Board denies William Burrows appointment to Siouxland District Health Board after supervisors cite offensive emails

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to deny the appointment of William Burrows to the Siouxland District Health Board after a supervisor objected to Burrows' prior emails to the board.

At the meeting, one supervisor said he intended “to vote against this individual's appointment” because, over several years, the board had received emails from Burrows that he described as “very disrespectful, very inflammatory” and “mocking of my faith, of Dan's faith, of the Christian faith.” The chair confirmed Burrows was the only applicant for the opening. Another supervisor said he had seen those emails and agreed the tone was inappropriate. After a motion to deny the appointment was made and seconded, the board voted 4–1 to deny the appointment.

The board did not record any formal rebuttal from Burrows at the meeting, and supervisors noted there were likely other qualified candidates if the opening were reposted. The action was recorded as a motion to deny (moved by speaker 2/Ong, seconded by Bittinger) and the board announced the motion passed 4 to 1. The denial was taken as a personnel appointment decision; there was no separate disciplinary or investigative action discussed at the meeting.

The transcript did not include Burrows' response or any additional written record from him in the meeting packet. The meeting record shows the board's vote and the reasons given by those who opposed the appointment.