New plan would merge Snohomish Health District with county

The COVID-19 pandemic proved the integration would improve public health responses, officials say.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

EVERETT — County Executive Dave Somers has a plan to bring the Snohomish Health District and all its employees under the county government by next year.

Lacey Harper, an executive director in Somers’ office, made the pitch to the County Council last week in a presentation titled “Strengthening public health in Snohomish County.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the county and the health district have worked closely, almost as one, showing what it would be like if the two were integrated, Harper said. Joining the two would simply “make formal what has been informal over the last two years,” according to a memo sent to council members.

The idea to fold public health into the county government, “like most large counties in our state,” has been mulled for at least a decade now, Harper said. She argued having one entity would cut through bureaucratic red tape, streamline permitting, create more funding opportunities and prevent future conflicts.

During the pandemic, she said, the dual authorities of the county and the health district could have been “a catastrophic barrier to our success.” It was a matter of luck that the various personalities at the two governments got along.

“We had the right folks at the right places at the right time,” she said, “and so we avoided having serious conflict between our two organizations.”

That wasn’t the case in other jurisdictions across the country, though, she said.

Created in 1959, the Snohomish Health District now employs 135 full- and part-time staff. The county executive has “committed to safeguarding all of our health district staff and county staff if you approve this integration,” Harper told council members. The new public health department would still have its own director and “rely on the talents of a health officer,” she said.

There would be a new board to advise the department. The current one is composed of 15 elected officials from across the county, split into five districts. But new changes to state law dictate elected officials can’t make up the majority of positions on a board of health. Non-elected positions would include health experts, consumers of health care and other community stakeholders, like tribal members.

There would be “minor disruptions” during the transition, Harper acknowledged, but ultimately the new county department should be better funded and be better poised for long-term planning.

No council members signaled opposition to the proposal. Nate Nehring and Stephanie Wright expressed support. Council Chair Megan Dunn noted the potential risk to “alienate our cities” and asked whether the health district’s foundation could still operate.

Harper said the foundation shouldn’t be affected. Cities, tribes and other stakeholders would be consulted throughout the process, she said.

The Snohomish Health District’s board has a special meeting scheduled at 3 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the idea. A proposed resolution attached the agenda notes how the two governments have collaborated in the past, including during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the aftermath of the 2014 Oso mudslide, the opioid epidemic and, most recently, the years-long response to COVID-19.

The County Council will consider approving the proposal at its June 8 meeting. If approved, the county could have a new public health department by Jan. 1.

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.