Allegan County recently appointed Jacqueline Billette as its new health officer, pending final approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Billette, originally from the Traverse City area, joins Allegan County from the Central Michigan District Health Department, where she served multiple counties in Michigan. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and public health.
During the commissioner meeting, Billette shared her intentions to focus on community education and relationship-building as the new health officer. She emphasized the importance of providing individuals with the tools to make informed decisions about their own health and lifestyle choices. Transparency, clear communication, and addressing community concerns were highlighted as priorities moving forward.
The previous health officer, Angelique Joynes, resigned from the position in January after serving for a decade. The county received over 20 applicants for the role, eventually narrowing it down to a select few candidates for interviews. The selection process included multiple rounds of interviews with questions covering various public health scenarios and input from officials and staff members.
Commissioner Dean Kapenga praised the thorough and diligent selection process, expressing his satisfaction with Billette emerging as the top candidate. The board is optimistic about the new leadership in public health and looks forward to the positive impact Billette will have on the community.