The Ford County Board of Health hopes to soon hire a new administrator after a search to fill the vacancy created by the April 9 resignation of Donny Gill. Four finalists were interviewed from a field of 18 applicants, according to the Ford County Chronicle. Board of Health president Mike Short tells the Chronicle “there were a lot of good applicants.”

Ironically -- both Ford and Iroquois County are in the same boat seeking administrators, when for years, shared an administrator for a well-run two-county health department. Some 10-plus years ago, Iroquois’ County Board Chairman initiated a move to dissolve the 2-county health service.  That move forced both counties into reorganization mode, while both governments now are saddled with their own financial and management issues.

Seth Russell had served as interim-administrator in Ford County until May 30 after Donny Gill’s resignation (April 9). Gill was Ford County’s hire in September of 2023. Gill replaced nine-year veteran administrator Lana Sample, before she resigned to move from Paxton to Florida.

Sample was key to Ford County operating on its own after Iroquois County ended the dual-county set-up.

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