The Monroe County Health Department is grappling with a wave of departures as several employees and board members have recently left their positions. This exodus has raised concerns among local public health experts, who fear that the ongoing departures may compromise public health in the county.

The most recent resignation came from Dr. Carol Litten Touloukian, the board chair, who stepped down on May 23. This decision followed a Herald-Times article in which local public health experts expressed worry about the impact of the employee departures on the community’s well-being. Dr. Touloukian, a pediatrician, sent her resignation via email to the Monroe County commissioners, stating that it was effective immediately.

In response to Dr. Touloukian’s resignation, Penny Githens, the president of the commissioners, expressed gratitude for her years of service, particularly during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Githens also revealed that Dr. Touloukian had previously indicated her intention to leave the board in the near future. However, when questioned about the reasons behind her resignation, Dr. Touloukian declined to provide any details, leaving the circumstances surrounding her departure unclear.

Interestingly, at the previous health board meeting, held the day before her resignation, Dr. Touloukian had given no indication that she was planning to step down. On the contrary, she mentioned her intention to attend the upcoming board meeting scheduled for June 15. However, the June 15 meeting was ultimately canceled, and the health department’s administrative assistant did not provide a reason for the cancellation.

The departure of Dr. Touloukian follows the resignation of another board member, Dr. Robert Wrenn, a few weeks earlier. Dr. Wrenn, who had discussed retiring from the board for several months, explained that his decision was influenced in part by his lack of medical activity since retiring eight years ago. The county website, however, still includes both Dr. Touloukian and Dr. Wrenn as active members.

In light of the vacancies left by the resignations, the commissioners appointed Dr. Michelle “Shelley” Herman to fill one of the open slots. The board has been undergoing significant changes, as a third member, Ashley Cranor, had planned to resign during a board meeting in February. Cranor had intended to read a critical letter regarding the department’s administrator, Lori Kelley, who took over the role after Penny Caudill retired. However, Cranor was informed by the county legal department a day before the meeting that she had been removed from the board, although the official removal did not occur until a week later.

The issue of employee departures extends beyond the board members. Over the past few months at least 10 former health department employees have either left or were fired. These employees expressed their love for their jobs but cited a toxic work environment characterized by unclear directives, contradictory policies, bullying, retaliation for voicing concerns, and threats of legal action. They also raised concerns about the promotion of individuals lacking adequate experience. This loss of experienced staff members raises worries about the department’s ability to ensure public health.

The impact of the departures has reverberated beyond the health department, affecting local businesses such as restaurants and builders. Restaurants have reported inspections occurring without customary feedback, while permits for septic systems face prolonged processing times, often exceeding the state-required 45-day period. Moreover, these permits frequently contain noticeable flaws, causing delays in construction projects.

This story originally appeared in the Bloomington Herald-Times. Some content within this article has been generated through the use of Artificial Intelligence.