The New Falcon Herald talked to Rosemary Bakes-Martin, the public health administrator for El Paso County, and Susan Wheelan, public health information officer.NFH: Why does the health department need two public information officers?EPCHD: Susan was literally … we were working her into the ground. We were using Dan’s (Dan Martindale) three senior staff to help back up Susan. Those senior staff were spending anywhere from 16 to 20 percent of their time, too, on this. So, it was clear that we needed another person. We let some time go by and collected some data to make sure we needed another person.(Radford has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis on mass communications. A panel of health department professionals found her to be the best candidate. Her salary with the health department as a PIO is $54,000.)NFH: Bruce said the department has a $10 million budget. Clark said it is $3 million. According to Commissioner Bruce, Bakes-Martin is always reporting a short department revenue. If so, why the added position and higher salary than originally advertised? (The health department maintains there was a mistake made in the original newspaper ad for the PIO.)EPCHD: That was a fair salary for the position. We did salary comparisons throughout the county and throughout the country. The PI (public information) person at the county is making in the $60,000 range. Mr. Bruce has never asked me the question that you just asked me. I have never come in front of county commissioners and have said, “We are out of money, we are out of money.” I have told them numerous times that we are doing the best that we can with the money that we’ve got, and … delivering services at a level that most health departments that make a whole lot more than we do. I have never been in front of Mr. Bruce asking for money.NFH: What are Radford’s responsibilities?EPCHD: Developing communication tools, flyers, brochures, audio-visual materials, public service announcements, annual report; determine the type, design and style of the message of the publications; review all the department publications and make suggestions for improvement; help to coordinate public health week; coordinate with other local organized internal committees. One of the things we do that no one else does is risk communication.(Radford also will work on the Web page for content information, provide media training and public relations campaigns for the community.)
