Troy yanks Seifert off of health board

Troy city officials have removed Jim Seifert from the Lincoln County Health Board.

Mayor Dallas Carr told residents gathered at a June 16 city council meeting that he had spoken with the municipality’s lawyer that day and decided to “let Seifert go.” Carr again apologized for the city’s faulty appointment of Seifert to the panel last year and accepted responsibility for the error.

“I’ve already stated that I had made a mistake. And because of my mistake, that is why he’s gone,” he said.

Carr originally admitted he had failed to follow the proper procedure when he elevated Seifert to the board last month after residents pressed city council on the legitimacy of the appointment. When the city’s former representative to the board left her seat in November, Carr said Kathi Hooper, county health department director, had listed Seifert as a potential candidate for the post.

Assuming he had the authority to select the city’s representative, Carr named Seifert to the board. But a subsequent review of an agreement between the city and the health board revealed that the authority was vested in the city council. City Clerk Tracy Rebo said officials were unaware of the condition last year and Carr said the error was an honest mistake.

To rectify the blunder, city councilors sketched out plans to open up the municipality’s seat for applications last week. At the time, however, Seifert was to remain the city’s representative at least until the councilors had selected a candidate.

Seifert was not immediately available for comment after Carr’s announcement.

During a previous June 11 interview, Seifert said he was in favor of repeating the appointment process by the books and would resubmit an application for the seat.

“I want them to do it right,” Seifert said.

While Carr might not have agreed with all of Seifert’s stances on public health — some of which proved controversial — the mayor said he still backed Seifert as a top representative for Troy.

The city will advertise the position at City Hall and on social media for 30 days before the council will begin reviewing applicants. Councilors laid out rough plans to interview each candidate individually to prevent responses from one applicant from influencing those of another.

Rebo said the city would show preference to the candidates who live within city limits. If the council receives no suitable city applicants, councilors will consider county candidates who live near Troy.

While not required, councilors will look favorably on education or experience in “preventative health, health care, environmental science, veterinary science, education and environmental engineering or related fields,” according to a post on the municipality's Facebook page.