Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow is breathing a sigh of relief. She told WJBD-WSIQ that a newly appointed member of the health board has agreed to become the department’s medical director and sign about 200 orders that allow the department to provide many of its services and vaccinations.
Mallow had expressed concern about those services being available after December 1st when the Marion County Board Tuesday night voted to replace the current Medical Director Dr. Elizabeth Franczyk with Dr. Matt Stedelin. However, after a conversation with Dr. Stedelin, Mallow has announced Dr. Stedelin has agreed to serve as medical director as part of his role as a member of the board of health.
Meanwhile, Board Chair Debbie Smith says she will bring back the two incumbent health board members for reappointment at a special board meeting that has been set for Monday night after earlier submitting new names for those positions.
At the meeting Tuesday, the board tied 7-7 on replacing pharmacist Michael Morton with retired Radiologist Dr. Brad Stufflebaum and rejected the appointment of Licensed Massage Therapist Debbie Jourdon to replace McKendree nursing instructor and former Salem Township Hospital President Kendra Taylor.
Smith says if the board rejects the reappointments, others can be brought forward to fill the positions. The board Tuesday night reappointed two other health board members, Dentist Dr. Kyle Clark and Dr. Seth Hahs.
Board member Brock Waggoner has led the effort to replace the health board members because the health department followed the Governor’s guidelines during COVID-19 which he says led to businesses and schools having to close.
The board at its special meeting Monday night is also expected to be asked to approve a tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning December 1st. The board did not act on the issue at the regular meeting Tuesday because of changes Finance Committee Chair Chris Krupp wanted to make after learning there would be an extra payroll in the coming fiscal year due to the way payroll dates fall. A finance committee meeting is scheduled for six Monday night prior to the regular meeting to make adjustments. The tax levy is also expected to come before the board in the special meeting.
The special meeting is set for seven Monday night in the county board meeting room in the basement of the law enforcement center.
