UPDATED: Branson board favors health department merger

The health services integration task force has been studying a department merger for nine months and has unanimously approved the resolution.

If approved, the departments would merge in February. Taney County Health Director Jim Berry would direct the new department, as Branson Health Director Linn Smith plans to retire Jan. 31, according to a news release.

Currently, the city department conducts all environmental inspections for commercial businesses, and the county department provides general health services for adults and children.

According to the proposed five-year integration agreement, all city health inspectors would move to the county offices at Bee Creek and Rinehart roads once those offices are expanded. City employees would maintain current salaries and benefits, and all of the city’s equipment and resources would also be transferred.

The agreement states the city will pay the county health department $800,000 for the first two years, and the city’s allocations for the following three years will be negotiable.

Berry estimates the cost to operate the merged department would be $3 million annually, according to the release. The county department receives about $2 million of its funding from a county tax levy, contracts through the state health department and fees for services.

The task force would continue to meet regularly over the term of the contract to review the integration progress, set policies and provide guidance.