Grayson County will keep paying Dr. Jerry Bennett $100,000 a year to oversee medical care for its health department and county jail under a renewed contract that now rolls over each October unless either side ends it.
County commissioners approved the agreement Sept. 29 as part of their consent agenda, on a 5-0 vote, according to draft minutes of that meeting posted with the agenda for the court's Oct. 13 session.
The Herald Democrat reported this week that Bennett will continue as the county's local health authority, a role it said he has held for the last 15 years along with the title of Grayson County Health Department medical director.
What the contract covers
The agreement, posted on the county's agenda site, renews and amends Bennett's earlier physician services contract with the health department at 515 N. Walnut St. in Sherman. It took effect Oct. 1.
Under it, Bennett is to assess, treat or supervise patient cases that fall within the health department's programs, including the jail inmate health program and public health programs. He must be reachable by health department staff 24 hours a day and take part in public health preparedness training and exercises as his schedule allows.
The contract specifically leaves out any work at a juvenile detention center.
Bennett works under the general supervision of health department Director Amanda Ortez, who assigns his work and approves his invoices. He cannot hand off the work to another doctor without her written consent.
