Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission committee vets Lifeways board nominees; Elizabeth Sparks recommended to full board
Summary
Jackson County committee reviewed several applicants for seats on the Lifeways board, re-nominated a sitting commissioner and forwarded a general-public candidate, Elizabeth Sparks, to the full board for approval; the committee also identified a vacant primary consumer slot that will be re-advertised.
A county committee on Monday considered multiple applicants for seats on the Lifeways board, re-nominated the sitting commissioner member and recommended one community candidate for the full board to consider.
The committee re-nominated Sharla Pulaski for a commissioner-appointed seat that expires in March 2028; members approved the nomination by voice vote. The committee also moved to reappoint the incumbent David Moberry to an at-large Veterans Affairs vacancy; that nomination passed by voice vote.
For the general-public seat that will expire March 2028 and is currently held by Christine Carlson, the committee heard several applicants in public comment, including Marilyn Acton, Amy Rogers, Peter Benke, Elizabeth Sparks, Ella Hepseba and others. After nominations from the floor and a roll call, the committee approved Christine Carlson to fill that particular seat.
Separately, the committee voted to forward Elizabeth Sparks’ application for a different general-public seat to the full Board of Commissioners with a recommendation of approval. The committee’s recommendation means the full board will take the final vote next week.
The committee noted there is a separate primary-consumer seat — intended for someone who has direct experience as a Lifeways consumer — and that no applicants in that consumer category had submitted under that designation. Commissioners discussed whether a family member of a consumer could qualify as a “secondary” consumer representative and asked staff to seek Lifeways’ interpretation of the rule; the committee decided to re-advertise the vacancy to clarify eligibility.
Staff and commissioners emphasized the quality of the applicant pool and encouraged candidates who were not selected by the committee to consider other county boards and commissions.
The committee’s recommendation will be placed on the full board agenda for final action next week; the primary-consumer vacancy will be re-advertised with clarified eligibility rules.
