‘We can not fail at this,’ says Commissioner Warren Brown

La Plata County has begun to execute plans to determine its personal well being division. Archuleta County has to do the identical, however will not be as far alongside within the course of. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file)

Over two months have handed since commissioners in Archuleta and La Plata counties voted to dissolve San Juan Basin Public Health, the division that has serviced the counties’ residents for 74 years. The division will stop to offer companies on the finish of 2023.

A month later, the La Plata Board commissioners have been interviewing candidates to serve on a board of well being that can govern La Plata County Public Health, which can assume accountability for the county’s public well being companies on the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2024. The BoCC named seven members to the board on Tuesday.

It was not instantly clear after the Nov. 15 vote to dissolve whether or not Archuleta County would create its personal division or search to affix its neighbors. The Silver Thread Public Health District companies Hinsdale and Mineral counties, Archuleta’s neighbors to the north. After the vote, Archuleta County Attorney Todd Weaver stated becoming a member of STPHD was one risk.

The tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the same divorce within the Denver area; the Tri-County Health Department which serviced Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties shuttered its doorways on Dec. 31. Under Title 25 of the Colorado statute, counties should run a well being division or be integrated right into a multi-county public well being district.

Now, Archuleta County Commissioner Warren Brown says the county will set up its personal district, which might be referred to as the Archuleta County Public Health Department.

“I believe it was unfortunate that the two counties decided to separate,” Brown stated. “However, this is where we are. And I think this is our best opportunity to put a health department together that does reflect who Archuleta County is and what specifically our citizens need as far as the services – not only statutory services, but beyond that.”

Brown served because the liaison between the Archuleta commissioners and a “Health District Investigation Committee” fashioned in August 2021 to analyze the feasibility and ramifications of leaving SJBPH. The committee got here to no particular conclusions however created an environment across the stage upon which SJBPH’s demise in the end performed out.

La Plata County seems well-poised to have its well being division operational by the brand new yr. The county appropriated $940,000 in its 2023 funds for the division and now has a board of well being that seems anxious to deal with the wants of county residents. The 2023 Archuleta County funds contains funding for SJBPH via the tip of the yr, however makes no point out of, nor allocates funds for its new well being division.

This is to not say that the county might be totally stranded. Under the intergovernmental settlement permitted on November, the counties will cut up SJBPH’s belongings in line with their comparative dimension. Archuleta County will take possession over the constructing in Pagosa Springs, two of the division’s eight automobiles, in addition to a portion of any remaining money.

Brown stated he’s effectively conscious of the problem that he and his fellow commissioners now face.

“This is not a venture that can fail – we cannot fail,” Brown stated. “We are, in essence, going to get one opportunity. And from my perspective, I want us to use that opportunity well, and to do it right.”

Archuleta County has obtained 17 purposes from residents hoping to serve on a transition committee that can make suggestions to the board, and commissioners will interview a few of these candidates in coming weeks.

He additionally stated that SJBPH and La Plata County management have each supplied to share data and sources to help the county.

“We’re working with them closely,” stated La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton.

Liane Jollon, govt director of SJBPH, stated she and her employees labored onerous to ease the transition.

“We’ve created shared documents where we have shared all of the funding contracts, all of the resources and logistics that we and the staff need to deliver the programs,” Jollon stated. “We have made positive that every one of that has been obtainable to every county for months, and have frolicked doing shows to be sure that they perceive what’s in these paperwork that we have offered.“

Brown stated that whereas funds are much less of a priority provided that county contributions comprise solely 23% of SJBPH’s funds and the remaining is grant-funded, the larger concern is discovering adequately skilled employees to run the division.

“We stand a very good chance of finding adequate funding,” Brown stated. “However, what worries me is the lack of experience that we have. You can’t buy experience. I think that’s going to be our greatest hurdle, is having that experience base to draw from on a day-to-day basis.”

Jollon stated the present SJBPH employees is a ripe pool of expertise that each counties may draw upon.

Now that the clock has begun to tick, Brown stated Archuleta County is feeling the strain. Even although the division has supplied to offer data to Archuleta County, he stated the advantage of La Plata County’s “close relationship” with SJBPH has helped facilitate the fast initiation of the transition course of.

“I don’t feel like we have any time to waste,” Brown stated.

rschafir@durangoherald.com