County looks to bring on a disease intervention specialist

The Lincoln County Health Department may soon be hiring a disease intervention specialist.

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted a grant Sept. 9 from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services to pay for the position for two years. With the vote, health officials can spend up to $91,000 a year on the individual.

Jennifer McCully, the county public health manager, told commissioners that the person would assist mostly with coronavirus-related duties. They also plan to use the individual, likely a nurse, to help with immunizations in Libby, Troy and Eureka.

County Commissioner Mark Peck (D-1) suggested the department also could use the disease intervention specialist for outreach at the local public schools.

“I think that would be pretty handy to have,” Peck said of the position.

Fellow Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) agreed.

“If it’s all paid for, I don’t see where we could go wrong,” he said.

Letcher made the motion to accept the grant and Peck offered a second.