Freestone County commissioners took up an agenda item to appoint or reappoint the county health authority and decided to table the decision to a future meeting while the county reaches out to hospital leadership for candidates.

During the discussion the presiding official referenced the county's public-health responsibilities under the transcript's cited "health safety code, chapter 121," describing duties to establish and enforce quarantine orders, aid local boards and health departments, and support disease prevention and inspections. The court noted the position must be licensed; commissioners expressed concern about recent physician turnover in the county.

The court agreed to table the item and to contact the hospital board to identify a licensed physician candidate; the transcript records a motion to table and a second but does not include a recorded roll call or named vote tally.

Why it matters: the county health authority has statutory responsibilities related to outbreak notification and quarantine authority; commissioners said ensuring a licensed candidate is available is necessary to fulfill those duties. The transcript does not specify a replacement timeline, salary or terms for the position.