Counting Down

The merger is just four more working days away. If those days are anything like the last week was, we will be working our butts off to get ready.
Even after nearly four years of work to get to this point, we continue to be surprised by things we hadn't thought about. Like the books say, "don't sweat the little things". Lots of little problems are still just little problems. The big thing is that we are moving forward, working as a team to reach our goal.
Four more days - that is worth savoring. So many people said ,"it will never happen" but we didn't give up, we didn't go away, and we didn't push. Perceptions take time to change, and eventually more people began to believe, "it might happen", and finally, "it will happen."
I've always believed that the merger would happen, I just wasn't sure when it would happen. Now we all know when...four more days!

Newark Council Approves Merger

The Newark City Council voted 9-1 in favor of joining the Licking County, Heath City, and Pataskala City health districts in the formation of a combined general health district. The merger will final become a reality after nearly 60 years of on and off attempts that have all fallen short. The real work begins now, joining the employees into a cohesive, integrated, unit. I am sure that the Newark Health Dept. and Licking County Health Dept. staff will come together with only minor growing pains.
Thanks to all the people who have helped obtain this historic opportunity to improve public health services in Licking County.

District Advisory Council Approves Merger!

On Saturday January 5th, the Licking County General Health District Advisory Council voted unanimously to approve the contract for the union of the Licking County, Heath, Pataskala, and Newark City Health Districts. It was remarkable that nearly 30 representatives from the townships, villages, cities, and county commissioners, all agreed in the spirit of intergovenmental cooperation, to support the merger.
Newark City Council is to vote on January 8th. I'll report back then.