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Okaloosa County to Participate in Selection of New Local Health Administrator; State to Hold Blackwater River State Forest Meetings
Summary
County staff said Okaloosa County will participate in selecting a new local health department administrator expected to be confirmed in November, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced two public meetings on the Blackwater River State Forest draft 10-year management plan.
Okaloosa County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 that the county will take part in the selection process for a new local health department administrator and that state agencies will host public meetings on management of the Blackwater River State Forest.
County Administrator (title not specified) informed the board that the current local health department administrator, identified in the meeting as Beth Smith (now Beth Ryan), will retire in December and that the Florida Department of Health’s Tallahassee office had asked the county to participate in candidate interviews. "They have whittled the candidate pulled down to 2 outstanding candidates. They'll bring them in for interviews," the administrator said; the board was told it should expect a confirmation back in November.
County Attorney (name not specified) told the board that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Blackwater River State Forest management plan advisory group will host two public meetings to gather input on a draft 10-year land-management plan for the Blackwater River State Forest. The attorney said the meetings will be held in December at the Bear Lake Pavilion and that the county will post additional information when available.
Why this matters: participation in the hiring process gives the county an opportunity to provide local input on public-health administration in Okaloosa County. The state’s scheduled public meetings are the formal venue for public comment on the forest’s management plan.
Board action and next steps: no formal votes were recorded on these announcements. The county indicated it will participate in interviews later in October and expects confirmation of the next health department administrator in November; meeting dates and materials for the forest plan will be published by the state and shared with the county when available.
