-- Department's Board of Directors faced with decision to change leadership --

The Iroquois County Public Health Department is celebrating its 10 year anniversary on Monday, July 1st 2024.  An open house (Monday 7/1) invites the public to view the facilities in the Iroquois County Administrative Center.  The open house is during regular business hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

Visitors can learn about health services offered.  Free water sample test kits will be distributed.  Other free services include radon test kits and blood pressure screenings. 

A health department press release states the local office in Watseka opened for business on this date 10 years ago. County health departments have been providing services for decades. And for decades, Iroquois and Ford County government provided a dual-county office.  That was until the two-county department was dissolved by Iroquois County's Board Chairman, forcing both counties to reorganize.

Today, Iroquois and Ford County operate their own health departments with separate offices in Watseka and Paxton.  Both have their own Boards of Directors.

Iroquois County's health board meets today (Monday 7/1).  The 6 pm meeting is at the Administration Center.  The agenda items include an executive session -- concerning the appointment, employment, or compensation of public employees. 

At issue is a recommendation from the Iroquois County Board's Policy & Procedure committee to terminate Eric Ceci as Iroquois County Public Health Department Administrator.  Although specifics about the suggested termination were not discussed following a special meeting of the county committee, health department employees have brought concerns on several fronts to the health board and the county board over several months. 

Ceci has served as administrator of the ICPHD for little more than a year.  He was appointed by the health board following the resignation of former administrator Dee Schippert, who now faces a 34-count indictment after an investigation by Illinois State Police and the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

94.1 WGFA