New Allegan County Health Officer Focuses on Community Education and Transparency

The Allegan County Board of Commissioners recently voted to appoint Jacqueline Billette as the county’s next health officer. Her appointment is pending final approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with state law. County Administrator Rob Sarro expects quick approval and anticipates that Billette could start as early as Monday, April 29.

Billette, originally from the Traverse City area, joins Allegan County from the Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves multiple counties in Michigan. She has educational backgrounds in English and public health, holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in these fields. Billette expressed her passion for public health and community service during the commissioner meeting when she was introduced.

During the meeting, Billette shared her intentions to focus on community education and relationship-building as the new health officer. She emphasized the importance of providing individuals with the tools to make informed decisions about their own health and lifestyle choices. Transparency, clear communication, and addressing community concerns were highlighted as priorities moving forward.

The previous health officer, Angelique Joynes, resigned from the position in January after serving for a decade. The county received over 20 applicants for the role, eventually narrowing it down to a select few candidates for interviews. The selection process included multiple rounds of interviews with questions covering various public health scenarios and input from officials and staff members.

Commissioner Dean Kapenga praised the thorough and diligent selection process