County officials eliminate Deputy Health Officer position

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - The St. Joseph County Health Department eliminated the Deputy Health Officer position during a heated debate during a Board of Health meeting this week.

Despite calls to put the vote on hold for a month, a divided Board of Health approved eliminating the Deputy Health Officer position as of this July 21. They are getting ready to welcome a new full-time health officer being paid $250,000 per year.

Dr. Mark Fox, current Deputy Health Officer for the St. Joseph County Health Department joined ABC57's Brian Conybeare in studio.

"I have a contract that is scheduled to run through February of 2024," said Fox, "so it became a bit of a surprise to me as I had no advance notice of this until I read the board packet on Tuesday evening."

Eight people have recently resigned or left the department.