Columbia County opens recruitment for environmental health specialist but pauses hiring until budget talks

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on April 1 authorized staff to open recruitment for an Environmental Health Specialist 1/2 position — a budgeted vacancy in the county public health department — but agreed to delay any hire until the board completes upcoming budget discussions.

Jamie Anderson, who identified herself as the county public health director, told commissioners the department has a vacancy and is requesting minor revisions to job descriptions and permission to recruit. Anderson said the position is already budgeted and that the department has used part-time support and state field assistance when needed. She cautioned that losing the program would jeopardize the local public health function: "If we say we can't do the work and we can't do the position, then they could take the program back," Anderson said, referring to the state.

Commissioner Garrett raised concerns about the county’s current staffing and budget constraints and said the board will face difficult discussions about what services the county can continue to provide. Anderson said recruitment would likely be open for two weeks and that staff hope to see qualified applicants within four to six weeks, with a goal of making an offer by mid-May if a viable candidate is identified. The board voted to approve the job-description revisions and to open recruitment; commissioners also agreed the county will revisit filling the position after the next month of budget discussions.

The motion to approve the revisions and open recruitment was moved by Commissioner Garrett and seconded by the chair. The vote as recorded in the transcript was in favor.