Outgoing Riley County Health Department director Brenda Nickel addresses county commissioners Thursday morning. Pictured left to right are county clerk Rich Vargo, commission chairman Ron Wells, commissioner Robert Boyd, commissioner Ben Wilson, county counselor Clancy Holeman and Nickel. (Staff photo by Brady Bauman)
Outgoing Riley County Health Department director Brenda Nickel said her goodbyes and thanked her colleagues during Thursday morning’s county commission meeting.
Nickel, as KMAN first reported in October, announced her resignation to take a newly-created risk management director position with the Flint Hills Community Health Center in Emporia, which is a federally-qualified health center.
Lisa Ross, the health department’s WIC supervisor, will serve as the interim director.
Nickel, who has chaired department head meetings for the county, said she will miss the people of Riley County.
Nickel
“Those department head meetings have been so invaluable and it’s been such a joy to be able to chair that the past year and be able to work with such an amazing group of professionals,” she said. “I’m going to miss you all.”
Nickel also extended personal thanks to the commissioners for their support since she began as the department’s director in 2013.
Ross told commissioners Nickel has left the department in better shape than it was.
“Brenda really has left the health department in a great place,” Ross said. “I value her vision and hope to continue on that same path.”
In other items, commissioners opened bids for new volunteer firefighter equipment and standby power equipment for Public Works.
The high bid for a SCBA compressor for volunteer firefighters was $34,506.53 from Danko Emergency Equipment of Hanover, while the low bid was from Conrad Fire Equipment of Olathe for $27,215.90.
For the standby power equipment, the high bid was $86,995 from Heineken Electric of Manhattan, while the low bid was from Economy Electric, Inc. — also of Manhattan — for $59,160.
Bids were approved for review.
