Effingham and Clay Counties to Again Share Health Department Administrator

Effingham and Clay counties plan to share a health department administrator again, and it's the same individual.

The Boards of Health of both counties have agreed to share the services of Jeff Workman. A similar agreement was in place 16 years ago, but ended after one year.

(JEFF WORKMAN)

Workman was serving as Clay County Administrator in August 1999 when he also assumed the Effingham County duties following the departure of Fritz Cross. After one year, though, the agreement was ended and Workman went back to exclusively serving as Clay County Administrator.

When Rebecca Merten announced she was leaving as Effingham County Administrator due to a move out-of-state, talks resumed between the two counties about again sharing Workman as Administrator. The agreement is effective today, March 1.

Workman said the plan is for him to work in Clay County three days a week and in Effingham County two days, with the counties sharing his pay and expenses. He said the departments will work independently, but said there will be occasions when employees will be moved between the counties depending on the situation. He said that will involve Clay County employees coming to Effingham County to assist, but said there will be no loss of jobs in either department.

Workman said the lack of a state budget and other funding uncertainties have combined with a demand for increased services to create difficult situations for many health departments. The plan to share personnel resources should help address those situations.