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The Buchanan County health clinic has run into some serious funding issues this month.

Buchanan County residents will continue to receive health care services at the Patee Market Health Center for another year.

The County Commission had decided to opt out of its annual $135,000 contract with the city of St. Joseph for health services at the city/county health department. But the commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 to agree to a one-year, $63,339 contract for public health care services for county residents.

The contract begins July 1 and includes full access for county residents to clinic services, flu shots, WIC, Medicare, lead testing, HIV testing, pregnancy testing and more.

The contract does not include sewer/septic inspections, restaurant inspections and animal control. The county has already hired a new employee, Ron Martin, to handle those duties and more.

The contract, however, likely means the city will not send more money to the Social Welfare Board. The independent free clinic said last week that it was about $8,500 short of having a balanced budget at the end of its fiscal year, June 30.

The county could save about $10,000 on the new arrangement. But more importantly, said Presiding Commissioner Royal “R.T.” Turner, the new employee will allow the county to focus on more issues of concern to the county.

For example, the county plans to begin more proactive health classes for county restaurant employees. It also plans to provide improved animal control services.

After a tabletop discussion Wednesday morning, Western District Commissioner Ron Hook voted for the contract, but Eastern District Commissioner Dan Hausman was opposed. Mr. Turner cast the deciding vote in favor of the agreement.

The city and county still must draft and sign a formal contract.

“It took some work, and we’re happy it all worked out, and county residents are going to have access to the city/county health department,” Mr. Turner said. “There will still be a city/county health department.”

A lingering, unresolved issue is the care of “trustee lots,” forfeited through unpaid taxes. Mr. Hausman said he voted against the contract because he wanted to resolve that issue.

County Clerk Pat Conway is the trustee of the lots, but the county says that’s only as a legal placeholder and doesn’t require maintenance or mowing. The city apparently could stop mowing those lots under the new health contract.

Joe Blumberg can be reached

at joeblumberg@npgco.com.