Hart honored as ‘Health Department of the Year’

     Paula Hart, Jones County Environmental Health (JCEH) director and Board of Health administrator, was selected to receive the IEHA (Iowa Environmental Health Association) Health Department of the Year Award.

   The award was due to her outstanding service for 2021-22.

   Hart received the award in May while attending the Public Health conference in Des Moines.

   “A lot of Environmental Health officials go, too,” she said.

   Hart was nominated by Linn County Public Health. The nomination read: “Paula is a longtime IEHA member and attends IEHA and PHCI (Public Health Conference of Iowa) conferences as well as other trainings to stay current within the profession. Paula Hart is the reason for the Health Department Award nomination. The most recent example of worthiness for nomination is due to her connecting EH (Environmental Health) professionals with information that has helped residents of Morley with needed septic work.”

   Sixty-one of Iowa’s 99 counties belong to the IEHA. There are roughly 200 members.

   “Some county departments have multiple people in those departments,” noted Hart.

   Hart is a department of one in Jones County. To assist with the workload, she contracts with Linn County Public Health to help with health inspections. The partnership with Linn County was already in place when Hart started working for the county 18 years ago.

   “I was totally surprised and humbled,” Hart said of the award and honor. “As a one-person department, contracting with Linn County makes this department what it is. Their partnership is better for the Jones County residents.”

   Aside from her daily work, Hart said it can be hard to get out of the office to perform inspections of restaurants and bars, for example. So having the assistance of Linn County is a relief.

   JCEH handles a variety of tasks: water/well testing, septic testing, food licensing, vending licensing, and public swimming pool inspections. She also inspects licensing for temporary events such as the Great Jones County Fair.

   “If people understand the code, the better off they’ll be,” Hart said of knowing what’s expected and required of the various licenses.

   Getting to drive around the county for such tasks as well testing has allowed Hart the opportunity meet with people on their level rather than over the phone or through email.

   “It’s been a lot to learn as you go,” she said.

   Her work with the citizens of Morley has been ongoing since February.

   “We’re still waiting on the IFA (Iowa Finance Authority),” she said.

   The project involves helping residents get into compliance with their septic systems.

   “It’s been a lot of paperwork,” noted Hart.

   Hart has and continues to enjoy her job with the county.

   “I focus on what I can do to help people and what’s the best for the citizens of Jones County.”