General Info

Knox County Health Department is a combined general health district with jurisdiction for all of Knox County. The agency provides a full range of quality services, from community health promotion and environmental protection to direct health services. The Health Department operates as Knox County General Health District, which is directed by Knox County Board of Health. There are nine seats on the Board of Health. Each board member serves a 5-year term at staggered intervals. There are no term limits. Knox County District Advisory Council appoints five members directly to the Board of Health. The advisory council is composed of the chairman of each township's board of trustees or a designee, the mayor of each village and the president of Knox County Board of Commissioners. The Advisory Council meets annually, usually on the last Tuesday in March. The City of Mount Vernon appoints three of the members on the Board of Health. The appointments are made by the mayor of Mount Vernon. The Licensing Council appoints one member to the Board of Health. The Licensing Council is comprised of one representative from the businesses whose activities are licensed by the Board of Health, which include: food service operations, retail food establishments, manufactured home parks, public swimming pools and campgrounds. The council elects one of its members to serve on the Board of Health.