Custer County approves new public‑health leadership roles and accepts $80,000 behavioral‑health grant

The Custer County Board of Commissioners on June 17 approved a reorganization and several grant‑funded positions in the county public‑health department and accepted a behavioral‑health grant totaling $80,000.

Public Health Director Sarah Burlson summarized the staffing plan and funding sources. She said the community programs lead position is full time, will exercise fiscal oversight for a set of grants, and carries a proposed salary range of $35,000–$45,000. "We already have the funding," Burlson said about regional grant dollars that must be spent by Dec. 31; she said the role will be supported by a mix of STEP, LPSD and infrastructure grant funds. The board moved and approved publishing the job description and moving forward with recruitment.

The board also approved a part‑time emergency preparedness (EPR) and environmental coordinator (two days per week) with a salary range of $21,000–$31,000; Burlson told commissioners the role would help with plan writing, grant documents and ICS coordination and would be mostly grant funded.

Commissioners conditionally approved a part‑time maternal‑child health nurse position contingent on acceptance of rural health funding tied to a separate grant process. Burlson said the county has begun free birthing and breastfeeding classes and that the new nurse would deliver those and other maternal‑child services if funding is secured.

Separately, the board voted to accept an $80,000 Impact Behavioral Health grant focused on perinatal and postnatal mental health, with a county staff nurse to deliver services and county fiscal staff (identified in the meeting as Stacy from CCKC) overseeing grant administration. The board approved the acceptance of funds by unanimous vote.

All personnel moves described at the meeting were framed as grant‑funded; commissioners asked staff to publish job postings, clarify in‑person expectations and ensure positions are advertised for the statutory minimum posting period before hiring.