New Health Officer Brings Passion and Community Focus to Allegan County

Billette, originally from the Traverse City area, has been appointed as Allegan County’s next health officer. The appointment is pending final approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with state law. Commissioner Dean Kapenga praised the thorough and diligent selection process, expressing his satisfaction with Billette emerging as the top candidate.

Throughout the hiring process, the county kept the state informed. Billette joins Allegan County from the Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves multiple counties in Michigan. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and public health. During the commissioner meeting when she was introduced, Billette expressed her passion for public health and community service.

As the new health officer, Billette plans to focus on community education and relationship-building. 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 her position in January after serving for a decade. The county received over 20 applicants for this role before 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.

Billette could start as early as Monday, April 29 if quick approval is obtained from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services