Dolores County Board of Health hires Julie Bridal as public health director, sets starting salary at $47,250

The Dolores County Board of Health unanimously voted March 16 to hire Julie Bridal as public health director for Georgetown Public Health and set her starting salary at $47,250, the board’s Grade 7 “step forward” placement.

Chair (S1) moved to hire Bridal and to establish the $47,250 starting salary; Board member (S2) seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The chair introduced a letter on file from county public code administrator Julie Calvert before the hiring motion.

Board members discussed the step schedule that underpins salary progression. Members described Grade 7 as ranging roughly from about $45,000 (step 1) to about $51,000 (step 10), with flat $750 increases between steps; they said an employee reaches higher steps over time and that a schedule‑wide cost‑of‑living adjustment would be required to raise the top step.

Board member (S2) warned that the county had removed $25,000 from the environmental health budget and said that change will increase director duties and meeting time. The board noted that a separate grant and travel reimbursements should cover some of the added travel and time demands.

The board did not record a roll‑call with member names in the transcript; the hiring motion and the salary motion were carried on a unanimous voice vote of board members present. The board agreed to revisit implementation details once the new director begins and Montezuma County responds to proposed changes to the intergovernmental agreement covering shared services.

The meeting adjourned after confirming the hire and salary. No further personnel actions were taken at the session.