Jason Taylor, currently Environmental Health Specialist II in the county’s Environmental Health division, was offered and accepted the position of environmental health director, replacing retiring Director Jennine Wolf. 

Taylor was selected from four finalists interviewed by the county Board of Health with formal approval on Tuesday, June 23, by the county supervisors.   

Wolf will officially retire Jan. 26, 2021, after 19 years with the county.

In making the recommendation, Board Chairman Cathy Bluffington noted “he was the most qualified” among the four top candidates selected from pool of 10 final possible candidates.

A key factor was full certification in four major areas, all of which Taylor has. Each certification provides for a 50 cent hourly raise for each. Base pay is $28 per hour.

One of the first tasks facing the new director will be to advertise for and then train his replacement in Environmental Health by January. 

In other business at its monthly meeting, the board:

• Discussed concerns about schools opening in the fall and what precautions should be continued such as masks, sanitation efforts and social distancing.

• Received financial reports showing that Public Health and Environmental Health have surpluses, largely due to reductions in staff and programs because of the COVID-19 virus.

• Received an update on the new clinic software, Bright Tree, for which staff has now been trained to use.

• Was told that as of June 18 there were 209 confirmed COVID cases in the county with nine deaths and recovery of 178, and that there have been 1,941 people tested.