ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Health plans to ask Belmont County commissioners to address maintenance and repairs at the county-owned building occupied by the health department.

At their monthly meeting Monday, board members expressed concern about the condition of the building, located at 68501 Bannock Road. The building was constructed in the late 1960s.

Board member Joel Braido said he would seek to have the matter placed on the agenda of a commission meeting. Other board members expressed interest in attending the session.

“Structurally, the building is good,” Braido said, but added, “There are basic things that aren’t getting done.”

Braido said the building needs to have its own maintenance worker again.

Robert Sproul, deputy health commissioner, said the county assigns a worker to clean the offices, but doesn’t provide tools or equipment for the employee to do any maintenance or groundskeeping. In addition, the cleaner isn’t certified to perform electrical or plumbing repairs.

Sproul said interior and exterior repairs are needed at the county-owned building. Items of concern include downspouts, drainage, replacement of doors and removal of rusted railings.

Board President Elizabeth Glick said some of the items have been discussed for a year or longer.

“It really has been a long time,” board member Irene Louda said. “It’s not that they (county commissioners) don’t want to do anything. There’s no will to get it moving.”

Braido added, “We need to have a person in-house to do these things. It’s a flawed system.”

In other matters, Board of Health members agreed to change its sanitary code to be identical to the state code’s requirement for septic systems. Previously, the county’s sanitary code was more stringent than the state code, but it is no longer necessary because the rules now require a soil scientist and designer to be present on the property, said Rich Lucas, director of environmental health.

Glick, Braido, Louda and board members James King and Dr. Renato DelaCruz voted for the update. Board member Dwight Jenewein was absent.

Sproul said the health department has received a six-month extension, until March 7, to submit its accreditation documents. The extension was requested because staff turnover led to delays in completing the documentation.

Three births and 53 deaths occurred in Belmont County in July, Sproul said.

Linda Mehl, director of nursing, said an increase in immunizations has occurred with the start of a new school year and an influx of requests from students at Belmont College, where new regulations have been implemented.

As a result, she said, “We’ve used up a considerable amount of our private vaccine. We’ll probably run into some issues.”

Mehl said the department receives some free vaccine from the state for people who are on Medicaid or are uninsured. The department has to buy its own supply of vaccine for customers who have insurance.

Insurance carriers reimburse the department for administration of vaccines, “but the money is not coming in quick enough,” Mehl said. The delay can be six months or longer.

The turnaround for reimbursement can be problematic when expensive vaccine has to be reordered. For instance, she said, 10 doses of meningitis B vaccine cost a total of $1,500.

Mehl said more interviews probably will be conducted for a clerk vacancy in the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program. One round of interviews has been completed.

The Board of Health’s next meeting will be held at noon Sept. 9 at the health department, 68501 Bannock Road, St. Clairsville.