Bolang named Livingston county health officer
HOWELL — After months of discussion, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners Monday voted to appoint Matt Bolang to replace Dianne McCormick as the Livingston County health officer.
The county personnel committee, acting as a committee of the whole, interviewed four candidates on Oct. 31.
Monday, commissioners chose two of the four interviewees to consider: Bolang and Thomas Latchney, former environmental sanitarian for the Livingston County Health Department from 2014 to 2020.
"I think we've nominated the two top people, personal opinion," Commissioner Martin Smith said.
Smith said he was impressed with Latchney's resume, but noticed he didn't have budgeting or management experience. He added, however, he'd like to see Latchney in a senior deputy role of some sort.
Commissioner Brenda Plank nominated Matt Bolang while Commissioner Doug Helzerman nominated Latchney.
In the end, the board chose Bolang, 6-3, with Plank, Carol Griffith, Martin Smith, Carol Sue Reader, Mitchell Zajac and Jay Gross voting for Bolang while commissioners Wes Nakagiri, Helzerman and Jay Drick favored Latchney.
Bolang has a bachelor of science degree in natural resources with a concentration in resource ecology management from the University of Michigan. He also has a master's of administration with a concentration in public administration from Central Michigan University.
Bolang has worked for the county since 2001, first as an environmental specialist and water resources coordinator before becoming the county's director of environmental health in 2014.
He was promoted to a joint position of deputy director and director of environmental health in 2019.
McCormick retired from the position on July 1 and the board has been discussing how to fill the position since that time. The former directed had recommended hiring Bolang.
The board approved the job description in July for a new director, which states "under the direction of the county administrator, (the health officer) is responsible for the overall function of developing the county’s health programs and overseeing department services and operations."
The summary also states the health officer, "assures the delivery of public health services in the community per the Michigan Public Health Code and enforces federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to population and environmental health and sanitation."
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Commissioners choose Bolang to serve as the county health director
