Health department officer contract renewed

The contract of Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns was renewed for another 12 months.

In addition, Burns will receive a 10 percent pay raise.

The action took place during Monday’s tri-county board meeting.

Burns, whose salary is nearly $90,000, will remain in place through at least the end of 2022.

The board also approved a $3,500 merit pay raise for the 2020-21 year and all other staff a 2 percent, across-the-board pay raise.

Burns has been the lowest paid health officer under a 2019 independent staff salary study commissioned by the board.

A small group of people had sought Burns’ removal from office due, in part, to mask mandates she had ordered previously.