Flathead County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract to permanently hire the county’s interim health officer.

Commissioners OK’d a two-year employment agreement with Jennifer Rankosky, who has been serving as the interim health officer since June and has spent nearly two decades in the department.

Commissioner Randy Brodehl and Commissioner Brad Abell voted in favor of the hire. Commissioner Pam Holmquist was absent from the meeting.

“In my tenure here we’ve been struggling to find someone to fill this position,” Abell said. “Jennifer has stepped up and done a great job. I thank her for coming forward and taking this position.”

The Flathead City-County Health Board in November approved recommending Rankosky for the position after she approached the board seeking the permanent position.

Don Barnhart, who serves on the health board, praised Rankosky.

“She is someone who has a really good handle on what we have going on at the Health Department and is ready to take control of the department,” he said.

Prior to taking over in the interim role, Rankosky worked as the department’s population health manager and its preparedness coordinator.

The annual salary for the position is listed as $125,000.

The county has been looking for a health officer for more than two years. Former Health Officer Joe Russell came out of retirement in 2020 to fill the position after each of the two previous health officers resigned, but his contract expired at the end of June 2022.

The health officer reports to the county commissioners and the board of health.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].