Citing personality conflicts and issues with Grand County, the Carbon County Commission has voted to withdraw from the Southeastern Utah District Health Department and explore the possibility of creating a new Carbon-Emery Health Department.
Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2017-08 during their regular meeting Wednesday to give notice of Carbon County’s intention to withdraw from the current district health department. State law requires a 90 day notice, and the Carbon County resolution would be effective December 31. The resolution also contains a provision that reserves the right of the Board of Commissioners to rescind the resolution at any time prior to the effective date.
Commission Chairman Jae Potter said the issue was being viewed by many as an issue over a hiring practice when a new director was hired. He opined Grand County has a real prejudice towards Carbon County, noting, “In public meetings and also in other places, they have stated that they do not like the idea of Carbon County hosting the health district, nor do they like the idea that the director lives here.”
During the regular meeting of September 9, the commission ratified a recommendation of the Southeast Utah Board of Health to appoint Bradon Bradford as interim director, or Local Health Officer. He has been serving in that capacity for several months, since the retirement of David Cunningham last March.
Commissioner Potter emphasized Carbon County represents 50 percent of the population of the health district. Emery County makes up over 25 percent, and Grand County has approximately 23 percent of the population base. “So this is where it has been established, he reasoned. “This is where it has been operating for over 40 years since the rural health districts were set up.”
Commissioner Potter pointed out the board of health is an advisory board and a policy-setting board as it pertains to public health. He said there are state statutes and board of health bylaws that contain mechanisms to resolve any internal disputes or issues.
But he said, “I have found in the limited interaction with the board that there is a very big division. They (the board) are dysfunctional. I think that’s because there is a distrust among many of its members.”
The board of health consists of nine members. There is one member from each county’s legislative body, and two at-large members from each of the three counties. Commissioner Jake Mellor is the board member representing the Carbon County Commission. The at-large members are Dr. Paul Martinez, who recently submitted a letter of resignation, and Debbie Peet.
Commissioner Mellor expressed some frustration with the process of trying to hire a new director. The candidate chosen by the board to be appointed as director must be ratified by each county’s legislative body. He said, “We’ve gone out three times for applicants and each time we’ve gone out we’ve had a valid applicant. But Grand County refuses to accept the one valid applicant we’ve had each of the three times.”
Mellor noted the county makes a $126,000 annual contribution to the health district. He said as stewards of county funds, “We need to address the concern of the board and whether or not it is functioning, whether or not we have a working relationship that can be salvaged and of course, saved with Grand County, or whether we leave the health district altogether and perhaps form something separate with Emery County.”
Commissioner Mellor said Resolution 2017-08 was passed, “to let Grand County know that we’re serious about change.”
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