By HOLLY GASKILL
Health Officer Dr. Kay Johnson approached the Wells County Commissioners and County Council earlier this week asking for increased compensation to accommodate an increasing workload.
Both boards met the request with a resounding rejection.
The county announced Johnson’s voluntary resignation from the position on Feb. 16 through an agreement between her and the Wells County Board of Health; the board had initiated the process for her removal in December. However, due to the nature of the position, Johnson retains the role and responsibilities until a new health officer is appointed.
Officials stated the county had several prospects for a new health officer. The Wells County Board of Health is responsible for appointing a new health officer, who will then be certified by the commissioners.
In the meantime, Johnson said her work hours have significantly increased as the Health Department prepares its proposal for Health First Indiana and two other grant applications. Considering her current salary — $783.92 biweekly — Johnson said she was being compensated at roughly $20 per hour.
Citing her previous industry experience, Johnson said the same services could cost anywhere from $350-500 from a consultant. She did not provide a number for her proposed raise but suggested it could be budgeted as an additional contracted role.
However, Council President Seth Whicker stated County Attorney Ted Storer advised Johnson could not be compensated by the county beyond her current role.
According to the agreement between the Board of Health and Johnson, Johnson is not able to hold any other role in the county. She will continue to receive the same full compensation for what would have been her term as health officer through April 2026. She will finish her tenure for “consultation at the sole discretion and request of the President of the (Board of Health)” when a new health officer is appointed.
“Well, what I would tell you is to put a hold on doing any more work until you first get approval from the Board of Health because you’re doing a lot of work,” Whicker said.
“Stop doing the work,” Harnish added. “If you’re not being reimbursed for it, I would hit pause.”
Johnson clarified, “Well, I do the work not for the reimbursement — I do the work because I think this is important for Wells County.”
“We appreciate that, but I think particularly at this time of transition in the Health Department, moving in a new direction … I think it would be most appropriate that the Health Department begin to transition to the new (health officer),” Harnish said. “It’s not fair to you to continue doing work that you’re not paid for, and that would be my personal view.”
“Nobody with the county should be doing work they’re not getting paid for,” Whicker concluded.
Coinciding with this request, Johnson asked for the council’s endorsement for the department’s application to the Protecting Indiana’s Newborns grant. The council stated they couldn’t approve the incomplete application, nor could they do so prior to approval from the Board of Health and Commissioners. Neither board is scheduled to meet before the grant’s March 15 deadline.
Johnson insisted she could finish the application and the boards could hold “emergency meetings,” but Whicker said there appeared to be too many hurdles to the application at this time. He encouraged Johnson to focus her efforts on the HFI proposal and Disaster Preparedness grant she discussed.
“I don’t see any path forward with this,” Harnish said. “We’re moving into a new chapter of the Health Department. There’s going to be a new health officer. You resigned. You’re here temporarily. I’m just not sure that there’s a future.”
holly@news-banner.com
