Fees increase for public health visits

The county public health department hiked all in-office fees now under $10 to a base fee of $10 at a meeting with county commissioners Monday, Oct. 18.

Health Director Fran Martin said all fees at the public health office are on a sliding fee scale based on a visitor’s family income.

Before Monday’s meeting, a visitor could have been charged less than $10 for a particular fee, according to their income on the sliding scale. Now all fees that used to cost under $10 will now cost $10.

Martin said the move would help compensate their office, although they still won’t be earning back the full cost...