Mertes nominated for another term as officials weigh health board expansion

Despite opposition from the Eureka area, Lincoln County Health Board members narrowly voted to recommend colleague Dr. Sara Mertes for another term on the body Nov. 23.

Mertes is one of three members appointed by county commissioners. But like the other two commissioner-appointed members — George Jamison and Jan Iver — she lives in the Libby area. The commissioners’ representative to the board, Mark Peck, also calls Libby home.

The municipalities of Eureka, Libby and Troy each appoint a representative to the board as well, bringing board membership to seven, with five hailing from in and around the county seat.

Libby’s overrepresentation on the board has drawn criticism from up north in recent months. It arose publicly after a group of residents, angry at pandemic restrictions, called on county commissioners in October to purge the health board and reconstitute it with members willing to oust Health Officer Dr. Brad Black. Many of that group’s most vocal leaders hail from north Lincoln County, which along with Eureka, includes Fortine, Rexford, Stryker and Trego.

At the time, Peck said he saw no reason to reform the health board, but he welcomed a suggestion by County Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) to consider more representation on the board from north Lincoln County. Eureka’s mayor, LeeAnn Schermerhorn, has since emailed the board echoing the sentiment.

The issue reached a tipping point as Mertes’ nomination came up for a vote last week. Her term is set to expire at the end of the calendar year.

Mertes, a doctor at Cabinet Peaks Family Medicine, faced competition for the spot. Two contenders, Jeff Peterson and Robin Gray, both of Eureka, made the case for why they should sit on the board Nov. 23. Peterson touted his background in research and communications. Gray is a former education and school administrator.

Several other applicants were not in attendance for the meeting.

Debra Armstrong, who serves as Eureka’s representative on the board, kicked off discussion by thanking Mertes for her service, but arguing for another voice from the north end of the county.

“I speak for both [Schermerhorn] and myself, and, although I really appreciate the job Sara has done and by no means have any against her having a second term, I really believe that Eureka needs another representative,” Armstrong said.

Peck, though, preferred to keep board membership as is while discussing ways to potentially expand its size to incorporate another voice. He praised the skill and talent brought to the table by the applicants.

Peck raised the possibility of returning to the board of commissioners for discussion of adding another member in the coming weeks. Commissioners enjoy the leeway to adjust the size of the board. By statute, the board must include at least five members, with each of the city councils in the county sending one representative.

“I hate to put us into an either-or situation here,” Peck said. “I know we’ve got to get that position filled. I hate to lose what we have, but I’d hate to not take advantage of one of those folks up there.”

Jamison supported Peck’s position and noted that, prior to the pandemic, people were not clamoring to join the health board.

“I would hate to see us lose Dr. Mertes’ participation on the board. I think we’ve gained a lot by that,” Jamison said, while acknowledging the dearth of representation from the Eureka area. “Back to four years ago, when this board was reconstituted, quite frankly, the circumstance then was that the level of interest shown for the three [countywide] positions was scant. And, as I recall — I could be wrong — I don’t think there was anyone even from the north county that showed any interest in that time.”

He attributed COVID-19 to bringing more attention to board, but told his colleagues that the uptick in involvement from north Lincoln County was encouraging nonetheless. Jamison offered several times to step down in favor of an individual from the Eureka area.

Citing the discussion, Armstrong raised the idea of tabling the nomination for the board’s December meeting. But Jim Seifert, the Troy representative, responded by making a motion to nominate Mertes for another term. Peck seconded the motion and pledged to take the idea of board expansion to his fellow commissioners.

Armstrong argued that if the commissioners were serious about expanding the board, they could always reappoint Mertes at a later date. She also suggested that it was inappropriate to make the nomination during an emergency meeting. Peck later described the meeting “out-of-cycle” rather than an “emergency,” essentially an extra convening of the board that month, and one that was set up days in advance.

“If we go ahead and [nominate] Sara to the board, we are in fact appointing another Libby representative to the board and not from the north county,” Armstrong said. “I think you’re putting the cart before the horse there.”

During public comment, the residents that spoke supported more representation from the Eureka area. Tim Haines worried that by expanding the board, rather than just appointing a second Eureka member now, would dilute its authority. He compared it to packing the U.S. Supreme Court.

Seifert rejected the premise, describing the health board as apolitical. He pointed out that he was the sole Troy representative on the board.

“We’re considered the dogpatch of the county,” he said to laughter. “We live down the river from Libby, but we’re in this altogether.”

Ultimately, the board voted 3-2 to nominate Mertes and encourage commissioners to expand the health board to incorporate more members from north Lincoln County. Armstrong and Jamison, who said he voted nay out of concern regarding the wording of the motion, cast the dissenting votes.