Merten Departing as Health Department Administrator

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Published on November 10 2015 3:13 pm
Last Updated on November 10 2015 3:16 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Rebecca Merten is departing as administrator of the Effingham County Health Department.

Merten said she is relocating to Lexington, Kentucky and is expecting to be gone from Effingham County by February. That will be just about two years from the time she took over as administrator.

Merten took over operation of the department at a time when morale was low, but has helped turn things around. The turnaround, though, has been hampered by the state budget impasse. Merten was forced to close the Department on Fridays to keep the doors open the other four weekdays.

The Department, more than most county agencies, is heavily dependent on state and federal funding. The State has been holding onto local government funds while waiting on a resolution to the budget wrangling. There is a glimmer of hope this week, though, that those funds could be released to local government agencies soon.

Merten has expanded the role of the health department administrator, taking a seat on the County 911 Board, and actively opposing efforts by the Effingham County Board to allow the sale of fireworks in the county due to safety concerns.

Merten said those interested in the administrator's job are encouraged to apply. She said she'd like the chance to work with the incoming administrator to foster a more orderly transition than what she encountered after the previous administrator was dismissed before Merten ever took the job.