County extends deadline for public health director applications

WASHINGTON — The Washington County Board of Health has extended a deadline for applicants to replace outgoing Public Health Director Emily Tokheim, whose last day in the position is Feb. 29.

Washington County Human Resources Coordinator Amber Armbruster said two people had expressed interest in the director’s role ahead of a board meeting on Feb. 22, one of whom had completed their application materials.

With so few candidates and the application window set to close on March 1, health officials said they wanted to extend the deadline another two weeks: later than initially planned, but still a week before the board’s next meeting on March 21.

“Extending it to the next meeting just pushes interviews out even further,” Board of Health Chair Andrea Leyden said, in defense of the two-week extension.

The county has opted not to hire an interim director after Tokheim’s departure, and will instead divide her duties among other leaders of the department while it awaits a new head. The longer it goes with a vacant executive position, the longer those added duties will stay on the shoulders of the agency’s fiscal administrator, director of nursing, assistant director of nursing, and the board of health members.

Officials at last week’s meeting also discussed the process they’d follow to pick a new Public Health Director. Once applications wrap up, Leyden said she and Board of Health Member Kodey Salow would form a panel to meet with candidates, and eventually issue a recommendation to the rest of the board.

In previous years, such panels have included community members outside of the local government for an interview panel. Leyden said the county would likely do so again for this round of candidates, holding meetings remotely during the spring break season.

The Feb. 22 meeting represented Tokheim’s last one with the Board of Health, before she moves to a Des Moines to take on a position as behavioral risk factor surveillance system coordinator for Iowa Health and Human Services.

The outgoing director gave Washington County her best wishes shortly before the board adjourned.

“I would like to thank you all for your support, for your guidance, and for trusting me with this department for the last couple years,” Tokheim said. “I have nothing but positive things to say about my time working with this group here, and it’s been great to help bring some ideas to life.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com