The Henderson County Board of Health held an emergency meeting Tuesday night at the county courthouse in Oquawka with one objective: select a new leader for the health department. The brief meeting resulted in the appointment of Erin Anderson. The appointment was needed following the abrupt resignation of Acting Administrator Lynne Haase, effective Tuesday, May 19.
Tri States Public Radio obtained the undated letter, which is available here, through a Freedom of Information request.
In it, Haase said "the last four years have been stressful to say the least, but lately, the situation has become unbearable." She went on to state that "I feel the mission of public health has been lost and a professional relationship with the board will be impossible."
Haase concluded her letter "It has been a pleasure serving the residents of Henderson County and I remain a staunch advocate of public health."
Henderson County States Attorney Scott McClintock said, following Tuesday night's meeting, that the Board of Health had also received letters of resignation from two other employees, Joan Ray and Judy Gravgaard, who also resigned from the Board of Health.
McClintock said the Henderson County Board is expected to fill that vacancy on the Board of Health during a special meeting Thursday night. Following that meeting, the Board of Health is expected to meet.
McClintock said the Board of Health could only consider the appointment of the new director because without that position filled, "there are things that can't be done and decisions that can't be made."
It's unclear what topics will be discussed during the Board of Health meeting Thursday night. The Board recently decided to opt out of a grant that helped fund senior services and it said during a recent public forum that it only has about $25,000 in the bank with still a few months to go in the fiscal year.
