Saline County commissioners repeal Health Department Advisory Council, citing low engagement

The Saline County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 17 voted unanimously to repeal the county's Health Department Advisory Council, citing persistent difficulty recruiting members and redundancy with the board's oversight.

Jason Tiller, Saline County Health Department director, told commissioners the advisory council was established by resolution 15-21-74 in 2015 and later amended in 2019, but had gone on hiatus during the pandemic and had since struggled to assemble a quorum. He presented a draft repeal, Resolution 26-2445, and read key language for the record, including that "the Saline County Health Department advisory committee is not needed at the present time."

Tiller said staff supports repealing the committee and noted county leadership can create targeted boards or committees for specific projects when needed. Commissioners discussed the practical effects: one commissioner called the committee "redundant," while another praised staff updates as "very sufficient and very good." No member proposed an alternative at the meeting.

Commissioner (unnamed) moved to adopt Resolution 26-2445 as presented; a second followed and the board approved the repeal 5-0. The resolution rescinds resolution 15-21-74 "as amended," and leaves the county able to establish ad hoc committees for discrete tasks going forward.

Next steps: staff will file the adopted resolution with county records and make administrative updates to reflect the council's dissolution. Tiller told the board he can convene special-purpose committees in the future if particular projects require additional stakeholder input.