WARSAW — Rebecca Ryan of Warsaw was re-elected Tuesday as chairman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors amid opposition.
Regardless of Ryan’s re-election, not all of the supervisors supported the measure.
Supervisors from Castile, Eagle, Gainesville, Genesee Falls and rcade all voted “no” for Ryan’s affirmation, inflicting the ultimate tally to be 1,141 “aye” and 458 “no” in a weighted vote primarily based on city populations.
The vote passed off through the county’s annual organizational assembly.
“I feel there’s a bunch of questionable choices made in 2022,” stated Arcade Supervisor Doug Berwanger after the assembly in why he voted “no” for Ryan. “Particularly concerning the hospital.”
A serious controversy surrounding the Wyoming County Neighborhood Well being System erupted final February when the ability determined to not renew in style Dr. Paul Mason’s contract. The hospital’s monetary standing additionally got here into query amid staffing shortages and departures.
A sequence of sometimes-heated conferences lasted by way of spring, each on the hospital and on the Board of Supervisors itself.
David Kobis was appointed in Might because the hospital’s new chief govt officer. He changed former CEO Joseph McTernan, who died in January 2022 after a sudden well being difficulty.
Ryan was first elected because the Board of Supervisors chairwoman in September 2020.
In Ryan’s state of the county deal with, she stated whereas Wyoming County noticed many accomplishments in 2022, in addition they noticed many losses as nicely. She spoke of the lack of former Gainesville Supervisor Dave Tallman, McTernan, and Richard Leppowski, one of many freeway division’s greatest males.
Sheriff Gregory Rudolph, Treasurer Cheryl Mayer and Public Defender Norm Effman all have retired as nicely.
Regardless of this, Ryan stated Wyoming County is “now the proud house owners of the Agriculture and Enterprise Heart property which is now additionally the brand new dwelling to Buildings and Grounds and Veterans Providers. Veterans Providers has additionally accomplished the brand new grant funded pavilion for our veterans’ occasions through the hotter months.”
Bennington has a brand new traditionally renovated coated bridge, with the previous one turning into a brand new fixture on the fairgrounds. Wyoming County additionally accomplished the brand new entryway to the county constructing including safety and effectivity for guests. Renovations even have been accomplished at Public Well being.
In 2022 the COVID pandemic State of Emergency additionally ended.
“We sit up for getting life again to pre-pandemic occasions, however at all times maintaining classes realized in thoughts,” Ryan stated. “There may be a lot to do 2023 and past to cope with the lingering results of the virus and the mandated lock-downs. Now we have seen a rise in psychological points exacerbated by the isolation that occurred in that darkish time. Now we have additionally misplaced many small companies, however sit up for new ones taking their place quickly.”
Ryan stated the hospital was most impacted by COVID by way of the lack of income, large enhance in bills on account of provide and labor prices.
“COVID took its toll on our most skilled and devoted healthcare employees inflicting many to retire or search different careers,” she stated. “To those that have left, you’re vastly missed, to those that stay, we’re deeply grateful.”
Ryan stated wanting ahead to 2023, Wyoming County is dealing with many challenges; inflation, provide and labor shortages, and new rules and mandates coming from Albany. However, she stated she has come to know over time that with each new problem come new alternatives.
One different important change occurred throughout Tuesday’s assembly: Supervisor Jerry Davis of Covington wasn’t nominated or voted vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
As a substitute Java Supervisor Vanessa McCormick was nominated and unanimously permitted apart from Supervisor Michael Roche of Eagle, who abstained. Davis had served as vice chairman or chairman for the previous twenty years.