Health Department rejects call for reinstatement, stays put in Charlevoix for meetings

Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read
Stephanie Jacobson from Otsego County spoke during public comment at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health meeting on March 5, encouraging them to continue the discussion of holding board meetings in other locations throughout the four-county region.
Stephanie Jacobson from Otsego County spoke during public comment at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health meeting on March 5, encouraging them to continue the discussion of holding board meetings in other locations throughout the four-county region.

CHARLEVOIX — At their meeting on March 5, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan’s Board of Health voted to not support Otsego County Commissioner Henry Mason’s suggestion to recommend reconsideration of former board member Antrim County Commissioner Jarris Rubingh.

Following their meeting on Jan. 18, Antrim County Commissioners chose to replace Rubingh, who has served on the Board of Health for two years, with Commissioner Terry VanAlstine.

More: Board of Health considers rotating meeting locations

More: Antrim County votes to replace Jarris Rubingh on Board of Health

Mason’s resolution was meant to be a request to the Antrim County elected officials asking that they reconsider removing Rubingh from the Board of Health.

“Respectfully, I don’t think it is the position of this board to dictate to any county who represents them on this board,” said Charlevoix County Commissioner and board chair Scott Hankins.

The Board of Health is made up of two county commissioners from each of the counties in its region, including Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. Each county's board of commissioners decides who will represent them on the Board of Health.

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Mary Lieberman of Emmet County echoed Hankins' sentiments during public comment.

“I don’t believe it is the responsibility, the right or the role of this body to insert itself into the governing procedures of our four individual counties,” said Lieberman. “Surely before giving this anymore consideration, this should be submitted to the board’s attorney for legal guidance.”

Otsego County Commissioners Mason and Jonathan Turnbull were the only two who voted in favor of the proposed resolution.

The Otsego County commissioners also disagreed with their fellow board members in a vote regarding a proposal to hold the board’s monthly meetings in other locations throughout the four-county region.

After a discussion and information provided by Chief Medical Officer Dan Thorell indicated that thousands of extra dollars would be spent if the meetings were to be moved locations each month, the board voted 6-2 to leave the meetings at the current location at the Shirley Roloff Center in Charlevoix.

The board meets at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Shirley Roloff Center, located at 13513 Division St. in Charlevoix.

Their agendas can be found at nwhealth.org.— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Health Department of Northwest Michigan rejects call for reinstatement, stays put in Charlevoix for meetings