Appoint Trang Chikatone health department administrator

1:15:10We're going to take a break from public comment just for a minute. We had two items. One was scheduled for eleven, one for eleven fifteen. Um We would do the eleven eleven o'clock first is a recommendation we appoint Trang Chikatone as the administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County. Trang, would you come forward? Thank

1:15:26you, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to have uh Mike Napier come forward and and give the uh brief discussion and introduction.

1:15:32If we could, let's make this as brief as we can in light of what we have going on here.

1:15:35Commissioner Oakley and and speak with you. Mike Napier, Florida Department of Health. Basco County, 10841, Little Road, New Port Richey. First, it's great to be up here to talk about something besides COVID, right? We have a recommendation. Uh assistant uh deputy secretary commander Otis from the state office is here to make a recommendation on my replacement, my pending retirement is September 1st. And on a personal note, I've worked with Trang for the last seven years. She's very capable, competent. She's battle

1:16:06tested between COVID and hurricanes. She also has the leadership for the future of Pasco County. I'm very comfortable in in the recommendation the state office will have. With that, I'll turn it over to Commander Owis. Uh thank you. Uh

1:16:18Aaron Otis, the Assistant Deputy Uh Secretary for County Health Systems. First, I want to thank Mike on his pending retirement. He's a colleague to many of us, but also a mentor for a lot of us. He actually brought uh Trang to us as uh part of our selection process. So we're super excited to bring uh Trang forward as the appointee from the uh state health office to you for approval uh to be the next uh health officer for Pasco.

1:16:42Okay.

1:16:44Trying?

1:16:46Oh thank you all. Um for the last seven years I've been honored to work with you and I am extremely thankful for your support, um especially during our toughest times during the pandemic. And uh as I step into this new role, I do have some big shoes to fill. Um but I know that with your continued support and our partnership will continue to do amazing things.

1:17:12uh make Pasco the healthiest county in the Florida. I want to also thank Erin and Mike Karbala for their support today. And then lastly I want to thank Mike Napier. He's paved the way, thank you for paving the way for me and for public health in Pasco County. His dedication for the last 35 years and 11 years in Pasco County has been tremendous. You're amazing leader, a great mentor, and most of all a good friend.

1:17:43And I will be having you on Speed Dial for sure.

1:17:46All right, do we have a motion? Commissioner Starkey, please.

1:17:49Yeah, I would I'd like to say I I fully support uh train coming stepping in these bigger shoes, but She is capable of fulfilling those. I've I worked close with her on when we were doing the COVID and she actually handled the position out at uh Saint Leo where they were given all the shots and I went out and visited for a couple of hours and during that short time I was there, it seemed like they did a hundred and fifty shots during that Hour or two. that they were doing that work there and she's doing a great

1:18:19job. And Mike had carried me out there uh at that time when that was happening. The train's been training and learning a lot to do. It's in her name to train, so

1:18:32but she's done a great job and and Mike's uh actually been supporting her and wishing her well all along while he was looking for his retirement. I cannot say enough about Mike's uh work here in Pasco County. So we certainly appreciate that for the board. And all the information we got. And with that, I'll uh make the motion that she be approved. Okay.

1:18:56Um I will second that and say um Uh that we'll have Mike back because I will sponsor a resolution for Mike before he leaves us. So we won't pile on the accolades for you today. But

1:19:08I look forward to um working with Trant.

1:19:10Thank you. Okay.

1:19:11So I

1:19:11have

1:19:11a motion and a second. All in favor say aye.

1:19:13Aye. And again, we'd probably go a lot longer to talk about the great things you've done, what you're going to do as well, but we'll do that at the resolution coming up. So congratulations, thank you.

1:19:22Thank you very much.

1:19:29Protection?