Fiscal, Employee Morale Reasons Behind Dismissal of Esker at Health Department

The President of the Effingham County Board of Health said there were two principal reasons behind a change in leadership at the Effingham County Health Department.

Dot Behrns Tuesday said of the decision to remove Kim Esker as Administrator, "There were some fiscal and some employee morale issues that weren't being addressed and we felt that a change in leadership was necessary."

Behrns stressed that programs offered by the Health Department will not be affected by the change.  She said, "All programs were there, full force, this morning." 

Behrns said she held what she termed "a positive meeting with the staff" Tuesday morning and feels the department will move ahead from this point.

Health Department Assistant Administrator and Coordinator for Community Health Programs Linda Hampton and WIC Program Coordinator Shawn Bourland will work together as a leadership team until a new administrator is selected.  Behrens said the Health Board will work together ASAP to have a new administrator in place.  She said of Hampton and Bourland, "We don't want to get them burned out.  Everyone is going to pitch in 100%."