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Lincoln County appoints Danita Hammond as Public Health Director at $135,000
Summary
After interviewing candidates and holding executive sessions, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners offered the Public Health Director position to Danita Hammond and approved a $135,000 starting salary; the board also approved an internal promotion and discussed staffing and grant strategies amid potential funding changes.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of Danita Hammond as the county’s new Public Health Director and authorized a revised offer of $135,000, contingent on receipt of a signed acceptance. The board first authorized Chairman Scott M. Hutsell to negotiate a starting salary beginning at $125,612 and up to $130,236; the candidate countered and the board unanimously approved the $135,000 figure on April 22, 2026.
Public Health Director Ed Dzedzy briefed commissioners on department staffing and funding during the board’s April meetings, noting retirements planned for Ronda Caddel (July) and Jolene Erickson (December) and a strategy to hire a Community Health Director followed by replacing the Communicable Disease Specialist early next year. Dzedzy told the board the department is preparing for a possible reduction in Foundational Public Health funding and will use Public Health Infrastructure Grants and Better Health Together funds to support EMS Assessment Phase 2 and to pursue requests for proposals. The board approved promoting Mike Troutman to EHS2, Step 3 by unanimous vote as part of those staffing adjustments.
The appointment process included candidate interviews and an executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) to evaluate applicants for public employment; the board recorded no action during the executive session but later approved offering the position to Hammond and followed up with written offer letters and notifications to other candidates. The hired director was asked to return the signed acceptance to the clerk’s office to finalize the hiring.
