Interim director of the Fayette County Health Department resigns amid search for leader
The interim director of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has announced his resignation amid a long search for a new leader at one of the state’s largest health departments.
Jack Cornett has served as interim chief administrative officer since Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins was fired in April 2023. Owens-Collins had served only three months as health commissioner before she was terminated by the Board of Health.
Cornett was a former board member who had previously served as the department’s chief financial officer. His resignation is effective Oct. 11, said Kevin Hall, a department spokesman.
“Serving as the Interim Chief Administrative Officer the past year and a half has been richly fulfilling for me,” Cornett said. “I have enjoyed working with this team of public health professionals, and I’ve gained much respect for the skills, professionalism and overall strengths of this organization.”
The Board of Health, which oversees the health department, has struggled to both attract and keep a health commissioner for several years.
Prior to Owens-Collins, the health department board appointed Dr. Joel McCullough to the position. McCullough was hired in December 2021 but resigned in July 2022.
The Board of Health has been searching for a commissioner for more than 16 months.
Board Chair Majd Jabbour said Aug. 14 the department would re-post the position.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department played a key role in the city’s efforts to provide information, testing and immunizations to residents during the height of the coronavirus pandemic
The health department also has a health clinic, oversees restaurant and other inspections, runs school nurse programs and operates a needle-exchange program, among other public health initiatives. It has a staff of around 170 employees and an operating budget of more than $30 million.
The search for a permanent leader has been costly, according to records obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader through an Open Records Act request.
Owens-Collins threatened to sue the department after her termination. A settlement agreement shows Owens-Collins received more than $95,000 in severance payments from the department.
The department has spent at least $5,644 on food, lodging and air travel for previous candidates for the position, according to expense documents.
Those interviews took place between February and June, according to the expense reports.
Jabbour declined to comment in August why none of the candidates interviewed were selected for the position. None of the Board of Health meeting minutes from January to August mention the decision or a vote to re-post the position.
It has also paid $45,000 to 20/Twenty Strategic Consultants to help with the search for a new commissioner.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 11:23 AM.
