County Commission appoints health director

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan County Commission appointed a new Health Director, divided some Spanish Valley lots and gave voters a choice on a sales tax to support EMS at their latest meeting.
At the August 4 meeting members of the San Juan County Commission approved a resolution placing a one-percent local sales and use tax proposition on the November ballot.
If approved as part of the November 4 general election, the revenue from the tax would be dedicated to supporting the county’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
EMS Director Jeremy Hoggard shared the county is pursuing the tax to address an aging fleet and a critical shortage of personnel. Hoggard explained the county is losing more providers than it gains due to compensation.
Hoggard further explained that the one-percent tax is designed to shift the financial burden of EMS services towards visitors. About 30-to-40-percent of ambulance calls currently involve out-of-area travelers. To shelter residents from the impacts the tax will not apply to groceries, non-prepared food, fuel, or prescription medications.
County Commissioners clarified that the resolution they approved doesn’t implement the tax but will give San Juan County voters the opportunity to weigh in on the tax in the November election.
Members of the county commission also appointed Rebecca Benally to serve as the County Public Health Director and Local Health Officer. The appointment followed a hiring process involving the local health board.
Commissioners clarified Benally’s status as an “at-will” employee, which is mandated by a state statute for health directors.
The commission also provided thanks to Interim Director Mike Moulton who served as interim director following the resignation of the former health director in December 2024.
Commissioner Jamie Harvey praised the appointment of Benally noting her familiarity with the county’s diverse cultures will be a “huge strength” as the department expands services.
In a related item the commission approved an amendment to the Public Health Emergency and Healthcare Preparedness program unlocking $117,610 for the fiscal year with the county offering a ten-percent match.
The commission also authorized contracts for tobacco and drug prevention programs with over $81,000 in state grant funds for the program.
Members of the commission also approved two amendments to the Turkey Trot Estates subdivision.
The two approvals allow for two additional buildable lots in the subdivision located in Spanish Valley.
Staff reported the splitting of existing parcels has been worked on by the Planning and Building Department with the property owner Stephen Thurlo.
At the meeting county staff noted that they’ve seen an increase in requests from property owners to split lots for financial gain. County Attorney Mitch Maughan warned that if unchecked those splits could double the capacity requirements for septic systems, water and roads beyond what the original infrastructure was designed to handle. With officials and staff agreeing that it would be good to explore a clearer policy to ensure future subdivisions do not place an undue burden on county resources.
Members of the commission also signed a letter of support for utilizing supervised county jail inmates for work programs at the county landfill, with a more formal agreement between the landfill and sheriff’s office to come before the commission before approval.
As part of the commission consent agenda the results of the 2026 primary elections were ratified by the commission. While turnout was high, staff noted 111 ballots were challenged as “curable” with staff largely attributing new state requirements that requires voters to provide the last four digits of their driver’s license or Social Security number on return envelopes. Of the challenges, 77 voters did not respond to letters asking them to provide missing information, resulting in those ballots not being counted.
Members of the commission also extended a thank you to local fire crews and the Sheriff department for their communication and tireless work during recent wildfires and offered a reminder to residents that the area remains in a high-danger dry spell.