Commissioners replace Crouch on county's health advisory board

A vocal critic of the Burke County Commissioners’ August decision to shift the Burke Board of Health’s role from an administrative to an advisory capacity is no longer on the board.

The commissioners voted against re-appointing former health board chair Isaac Crouch to serve another term at its December meeting Monday night, instead opting for Dr. Ken Bonfield and Cristy Gupton to fill two seats for which Crouch was also eligible.

Bonfield, an ophthalmologist with Morganton Eye Physicians, replaced Crouch in Seat 5, which, by state statutes, is reserved for either an optometrist or private citizen. The commissioners voted 5-0 in favor of Bonfield. He was the only nominee for Seat 5.

Camey Ervin, who was serving in Seat 9 (at large) and applied for re-appointment, was also left off the board in favor of Gupton.

Commissioner Brian Barrier nominated Gupton — president of employee benefits consulting firm Custom Benefits Solutions — for Seat 9, citing her bachelor’s degree in public health and master’s degree in health benefits as qualifications. She also is listed as treasurer of the Burke County Republican Party.

Crouch was also eligible to take the seat vacated by Ervin, and commission chair Jeff Brittain nominated Crouch.

Brittain and Randy Burns voted for Crouch, while Barrier, Phil Smith, and Mike Stroud voted for Gupton.

“It made me feel, and I currently feel, like they were searching for a way to nominate and approve someone else,” Crouch said Tuesday. “It’s disappointing, but not surprising, just because of how politics works around here.”

Crouch had publicly opposed the commission’s decision last summer to bring the health department under the direction of the county manager. The move stripped the health board of its authority over public health, instead giving that power to the commissioners.

The August vote came after a parade of speakers during the public comments portion of the meeting voiced their concerns about having a political board in charge of making public health decisions.

Pharmacist Jessi Stout was re-appointed to Seat 1 on the board of health, which is reserved for a pharmacist. Registered nurse Joset Taylor was the only applicant for Seat 7, which is reserved for an R.N.

The board of health is composed of 11 representatives, including a county commissioner; a licensed physician, dentist, pharmacist, and optometrist; a veterinarian; a registered nurse; a professional engineer; and three resident representatives.

The only other items for decision on Monday’s agenda were also board appointments.

Mark Patrick and Browning Rochefort were re-appointed to the Library Board. Samantha Reid, Diane Reihl, and Mitch Kerce were re-appointed to the Travel and Tourism Board.

The commissioners approved a consent agenda that included several appointments to other boards in the county, and a resolution declaring Sheriff’s Office K-9 officer Macho surplus property so he could be sold for $1 to his longtime handler and partner, Lt. Tim Branch. The commissioners honored the retiring K-9 for his service early in the meeting.

Also included in the consent agenda was a resolution establishing the board’s meeting dates for 2025. This year, the board will hold its regular monthly meetings on the third Monday of every month instead of the third Tuesday. The pre-agenda meetings will still be held on the Tuesday two weeks prior to the regular meetings.

The board also recognized Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Mike Willis, who is retiring at the end of the year. The commissioners gave Willis a plaque thanking him for his 43 years of work in emergency services.

Burke County’s financial offices and Finance Director Margaret Pierce were also recognized for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.