Health director’s early retirement set for Nov. 7
The Macon County Board of Health voted last week to consolidate with another agency, move up the health director’s retirement by two months and appoint the county human resources director as interim health director.
The votes took place after a closed session on Oct. 28, in which the board members discussed the ongoing search for a new health director, a process that began after current director Kathy McGaha announced her retirement in September.
At the county commissioners meeting in September, the commissioners introduced but did not vote on the idea of establishing a consolidated human services agency (CHSA) by combining one or more human services agencies under the oversight of a single CHSA board. A draft proposal showed the Health Department combined with the county’s Housing, Veterans Affairs, Senior Services or Animal Control departments. The new CHSA board would include the current health board members in addition to four other “consumers of human services.” Commissioners had not decided on the departments to consolidate as of the meeting.
During the October health board meeting, Dr. Nathan Feibelman moved to recommend the county move forward with consolidation.
The resolution the health board unanimously approved on Oct. 28 did not specify another agency for consolidation; it stated Public Health Services would join with “another human services agency” to form a Consolidated Human Service Agency.
The resolution also stated that the county manager would appoint, with input from the newly created Consolidated Human Services Board, a Consolidated Human Services director to be supervised by the county manager.
A letter that went out to Health Department employees from County Manager Warren Cabe on Oct. 29 said the recommendation was for the Health Department to consolidate with Animal Services. While this option was briefly discussed after being suggested by Higdon, the approved recommendation did not mention Animal Services. The letter stated the action “does not change anything from the operation standpoint for employees.” Animal Services already operates as part of Public Health.
After the Oct. 28 meeting, health board Chair Garrett Higdon said he hoped the consolidation would improve efficiency in the administration of county services but was unable to comment on how the agencies would work together after the shift.
Higdon’s comments echo hopes voiced by commissioners Barry Breeden and John Shearl that consolidation would improve the work environment at the Health Department. Both Breeden and Shearl said they have received complaints from department employees about a “toxic work environment” at the Health Department and have advocated for consolidation to resolve those complaints by shifting Health Department employees from the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Human Resources Act to the county’s human resources department.
Working to address these complaints, the Board of Health had been making changes including drafting and finalizing new employee grievance and complaint policies, which were approved at the October meeting.
The recommendation for consolidations will go to the Board of County Commissioners at their Nov. 13 meeting.
Early retirement
According to county attorney Eric Ridenour, the board discussed, agreed upon and offered early leave for McGaha, effectively moving her retirement up from Dec. 31, 2025, to Friday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. McGaha accepted the offer. Higdon said after the meeting the decision was made since the board had been considering using an interim director as it searched for a new health director, and granting McGaha early retirement would help ease the transition from one health director to the next.
County Commissioner Barry Breeden, who currently serves on the health board as a member of the general public, moved to appoint Macon County human resources director Tammy Keezer as interim health director beginning on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. until a permanent replacement is selected. The motion passed unanimously.
Cabe’s letter also shared Jessica Baucum, human resources coordinator at the Health Department, submitted her resignation effective Nov. 7 and requested human resource issues be forwarded to the human resources staff at the county office.