Carlson Terminated As County Health First Indiana Coordinator
March 18, 2025 at 10:49 a.m.
Kurt Carlson was terminated Thursday by the county as Kosciusko’s Health First Indiana program coordinator.
A letter dated March 13 to Carlson from county attorney Ed Ormsby states, “The county and the (County Health) Department have determined that you lack a philosophical alignment with the county in the administration of county funds and the providing of county services. This letter is to inform you that your employment with the county is being terminated as of the end of the workday today, March 13, 2025.”
The letter states that since Carlson is an at-will employee of the county, no cause is required for the termination.
Carlson also was to return all county property, remove his personal property from his office, vacate the county employment area and comply with all requirements of the county employee handbook. The letter states he will receive his final pay and any other items from the county via mail in compliance with the handbook.
The letter concludes by thanking Carlson for his contributions during his time with the county.
Kosciusko County Health Department Director Bob Weaver directed any further questions to Ormsby, but did say Health First Kosciusko Assistant Liz McCullough will serve as the interim coordinator.
Carlson, the previous longtime Bowen Center CEO, came out of retirement to serve as the county’s Health First Indiana (HFI) coordinator in January 2024. HFI was established in 2023 by the Indiana legislature, providing millions of dollars to counties who opted into the state plan to take measures to improve health outcomes locally.
According to an Indiana Capital Chronicle story on Monday, the HFI program is facing a tough budget road with some lawmakers questioning whether agencies have delivered on their promises or should be further constrained. The two-year old HFI program allocated $225 million to local public health departments in the last budget cycle, or $75 million in 2023 and $150 million in 2024, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. The latest version of the budget earmarks $100 million each year.
Kosciusko County’s Health First budget grew from a little more than $900,000 in year one to more than $1.8 million in the following year.
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Kurt Carlson was terminated Thursday by the county as Kosciusko’s Health First Indiana program coordinator.
A letter dated March 13 to Carlson from county attorney Ed Ormsby states, “The county and the (County Health) Department have determined that you lack a philosophical alignment with the county in the administration of county funds and the providing of county services. This letter is to inform you that your employment with the county is being terminated as of the end of the workday today, March 13, 2025.”
The letter states that since Carlson is an at-will employee of the county, no cause is required for the termination.
Carlson also was to return all county property, remove his personal property from his office, vacate the county employment area and comply with all requirements of the county employee handbook. The letter states he will receive his final pay and any other items from the county via mail in compliance with the handbook.
The letter concludes by thanking Carlson for his contributions during his time with the county.
Kosciusko County Health Department Director Bob Weaver directed any further questions to Ormsby, but did say Health First Kosciusko Assistant Liz McCullough will serve as the interim coordinator.
Carlson, the previous longtime Bowen Center CEO, came out of retirement to serve as the county’s Health First Indiana (HFI) coordinator in January 2024. HFI was established in 2023 by the Indiana legislature, providing millions of dollars to counties who opted into the state plan to take measures to improve health outcomes locally.
According to an Indiana Capital Chronicle story on Monday, the HFI program is facing a tough budget road with some lawmakers questioning whether agencies have delivered on their promises or should be further constrained. The two-year old HFI program allocated $225 million to local public health departments in the last budget cycle, or $75 million in 2023 and $150 million in 2024, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. The latest version of the budget earmarks $100 million each year.
Kosciusko County’s Health First budget grew from a little more than $900,000 in year one to more than $1.8 million in the following year.