(KNZA)--A new Brown County Health Officer has been appointed.

The Brown County Commission last week approved a resolution appointing Robin Downard to the position, with Dr. Lowell Searight serving as the consulting physician.

Downard replaces Chastity Schuman, who recently left for another job. 

In other business, Allision Kerl with the Hiawatha Community Hospital provided an update to the Commission on activities at the hospital.

She said the hospital has contracted with a second-year resident to practice in Hiawatha for 2022, but still continues to seek two providers for 2021.

She said the residents they are recruiting are participating in the Kansas Bridging Program, which is designed to help attract providers to rural areas. Under the program, the resident receives $10,000 from the state of Kansas and $16,000 from the community. The loans are forgiven if the resident practices in the community for three years.

Kerl said the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development has agreed to be a sponsor of the program for their new provider coming in 2022.

She said they will be looking to the city and county for support for the other residents they are recruiting.

The Commission voted to move county employee Heather Merrill from part-time to full-time. Her hours will be split between the Solid Waste and Noxious Weed Departments. She will be paid $14.75 an hour.

And at the request for Services for the Elderly Director Wanda Davis, the Commission voted to advertise for a new activities director for the Hiawatha Senior Citizens Center. Applications will be reviewed at the Commission's November 16 meeting.