Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board votes to seek expansion from five to seven members

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has five members who are appointed by city and county commissioners. Current members are, from left, Paul Liechti, assistant director of the Kansas Biological Survey; Shirley Martin-Smith, owner of Adecco staffing franchise in Lawrence and president of Martin-Smith Personnel Services; Dr. Gerald Pees, of Internal Medical Group; Karen Shumate, vice president of clinical services at Lawrence Memorial Hospital; and Dr. Alan Cowles, a Social Security disability advocate. The board decided Monday night to ask for an expansion in size.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board narrowly voted Monday night to ask Lawrence and Douglas County leaders to expand its size from five to seven members.

It would be the first change in the board’s size since 1969.

Shirley Martin-Smith, the newest board member, proposed the expansion with the purpose of bringing more knowledge and experience to the table.

Board members are appointed to three-year terms by the City and County Commissions and can serve two terms.

Besides Martin-Smith, other members are Dr. Alan Cowles, Paul Liechti, Dr. Gerald Pees and Karen Shumate.

Shumate and Pees voted against the expansion, while the others voted for it.

The issue was first brought up during the board’s monthly meeting in November.

Board member terms begin in March. Cowles and Shumate will have served a three-year term next month. Cowles will seek reappointment, but Shumate will not.