Commissioners appoint four members to Community Health Advisory Council amid quorum issues

Crook County commissioners approved appointments to the Community Health Advisory Council, filling multiple vacancies after staff and current committee contacts recommended four candidates.

Appointments and background: The board approved the appointments of Bill Elliott (Undersheriff), Erica Fricke (juvenile director), April Pham (Mosaic Clinic manager, Pineville) and Kimberly Munn (representative from St. Charles) to the advisory council. County staff said these appointments were recommended after outreach to existing contacts and that, with these additions, the council will still need additional members to reach a working quorum for independent action.

Why it mattered at the meeting: County staff and counsel explained that the advisory council lacked a quorum and therefore could not use the committee’s usual internal recommendation process, so staff solicited input from the lone current appointed member and recommended candidates to the board. Attorney staff said this meeting was the appropriate public forum for members of the public to provide any objections before appointments were finalized.

Board action: Commissioners voted to approve order 2025‑10 to appoint the four members. Commissioner discussion included a suggestion to formalize a process for boards that lack quorums so future appointments can be handled through an established public process.

Next steps: Staff intends to reconvene a public meeting process for future vacancies under a modified appointments procedure so the county avoids prolonged unconstituted advisory bodies.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to use the new appointment process for remaining vacancies and thanked staff for recruiting candidates.