The Flathead County commissioners have extended the contract for Public Health Officer Joe Russell to June 30, 2022, and gave him a raise as the county continues its search for a new health officer.

Russell’s salary was bumped up from $110,000 to $125,000 annually starting Dec. 5. His contract was set to expire in mid-December.

Russell, who spent more than 30 years in public health and was at the helm of the Flathead City-County Health Department from 1998 until his retirement in 2017, agreed to a one-year contract in December 2020 to help the county through the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, the department staff was overburdened with dealing with Covid, and both Health Officer Hillary Hanson, who had replaced Russell, and Interim Public Health Officer Tamalee St. James Robinson had resigned.

County Human Resource Director Tammy Skramovsky told the commissioners on Dec. 2 the county has actively been trying to recruit a new health officer for more than 18 months to no avail. Four separate job postings — two county postings and two searches through professional recruiting agencies, have failed to yield applicants.

“One of the issues that is a large one, that we can’t seem to get over in our hiring process, was the wage,” Skramovsky said, adding that the job was listed with a salary range of $90,000 to $110,000. That salary has failed to attract candidates.

Missoula and Gallatin counties are paying more than $130,000 annually for the same position, she noted. The county will post the job again using a $125,000 annual salary, and Skramovsky said she believes it is appropriate to offer Russell the same salary.

On a national level, the position of public health officer is a highly sought-after position, she added.

The county again recently posted the job $125,000 and “didn’t hardly get anyone,” Skramovsky said, so another attempt will be made through a professional recruiting service.

She noted that before the county began its recruiting efforts 18 months ago, the county checked with other Montana counties to see what they were paying their health officers. A check again in June this year showed the health officer wages in counties similar to Flathead “had gone way up,” Skramovsky said.

Commissioner Brad Abell, who commented, “I don’t agree very much with Joe,” acknowledged that “he took a substantial cut to come to work with us from his retirement income.

“If we want to replace Joe Russell we have to increase the salary,” Abell said. “Joe hasn’t asked for this; we need to raise it to where we’re competitive.”

Commissioner Randy Brodehl also noted “it’s been a tough process trying to hire somebody.

“If we don’t pay adequate wages we won’t get an adequate employee,” Brodehl said.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist was absent for the vote to extend Russell’s contract through next June, but voiced her support when Russell came on board.

“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,” Holmquist said when Russell was brought out of retirement. Holmquist serves as the commission’s representative on the Board of Health.