Debit cards to replace coupons for Auglaize residents who receive public assistance

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County residents receiving public assistance are getting reloadable debit cards to replace the former paper coupons.  

The Women, Infants and Children nutrition program on Monday rolled out the new cards locally, county WIC director Jenny Boroff told health board members at Tuesday's meeting. The Mercer County WIC office transitioned to the cards on July 6.

The cards will be reloaded every three months, Boroff said. County medical director Dr. Juan Torres asked what will happen if the recipient spends all the money in the first month.

"Well they can only use benefits, let's say for July, they can only use benefits for the amount of foods they are allowed for July," Boroff replied. "If they don't use it, they do not get to carry it over to the next month. So they are encouraged to use it."

Recipients previously received coupons for each family member. Now each family will receive one card, eliminating the bulk of many coupons and saving money. Each card costs the county $2.50, Boroff noted.

The state tracks and maintains how many cards each county uses and disperses them accordingly. The county cannot request more if supplies run low, she said. The county has 732 program participants.

To encourage responsibility, Boroff said the county will replace a lost card only three times. After the third time, the family must come to the county Job and Family Services office to receive benefits directly.

Board president Linda Kitzmiller asked if the cards require a special machine at the grocery store or if they are swiped on a credit card machine. Boroff said they require a special reader. The cards have a chip and participants must insert the card instead of swiping it.

Boroff said she wasn't sure about other stores but noted Walmart in Wapakoneta has the machine below the credit card reader at the checkout. She added participants are less conspicuous with the cards.

"They don't look abnormal like with these coupons," she said. "They don't stand out as much."

She said participants receive three receipts at the store. One gives the initial balance, a second lists what was purchased and a third gives the remaining balance.

"All the other counties that have already switched, they love it," Boroff said. "The personnel at the store love it. It's a lot easier for them and the participants."

Also at Tuesday's meeting, board members discussed purchasing a backup generator to keep vaccinations refrigerated in the event of a power outage. They are looking into insurance options to cover the vaccinations and wondered if a lesser level of insurance could be purchased if the department had a generator. The board also pondered if the generator could be purchased with the savings from the lower insurance costs.

Health commissioner Oliver Fisher said he would gather the information and continue the discussion at the next meeting.

In other action, board members,

• approved giving Richard Homan, 09055 Burr-Oak Road, northeast of New Knoxville, six months to submit a plan to replace his septic system. Homan requested two to three years to replace the system, noting he and his wife were short on funds due to a remodeling project. Members said they would discuss a replacement timetable after he submitted his plan in six months.

• learned the number of dog bites are up this year. Environmental health director Curt Anderson said about 70 dog bites are reported in the county each year. Twenty-three bites were reported in the last two months.

The board approved a seven-day order for proof of current rabies vaccinations for a dog owned by Corey Stoker, St. Marys, after a recent bite incident. The dog will be in quarantine until proof is submitted.

Members also approved a seven-day order for dog owner Lindsey Chaney, St. Marys, to present the animal for evaluation and show proof of rabies vaccination after a bite incident.

• approved student internship contracts from Rutgers University, The Ohio State University and Wright State University for students intending to intern with the department.

• met in executive session. After the session, members approved renewing the proposed lease agreement for the department's building on Wagner Avenue in Wapakoneta. The agreement is a 10-year lease at the current rate of $6,000 per month with an option for early termination after the first year.

Correction:

After the third time a WIC recipient loses a reloadable debit card, he or she must go to the county health department, not Job and Family Services, to receive benefits.

The error was made in in reporting.