By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Bruce Costa, former director of Central Utah Public Health Department, was released from his position over the Juab County Health Department.
Clinton Painter, Juab County Commission Chairman, was out of town but, as the county's representative on the health board, attended the meeting electronically.
He did that so, that in his official capacity as the county's representative on the Central Utah Public Health Department, he could ask that the commission address the dismissal of Costa.
"I am recommending that Mr. Costa be removed from his position," said Painter.
Painter then made the motion to remove Costa and both Byron Woodland and Rick Carlton, commissioners, voted in favor of doing so.
Carlton, acting as chairman in Painter's absence, was conducting the meeting.
He said he had written a letter in behalf of commissioners which was signed by all and would be sent to Jim Withers, board of health chairman.
"The Juab County Commission recently received information pertaining to concerns related to the employment of Mr. Bruce Costa," read the letter. "Subsequently, we received an investigative report and an independent panel's report in connection to the concerns lodged against him in his capacity as the local health officer.
"We also carefully reviewed a response submitted by Mr. Costa in his defense," the letter said.
"Following our receipt and careful review of these materials, we determine it is in the best interest of Juab County and the public, whom we serve, to formally address the matter," the letter stated.
On November 7, 2016, Monday, the county commission voted to remove and terminate Costa.
"In addition to the removal and termination, the Juab County Commission now formally and officially rescinds and withdraws Juab County's former ratification of Mr. Bruce Costa as the local health officer," the letter stated.
On June 16, 2016, Dr. David Crimin made the motion at board meeting that Nathan Selin be appointed as Interim Acting Health Officer with an increase in pay of 10 percent retroactive for the last two months.
At that board meeting, James Kallin and Gordon Topham, board members, both seconded and the motion passed unanimously
Bruce Costa, PhD, has been the Central Utah Public Health Department Director. He was appointed March 1995.
That district covers Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Wayne and Piute Counties.
At the local level, public health services in Utah are organized into 13 health districts. Seven of the 13 local health districts are single county and six are multi-county districts.
Seventy-five programs are administered throughout the six counties in the Central Utah Public Health Department.
Ever since December 6, 1972 the Central Utah Public Health Department (CUPHD) has maintained a full time public health department in Central Utah that covers Millard, Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne and Piute counties.
The very first official board meeting was held in the Millard County Courthouse on March 13, 1973.
The original office was in Nephi and it was eventually moved to Richfield on April 30, 1974, and there are now offices in each of the six counties.
Minutes of board meetings indicate that at the April 21, 2016 board meeting, Board Chairman Jim Withers requested that immediately following board meeting, board members: Scott Bartholomew, Dr. David Crimin and Clinton Painter meet with himself along with Bruce Costa for a discussion.
"We have also received a resignation from Rick Walsh, who has been our citizen member on the board," said Painter. "He will be moving from the area and can no longer serve."
He said that Kecia Phillips White had agreed to represent the county on the board of health in Walsh's place.
