At the April 23 meeting of the Central Nevada Health District Board, members unanimously ratified the appointment of Shannon Ernst as interim administrator, effective March 28, 2025. Ernst, who also serves as Churchill County's Social Services Director, steps into the leadership role following the retirement of Darin Winkelman, who had been the district administrator since September of 2023.
"We appreciate Shannon stepping up to mind the gap for us," said CNHD board member and County Manager Jim Barbee made a motion to confirm the appointment. "It means a lot."
The board also approved a motion to support Senate Bill 43, which clarifies how the state determines when local health districts are ready to manage drinking water and solid waste systems. The bill would help ensure that districts demonstrate capacity before assuming oversight responsibilities and provide for continued state oversight after the transition.
In other actions:
- The board voted to remain neutral on SB 295, which deals with sidewalk food vendors, noting the bill primarily impacts jurisdictions with populations over 100,000.
- The board supports SB 423, which would create a new public health funding account in the state general fund, with nearly $5 million annually distributed to health districts.
- Members also voted to remain neutral on AB 40 (related to solid waste management) and AB 102 (related to EMS oversight in larger counties).
- After extended discussion, the board supported AB 352, which updates Nevada's cottage food laws and transfers oversight to the Department of Agriculture. The board also supported BDR 51-1121, a related bill that moves regulation of cottage foods, cosmetics, and farm-to-fork events from the state health division to the agriculture department.
- New Frontier delivered a separate presentation during the meeting and can be read in a stand-alone story on page three or online at www.thefallonpost.org
Financial and Operational Updates
Ernst provided a detailed update on the district's current operations, including a review of budget standings, grant performance, and organizational needs. Grant specialist Shasta Garrison reported on funding losses due to the federal DOJ clawback and efforts to reallocate spending to prevent further impacts to the general fund.
The board approved:
- Acceptance of $36,572 from AB 7 to support improvements to the district's electronic medical records system.
- Ratification of a letter of support for Mount Grant General Hospital's HVAC infrastructure request to the congressional community project fund.
- A financial and operational packet detailing grant status, vacancies, and organizational structure, ahead of a planned budget workshop on May 29 at 10:30 a.m.
Additional actions included:
- Ratification of a malpractice policy cancellation for Dr. Tedd McDonald, determined to be a duplicate of the coverage provided under the district's existing policy.
- Ratification of a letter of support for the rural residency program in partnership with Banner Churchill Community Hospital and the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
Shannon Ernst noted that improving internal processes, increasing transparency, and building relationships with local governments are her top priorities. "We're moving fast," she said, "but we want to be thoughtful. We want each county and community to know they're being heard."
The board's next major milestone will be the May 29 budget workshop, where members will evaluate service delivery, staffing, and strategic direction for the district.
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