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

The Dolores County Board of Health voted March 16, 2026, to hire Julie Kable as the county's public health director and set her starting salary at $47,250, placing the position at grade 7, step 4.

The appointment was proposed by a board member and approved by voice vote. The board also reviewed the advertised salary range and the department's grade/step schedule: the job advertisement listed an advertised range shown in the transcript as "45 to 51,075," while members discussed a grade 7 scale with step 1 near $45,000 and step 10 around $51,750.

Board members stressed the scope of duties the director will hold. The board had removed $25,000 previously budgeted for environmental health work, and members warned the incoming director will continue environmental health responsibilities and will face increased meeting time and administrative duties. A board member said these added responsibilities should be considered when placing the new hire on the step schedule.

The board also discussed ongoing intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) affecting public-health services. Dennis reported he had contacted Montezuma County legal counsel to rework the regional IGA so that only immunization services remain provided through the partner, and that the county has been receiving immunization services through Montezuma for about a year. Board members said an older IGA had included roughly $20,000 in consulting costs that they expect will be largely removed in the revised agreement; travel costs mentioned in discussion were about $400 per year and a separate grant was said to cover some travel and staff time.

Members reviewed WIC service arrangements with La Plata County. A board member described the current relationship: La Plata provides high-risk case support and mentorship for WIC through a designated staff member, Julie Pritchard, who meets with Dolores staff roughly twice a month to review cases. As described to the board, the La Plata arrangement provides a monthly contact, part-time dietitian scheduling, virtual check-ins, nutrition education, fiscal compliance assistance and optional in-person visits. The board noted the existing service order with La Plata appears to expire next June and asked that renewal be considered next year.

A board member said state officials previously warned that WIC administration could be centralized at the state level if counties could not demonstrate capacity, and the board noted recent WIC audit results and program growth. Board members reported audit results of 100% compliance and said caseloads have increased from the 20s to about 75 clients, crediting outreach and appointment efforts for the rise.

The board conducted routine business earlier in the meeting, approving the March 2 minutes, accepting the circulated agenda, and confirming the five-minute public comment rule, before taking the hiring and salary actions. The meeting adjourned following brief additional discussion about regionalization and reimbursements.

Next steps: the board expects to return another letter related to the annual rehire process, to receive the revised IGA language from Montezuma County legal counsel and to review whether the La Plata service order should be renewed before it expires next June.