Health Care District only has 4 board members

FORT BRAGG » The Mendocino Coast Health Care District Board is in a bit of a pickle. In July 2020, board member Steve Lund left, reducing the five-member body to four. The board had until September 8 to replace Lund, whose term was up on Dec. 4, or they could wait until the election, according to County Clerk Katrina Bartolomie.

On September 8, it became the County Board of Supervisors’ responsibility to appoint someone to the seat. Board President Jessica Grinberg said she was mistakenly informed it was too close to the election to appoint someone new to the vacant position, so the 60 days was allowed to expire.

The Board of Supervisors now has until Oct. 8 to replace Lund with someone — who will serve only until December 4. As of today, it only has one interested party.

To add to the confusion, Mendocino Coast Health District Board secretary Karen Arnold did not seek a new term, which will leave a second seat open on Dec. 4.

Sara Spring applied for one of the vacant positions through the elections board and so she will automatically be appointed to fill one. That leaves one seat open, and that puts the onus on the Board of Supervisors — as the Health Care District does not get another opportunity to appoint, having missed the window, according to Bartolomie.

When brought to the attention of county supervisors Dan Gjerde and Ted Williams, they responded quickly and sought clarification from Bartolomie.

It is now up to the Board of Supervisors to determine if it appoints to the open seats now— and reappoint in December — or wait until December to fill the open position.

Interested parties should contact the Clerk of the Board without delay if they are interested in the position by calling (707) 4634221 or emailing bos@mendocinocounty.org.