| By Dianne Weaver
Facts collided in a recent meeting of the Calhoun Commission regarding the level of service being provided to the community by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.
"Those services are being provided on a shoestring," said commission president Bob Weaver, who expressed concern the health department is yet another agency that continues to reduce services, or could pull out of the county.
 Dick Wittberg (shown left), the director of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, said "In fact, over the past year, we have increased services," further saying the agency is not planning any reduction.
Longtime health board member Bill Shock disputed Wittberg's assertion regarding the level of service, saying the office is now open four days a week, with an assigned nurse one or two days a month.
Wittberg said the agency's budget is $3.2 million, with a budget sheet indicating the cost of services provided Calhoun at about $100,000 annually, of which about $20,000 goes to administration.
The WIC program, according to Wittberg, is a large part of the agencies budget.
Wittberg told the commission "The landscape had changed a lot over the years," saying "A decision was made about ten years ago to get out of direct services."
He said the agency is now focusing on education and prevention, allowing primary care systems (like Minnie Hamilton Health Care) in rural counties to do that job.
"I don't know how to make people aware that public health should not be patient care...", he said.
Wittberg admitted the focus on education and prevention has not been enough in the county, saying "I've tried to get some programs like that started. Is it enough? No, quite frankly it's not, I hope in another year or two it will be.
Still, Wittberg admitted such direct services were being provided in Wood County.
Weaver said people seem only vaguely aware of the services the department provides in Calhoun.
The MOVHD, a public health agency funded by taxpayer money, has dramatically raised charges for many of its environmental services to improve its bottom line.
The MOVHD is the only multi-county health department in the state, covering six counties with their main office in Parkersburg.
Weaver told Wittberg, "The list among other agencies is long on pull-outs from Calhoun, because of the small population and poor economic conditions...using some kind of economies-of-scale model that keeps giving us the short end of the stick."
"I have legal authority to assure that public health services are offered that is not just clinical services," Wittberg said.
Weaver expressed concern about the county's agreement with the health department.
"I think the county's concerns are mis-placed," said Wittberg, who said his agency has the legal authority to pull out of the county.
Weaver asked Wittberg if the county could "fire" the health department and obtain those funds to help the public.
He responded by saying the county could not remove his agency.
The MOVHD was asked to produce a plan that would indicate future services for the county.
Weaver said he believes the county could create its' own Board of Health and contract with providers to provide better services to the public.
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