Health director resigns
By Dwight Otwell Editor

Cherokee County Health Director Elaine Russell Monday tendered her resignation to the Board of Health effective August 1.

The health board accepted the resignation and will begin the process of searching for a new director.

Russell, who has been the county health director since September 1996, said she is leaving to spend more time with her family and to pursue other career options.

Russell said she will work on her career in public health.

"I'm keeping my options open," she said.

Russell, who grew up in Cherokee County and graduated from Andrews High School, is working on an additional Master's Degree in the field of Homeland Security.

Russell said she didn't resign because of pressure to do so. Some have said that some members of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners wanted to remove Russell as health director.

"This is purely a personal decision," Russell said. "The community has been supportive as has the board (of health). I have reached the time in my life to move on. I don't take the resignation lightly. I feel we have a committed board (of health). It has been a very positive experience. I appreciate serving the community for 11 years."

Russell said that during the last two months with the county she will work hard with the Board of Health to keep up the progress on the Environmental side of the Health Department.

When asked about accomplishments during her tenure as director, Russell pointed to maintaining prenatal services and a medication program. She also noted that the department has responded to phenomenal growth and the resulting backlog in septic permits on the Environmental side of the Health Department.

When asked if more could have been done t o head o f f t h e sept i c b a c k - log she said, "Hindsight is always 20/20. It is easy to see where we could h a v e made stronger recommendations - that is for everyone - the health director, the board of commissioners and the Board of Health.

Russell began working in public health in 1990 while she was in graduate school in South Carolina.

When asked if she has had a stormy relationship with the present or preceding Board of Commissioners, Russell said, "Management is always challenging. It is important to maintain the high road and I see my time here as positive."

Health Board Chairman Dr. Carlton Van Horn said the majority of the board was "surprised and saddened" that Russell has decided to leave. He said it is understandable with Russell's loss of her house and her father's illness. Russell's house burned to the ground a few months ago while she was away for educational purposes.

"Everything she has done to run the health department has been done in the best interest of the community," Van Horn said. "She's a very educated and knowledgeable young woman in this field and she will be missed in the long term."

Van Horn said the health board will set up a meeting and establish a search committee to look for a full-time director. The Board of Health has the statutory obligation to identify and hire a director. Qualifications for the position are a Master's Degree in Public Health and a minimum of two years in the local public health.

Van Horn said the Board of Health will try to meet the timetable of finding a new director before Russell leaves the position on August 1.

"The board will sit down and talk with Elaine and she will provide information for us to head in the right direction," Van Horn said.

Russell said that if a health director isn't found by the time she leaves, Assistant Health Director Tim Nicholson would be a logical choice for interim director.

By statute, the Board of Health chooses a director for the Health Department while the Board of Commissioners sets the salary, Russell said.

One area that Russell sees as a crisis that should be addressed is health care needs of the working poor.