By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Health Board has announced a special session with the intent to appoint a new health officer.
The prospective appointment is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, or directly following a preceding executive session at 6 p.m. Both meetings will take place in the large conference room of the Wells County Public Library.
Reasons for the executive session were: to receive information about and interview prospective employees and to discuss records classified as confidential by state or federal statute.
Should the board make an appointment on Monday, the Wells County Commissioners with then have to certify the appointment. Their next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, March 18, in the meeting room of the Carnegie Annex.
The board initiated the removal of Health Officer Dr. Kay Johnson in December. Following several months of discussion, the county announced on Feb. 16 that the parties had reached an agreement. With this agreement, Johnson voluntarily resigned from her role but continued to carry out its responsibilities in the interim.
Following the appointment of a new health officer, Johnson will transition into a consulting role, which will be used at the “sole discretion and request of the President of the (Board of Health). She will also be compensated at the same rate she would have as the health officer for what would have been the remaining duration of her term through April 30, 2026. This will total over $40,000 from the potential transition of leadership.
Both parties have agreed to take no further action against the other on the terms outlined in the agreement. However, the board retains the power to vote on Johnson’s removal should the terms of the agreement be violated. Neither party has admitted wrongdoing.
holly@news-banner.com
