NRCHS sees another resignation

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — When Nobles-Rock Community Health Services meets on Wednesday, it will formally accept the resignation of sanitarian Jason Kloss.

It is the second such resignation in the agency in the last three months, and comes amid continued talks of Nobles County embarking on its own combined health and human services agency.

NRCHS Administrator Brad Meyer left his post in mid-December after being told his position would be eliminated at the end of 2011. Rock County, which has been in a joint powers agreement with Nobles County for public health for several decades, chose to split from the arrangement and join Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone Public Health in the newly named Southwest Health and Human Services agency.

Kloss has actually accepted a new position with Southwest Health and Human Services, and will begin his new duties on March 21. His last day with NRCHS is March 18, marking an end of a 15-year stint as the agency’s sanitarian.

“Obviously, I like it in Nobles and Rock counties,” Kloss said Monday afternoon. “It’s certainly one of those transitions that is not always asked for, but I was glad this opportunity came about.”

Kloss had been part of the transition team working with issues related to splitting up the joint powers and duties between Nobles and Rock counties in recent months. Initially, there was concern Nobles County would not be able to obtain a food, beverage and lodging license as a single-county entity. While that issue appears to be resolved, it didn’t happen before Kloss began looking elsewhere for work.

“I wasn’t too sure of what my situation would be,” he said.

His new position with Southwest Health and Human Services will be as environmental health manager, but initially he will be the only sanitarian on the agency’s staff.

“Hopefully we will get another one, and then I will oversee the water lab,” Kloss said. “It’s a good step for me.”

He will also continue to do licensing and inspections of restaurants, bars, campgrounds and lodging, and handle reports of nuisances and other issues relating to environmental health.

Kloss will have offices in both Slayton and in Marshall, though his base will be in the more centrally located Slayton.

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