ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Health Department welcomed a new health commissioner Monday, and a change in the position’s responsibilities to make it more hands-on.

After a brief closed-door session, the board named Tamara Jo Hess the new full-time Belmont County Health Commissioner, following the resignation of Dr. George Cholak, who had served as the county’s health commissioner for 25 years.

Hess is a family nurse practitioner from St. Clairsville who has been with the department for 18 months as director of nursing, nurse practitioner for the reproductive health program, and the county infectious disease nurse.

Prior to that, she had been an emergency room director in Albany, New York and Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz, a nursing instructor at West Virginia Northern Community College, director of nursing for ResCare, and a nurse practitioner at Dayton Family Practice in St. Clairsville.

Previously, it had been necessary for the health commissioner to be a doctor, since the department offered services under this individual’s medical license, but the board had split the duties of health commissioner with that of a medical director.

Dr. Robert Wetzel, obstetrics and gynecology, out of St. Clairsville will take on that role for about two hours a week, at a salary of $25,000 yearly.

“That’s going to be a part-time position to cover the medical services,” Hess said.

Hess’ salary has not been determined. A new director of nursing will also be hired so Hess can concentrate on the health commissioner and nursing practitioner role.

“I think it’s a really good decision that we split the position, because before, the health commissioner and the medical director were the same person, so now the health commissioner will be full-time, in the office, every day, working with staff and doing the daily operations,” she said.

“The position’s going to evolve, because we haven’t had to hire anybody into this type of position (for many years) so we’re going to determine what those positions are going to entail,” she said. “I think it’s just going to provide an overall support structure that’s better for the health department.”

She will remain a nurse practitioner and see reproductive health patients. Hess said there is an advantage to working with staff providing services.

“You have better knowledge and know what’s going on with all these programs,” she said.

For the future, Hess said some of the most significant needs in the area are for programs and services aimed at infectious diseases and sexually-transmitted diseases.

“As regards to infectious diseases, we have a high rate of lyme disease in the county. It would be nice if we could do tick identification/collection that they utilize in some other health departments through the Ohio Department of Health,” she said. Hess said the department will also strive to be more accessible to residents in all locations in the county who are dealing with STDs.

Other issues include hiring a new fiscal manager. Since the prior manager resigned, the department has worked with Belmont County Auditor Cindi Henry’s office to handle finances. Hess said the department is looking to upgrade its tools.

“We need a new program to work on our finances. We do not have a person in that position right now, so that is a position we are going to be hiring for, but we know that we need the tools for that person to be successful in that position, so we want to get the tools in place,” she said.

More future plans include the construction of a new health department building with more space than the present facilities.

The board also commended Cumberland Trail Fire District Assistant Chief Dan Grady for assisting with grants preparations.

The health board meets at noon the second Monday monthly at the EMA building 68329 Bannock Road, St. Clairsville.