The Long County Board of Health said goodbye to an outgoing member, Ludowici Mayor Myrtice Warren, at its December meeting.

Health Director Dr. W.D. Skelton thanked Warren for her service on the board, then gave her a certificate of appreciation and a monogramed robe from the board members and the Long County Health Department.

"I’ve enjoyed working with every group we’ve had up here, and you’re doing a good job," Warren said. "I’m going to miss all of you."

The board also discussed financial cuts in the department’s Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention program, as well as possible options for patients seeking medication funding.

Kathy Rowell, the chief nurse at the health department, said many former patients are unable to obtain necessary medication due to the financial cuts.

Board Chairwoman Rosezena Baggs said patients can seek medicine though private companies’ patient-assistance programs. She said many private companies have programs to assist with purchasing medicine, but many patients do not know they are available.

Skelton directed Rowell to contact the health department’s former patients to check if they have arranged for continuing care and inform them of the patient-assistance programs.

Finance officer Brent Jordan said Long County benefited from the changes made to the grant-in-aid formula for the dispersing of state funds. With this change, Jordan said, the Long County office will see a $12,000 increase in funding for the upcoming year, bringing the office’s total assets to $168,000. He added that the state revenue increased 6.9 percent this year for a total of $339 million through December.

In other business, the board of health:

• Reported that the department employees would receive a 3 percent pay increase, which was the first increase in four years.

• Reported the center would keep its registered nurse position, filled by Angela Hartley.

• Reappointed Terri McGowan to the board and approved her to represent Long County as the ambassador for public-health advocacy on the Georgia Public Health Association Governance Section.