued. It was pointed out that the District Board of <br />Health had the authority to pass regulations which apply to the entire <br />district, but does not have the authority to pass regulations for parti- <br />cular counties. This action is left to the Board of Commissioners in <br />the individual counties. Mr. Hezekial Dobson of the Health Department <br />informed the Board of a Public Hearing scheduled for January 19th at <br />4:00 p.m., at the Research Triangle concerning "Drinking Water Standards," <br />Commissioner Pinney asked if 'the other counties within the district <br />would express their feelings concerning the District Health arrangement. <br />Discussion ensued. Members from the other counties, many of whom <br />are members to the District Health Board, stated that they felt the <br />district had delivered health care efficiently over the years and they <br />urged the Orange County Board to submit their concerns to the District <br />Health Board to see if a solution could be reached within the District <br />before finally deciding to withdraw. <br />Commissioner Willhoit stated that there seemed to be a problem <br />with the concept of what public health is about., He stated that his <br />feeling was that the District Health Board had been unresponsive to the <br />changing needs in public health. He added that a forward looking Board <br />is needed. He asked if there were any analysis of the quality of <br />different health boards in North Carolina and how does Orange County <br />measure? <br />ASr. Whitted stated that a genuine concern of the Orange County <br />Board of Commissioners was to have a responsive delivery of health <br />services for the citizens of Orange County. <br />Commissioner Pinney suggested that the Board meet with the <br />District Health Board and discuss problems and to get answers. <br />Commissioner Walker stated that he agreed with Mr. Pinney's <br />suggestion. <br />The Board requested Tom Johnson of the Regional Office to attend <br />the scheduled January 25th meeting to discuss with the Board the ser- <br />vice programs. The other four counties within the district were also <br />invited to attend this meeting. <br />Commissioner Walker was requested to inform the Board of the next <br />.. - meeting of the District Health Board. <br />Commissioner Walker moved that they/m~eetSi!ing~~{ad'. u n <br />Richard Whitted, Chairman <br />Agatha Johnson, Clerk <br />