T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Stacey Brown-Brocklehurst announces her upcoming resignation from the Belmont County Board of Health due to an illness in the family.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Health Board is saying goodbye to its newest member, following Monday’s announcement from board member Stacey Brown-Brocklehurst that she will be stepping down due to a family member’s illness.

Brown-Brocklehurst was named to the board in January, filling the seat vacated by Jamie Betts who resigned to become director of the Belmont County Community Access, Resources, Education and Solutions, or CARES, program that connects residents with available resources. There are four years left in the term.

Brown-Brocklehurst, a physician at WVU Medicine St. Clairsville Health Center who is certified in family and sports medicine, said she valued her time on the board.

“I’m presenting the board with my letter of resignation,” Brown-Brocklehurst said at the close of the Nov. 13 meeting, saying the demands of her loved one’s illness have impacted her effectiveness as a board member. “I just don’t feel like I can devote the time needed for this position effectively. Thank you for this opportunity. I’m sorry to go, but it’s hard.”

She will remain on the board for 90 days until a replacement board member can be found.

“I’ll be here,” she said.

She commented further after the meeting.

“This was my first experience serving on a board, so I learned a lot about being a board member in general, and I regret that I have to step down because I think the health department and the board of health is moving in a very positive direction and I would like to be part of that. However, with my personal life and obligations in my professional life, I’m not able to devote the time that I think is required to be an effective board member,” she said.

Brown-Brocklehurst said good qualities for a prospective board member include interpersonal skills and being aware of the role played by the health department in the county.

“I think someone who has their own business or has experience in business would be a great asset to the board,” she said.

Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul said the board valued her contributions.

“She brought a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge, a lot of energy. It’s hard to see her go, it truly is,” he said.

He said the board would not be looking for any specific background in a new member to replace Brown-Brocklehurst.

“She was a medical person, but we already had a medical person with Dr. (Renato) DelaCruz. On the board, you have to have at least one medical person, so with her leaving, we still have Dr. DelaCruz,” Sproul said.

He added that the board will reach out to the District Advisory Committee that covers townships and cities and let them know the board has a vacancy. Sproul said there are four years remaining in the term, and the department hopes to fill the position within 90 days.

“They will convene a special meeting to take applications and make an appointment to the board to fill her spot. They’ll basically finish her term,” he said. “They’re five-year terms.”

In other matters, the board also noted that Lyme disease has been on the rise this past year, most likely due to the warmer weather. Sproul said there have been 207 cases so far in 2023. July was the worst month, jumping from 28 cases in June to 73 cases, but case numbers have since gone to 42, then 20, then nine in the following months as winter approaches.

Health Commissioner Tamara Hess said cases are three times what they were in prior years. She said cases are not concentrated in any particular area and advises the public to take precautions and cover themselves while outside.

Sproul added that ticks are still active and said deer hunters should be alert for deer ticks even during winter.

“Fortunately our numbers are down, which is good. We just hope they stay that way,” he added.

The board office is located at 68501 Bannock-Uniontown Road, St. Clairsville. The phone number is 740-695-1202.