The Flathead City-County Health Department will be under new leadership beginning next week after the Board of Health unanimously approved a final contract for a permanent public health officer during a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The new hire is Joe Russell, a Flathead Valley resident who served at the helm of health department operations from 1998 until his retirement in 2017. He brings with him over 30 years of experience in government public health.

Russell’s contract begins Dec. 14 and will last one year with an opportunity for renewal at the end of his term. The contract approval concludes the board’s hiring committee’s 10-month pursuit for a new public health officer.

“This search, just like many things in 2020, was very difficult, but I think we’ve made a good choice,” said Kyle Waterman, chairman of the board’s personnel committee.

According to a press release, Russell joined the health department in 1987 as a registered sanitarian and was later promoted to division director of environmental health in 1990. He also helped staff and other health officials navigate various outbreaks, including H1N1 and measles, and has assisted with vaccine deployments.

"Joe Russell is well known for his management and administrative skills by the department, the county commissioners and many on the Board of Health because he has extensive 20 plus years of experience as the leader of the Department," the press release states. It continues, "He is well qualified to lead the department during the current mitigation phase of COVID-19, and the beginning of the vaccination phase, which is just now beginning."

Professional experience aside, Russell, who earned his Masters of Public Health degree from the University of Washington with an emphasis in epidemiology and environmental health practice, also brings with him a deep understanding of the Flathead Valley.

During a separate board meeting last week, several members said they hope his history with the community will foster stronger relationships among the Board of Health, Flathead City-County Health Department, elected officials and residents. Differing opinions on COVID-19 itself, data, mask-wearing and other safety protocols associated with the pandemic have driven wedges between public health officials, the commissioners and others.

“I think we are very fortunate to have someone who actually wants to come out of retirement who is well-versed on the department and will hit the ground running and will hopefully get us to a better place,” said commissioner Pam Holmquist, who also serves on the Board of Health.

The division recently prompted Interim Public Health Officer Tamalee St. James Robinson to announce her resignation from the position. Robinson, who also will vacate her spot on the Board of Health, stepped into the role at the start of summer with the intention to guide the health department and county through the COVID-19 pandemic until a permanent replacement was found.

In her resignation letter she wrote, “the Commissioners’ and Board’s failure to enact or publicly support even the most basic recommendations regarding mask use, along with any type of recommended group meeting restrictions, has not only increased public health risk, it has demonstrated a clear lack of support for the county health department.”

During the Wednesday meeting, board members thanked Robinson for the time she devoted to her temporary position. Similar to her successor, Robinson has spent more than 30 years in the public health arena, a career that was centered in Billings long before she moved to the Flathead and joined the Board of Health.

“Thank you to Tamalee and all the numerous hours of work you’ve put in these past six months,” said Pete Heyboer, one of the two physicians on the board. “My only regret with you, Tamalee, is that you weren’t at times supported throughout the community as much as we would have liked to see. And I would call on the community to support Joe.”

Robinson said that although Russell is taking over next week, she plans on assisting the health department through the COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com