County Commissioners Green Light Services From New City Health Dept.

EL PASO — County commissioners unanimously agreed Monday to allow the city’s new Health Department provide health services to county residents.

This means the joint City-County Health and Environmental District is no more andthe newly-formedCity Health Department begins where the district left off.

Services like animal control, immunizations, mosquito control, air quality and food inspections will soon become the new City Health Department’s responsibility.

Beginning Jan. 1, per the agreement, the County will begin paying the city for health services in the county. In the past, the City-CountyDistrict was responsible for that.

Certain problems with the health district under former director Dr. Jorge Magana led to the city developing a plan to switch to a city-run health department and charge the county for services.

“We will continue to provide the same services that we have in the past to all the county residents and we’re looking forward to maybe a combination of those, if the county decides to move forward with their own programs in certain areas,” said Dr. Robert Galvan, City Health Department director. “We’re here to assist them in those endeavors.”

The county is considering keeping food inspection, dental, and on-site sewage under its control.