After three failed attempts to hire health officer, Shasta County lowers standards for job

What’s a county to do when three attempts to hire a health officer fail?

If you’re Shasta, you lower the standards for the job.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to revise the job qualifications for its health officer, which has been vacant more than a year after supervisors in a controversial move fired former Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom.

In a report to supervisors, Support Services Director Monica Fugitt wrote, “This action, if approved, would revise the classification specification to clarify minimum requirements of the position, in an effort to broaden the applicant pool.”

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California’s minimum requirements for a health officer state the applicant must be a medical school graduate who is eligible for a medical license in California.

The health officer still must be a physician, Shasta County Public Health Director Robin Schurig told the Record Searchlight.

But previously, other qualifications ― like five years’ experience as a doctor and completion of a master’s degree in public health or two years’ experience as a public health officer ― were required, she said.

“Now the minimum qualification says you have to be a licensed physician and that’s all,” Schurig said.

Several speakers at Tuesday’s meeting urged the county not to lower the standards for the position.

“I do think given the nature of the position that it does require a physician in good standing, whether it’s an internal medicine physician, as I am, or a family physician … with a master’s in public health. I think that’s the most appropriate need and most appropriate person to serve in this position,” Dr. Nena Perry told supervisors.

Supervisor Mary Rickert cast the lone dissenting vote while reaffirming her support of Ramstrom. Rickert and former Supervisor Joe Chimenti voted not to fire Ramstrom in early May 2022. Voting to dismiss her were Patrick Jones, Tim Garman and former Supervisor Les Baugh.

“Shasta County has a lot of health problems. We have the highest suicide rate in the state; that’s just an abysmal statistic. We have highest rates of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) in Shasta County in 70 years. Fentanyl is a huge problem. We need someone that’s qualified, and I would beg this board to reconsider offering the position to Dr. Karen Ramstrom. I really do believe that she needs to come back,” Rickert said.

Shasta County’s suicide rate is more than two times higher than the state average, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Some who addressed the board Tuesday said the decision to fire Ramstrom reverberated across the state and country.

“It’s not happening here because what’s occurring on this dais. No one wants to work for you,” Susanne Baremore said of the failed attempts to fill the health officer position.

Ramstrom's support of mask mandates, vaccination requirements and other safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic was criticized by some county residents, who were vocal in their criticism at supervisors’ meetings.

She wasn’t the only county health officer in California to face backlash over coronavirus issues. The health officer in Orange County, Dr. Nichole Quick, resigned in June 2020 after receiving threats at public meetings and on social media, the Associated Press reported.

Orange County has since hired Quick’s successor, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.

Shasta County thought it had found Ramstrom’s replacement last August, but the preferred candidate declined the job offer after a panel of community officials interviewed him.

In February, county officials were set to interview a finalist. But the person pulled out of the interview after taking a similar position in another state.

Then last week, supervisors rescinded the offer to the top candidate after a background check on the individual came back, Supervisors Garman and Rickert have said.

Coordinated effort to combat homelessness gets testy

In April, supervisors endorsed a letter of support for At Home, which was developed by the California State Association of Counties, or CSAC.

At Home's aim is to get cities and counties to work together to tailor their own ways to address homelessness.

Locally, that means Shasta County working with the cities of Redding, Anderson and Shasta Lake.

On Tuesday, the board was asked to appoint two supervisors to the At Home steering committee, which would also include representatives from Redding, Anderson and Shasta Lake.

Supervisor Garman is Shasta County’s CSAC representative and is enthusiastic about the plan.

Supervisor Crye? Not so much.

Crye has made it clear that he thinks government should have a limited role fighting homelessness, and that churches and private citizens should take a more prominent role. On Tuesday, Crye said the At Home program has been overhyped and he has concerns that the people involved won’t be held accountable.

So, Garman was upset when the board voted 3-2 to appoint Crye and Jones to the At Home committee. Garman and Rickert voted no.

Garman said he did not think Crye was fully vested in the At Home program.

“This program will be successful with all parties involved. I want somebody to go in there, and it doesn’t have to be me, (who) will be on that ad hoc and are going to go in there and really make this thing work,” Garman said.

Crye countered that he wants to bring accountability to the group and said the work to get people off the streets shouldn’t take years and years to do.

“I want quick movement. I don’t want talk about it, and so that’s why I’m extremely vested in this,” Crye said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County lowers standards for health officer job