County names interim health directors

A failed attempt at finding a director has led to a restructuring of the Steele County Public Health Department, at least on a temporary basis.
Last week the county named Cathy Piepho, county treasurer and Amber Aaseth, assistant director of Public Health, as co-interim directors. The department has been without a leader since Amy Caron left the top position in November.
Human Resources Director Julie Johnson said the county conducted a nationwide search to replace Caron, but it did not yield the results officials sought. The county received only 10 applicants and didn’t even go as far as naming any finalists because of the quality of candidates did not meet the county’s expectations, according to Johnson.
“We didn’t feel there was a fit for what we were looking for,” Johnson said. “We have put the search on hold for a couple months.”
In the original job posting, the county said the director would be responsible for managing, administering and overseeing the long-range plans, direction and strategic objectives of the department and for implementing the policies, goals and directives approved by the county board. It also indicated the director is charged with the implementation and supervision of the daily operations and delivery of agency public health and home health programs and services.
Johnson said she wasn’t surprised by the lack of interest in the position, “but I was disappointed that we didn’t get a larger pool of candidates.”
Asked if any internal candidates applied for the director’s position, Johnson said she could not share that information because no finalists had been named.
Aaseth had not been named interim director until last week, but she had taken on additional responsibilities in her assistant director role since Caron’s departure, Johnson said.
While Piepho has no direct experience in public health, she is being tapped upon because of her strong knowledge of public finance and budgeting. Johnson said Piepho has worked extensively with Public Health for 10 years with the budgeting process.
Johnson said Piepho will help out with operational things on a daily basis. She will have two offices—one at Public Health and her normal office in the treasurer’s department at the Administration Building. Johnson said thankfully the treasurer’s office is a “tiny bit” slow right now with budgets and tax collections completed to allow Piepho to focus on the Public Health role.
Piepho’s arrival at Public Health will help eleviate some of Aaseth’s work load, Johnson said. “Scott (Golberg, county administrator) and I felt there needed to be additional resources for Public Health,” Johnson said. “We felt this would be a positive thing to help those working in that department to deal with the on-going pandemic,” she added.
Johnson said she anticipates Piepho will learn more about the programs and services being offered by Public Health as well as the functions being carried out by the 38 current staff members in the department. “She will be doing a lot of listening and learning,” Johnson said.
“Cathy is going to be a support where she can,” Johnson said. “We are throwing a line out there during a tough time with a continuing pandemic and a staff that has been through a lot in the past two years. It’s been tough to say the least.”
Hiring a permanent director comes at a difficult time as both Dodge and Olmsted counties have also been searching for replacements for their top positions. Dodge County just filled its top public health role last week—one that had previously been shared with Steele County. When Caron left, the two counties parted ways with sharing the position, though they will still work together on a joint Community Health Board.
“It’s a very tough market right now,” Johnson said, adding it’s especially challenging in rural Minnesota to get highly qualified and experienced candidates.
When asked whether taking a public health job is very desirable right now for anyone, Johnson said: “That’s the thing, exactly. People are very COVID weary and there is burnout at all levels in public health. Folks are leaving the profession and they’re stressed out.”
Johnson said the county plans to conduct another search in spring, though it certainly could go longer. “We don’t know, but we’re hoping we have a successful search in a couple months,” she said.
In addition to the top director position, there are two other vacancies in Public Health.
All Public Health employees must comply with the federal vaccine mandate. Johnson said there is currently one employee in Steele County that hasn’t shown proof of vaccination yet. That employee has until Thursday to produce documentation.
Johnson said the effect of the federal vaccine mandate appears to be minimal for Steele County, but “losing anyone is one too many.”