Commissioners deny Health Department grant app

Lincoln County commissioners on Wednesday voted to reject a request to further allow for funding for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.

The program, which sends in-home health advisors into low-income homes across Lincoln County, was funded by a series of grants last year that totaled about $400,000.

The program has virtually funded the Lincoln County Health Department since the retirement of Karol Spas about 18 months ago. The program was pursued and grant money secured by current nurse Micki Carvey, who listended in to the vote via teleconference. 

After approvaing a budget, Commissioner Mike Cole of Eureka made the motion to approve the application for another year of grant funding for the federally supported program. However, the motion died for lack of a second. 

Commissioner Ron Downey of Troy has been particularly in opposition to the program, and he echoed that sentiment Wednesday.

“I just don’t think it’s a good program,” Downey said. “I don’t think enough of the money is getting to the families.”

Presiding Commissoner Tony Berget reserved final judgment on the application until the vote, but Berget did say he thought the program is redundant to existing services.

Attending the meeting in support of the the grant application were Marci Johnson, Susan Horelick and Delora “Cookie” Haidle.  

After the vote, Carvey requested that the application still be considered  and the grant money be administered through the Flathead County Health Department. The move would allow the program to continue, but with a $23,000 loss in funding. 

The grant application was for about $209,000 for 2014.

Berget said he would discuss the matter with members of that Health Department.