News photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, District Health Department No. 4's new Environmental Health Director Joe Cheele is seen introducing himself to health board members. Cheele's first day as director was on Tuesday.

ALPENA — At Tuesday’s District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) monthly health board meeting, board members elected board officers and the department’s new Environmental Health Director was introduced.

Board members opened the meeting by voting to elect the Health Board Chair and Vice Chair, as well as representatives for the DHD4 Health Board Executive Committee.

Robert Brietzke, Presque Isle County commissioner and DHD4 health board member, nominated Mary Hardies, Montmorency County commissioner and DHD4 health board member, as Health Board Chair. Board members subsequently voted to elect Hardies as chair, thus replacing Lloyd Peltier.

After Hardies’ election, Brietzke then nominated Cliff Tollini, Presque Isle County commissioner and previous health board vice chair, to continue in his role on the board.

Board members voted to re-elect Tollini as Health Board Vice Chair without any opposition.

Following Tollini’s re-election, Brietzke nominated Michael Newman, Cheboygan County commissioner and previous health board secretary/treasurer, for re-election, as well.

The health board voted to re-elect Newman as secretary/treasurer without any opposition.

Following the board elections, board members appointed representatives to the health department’s Executive Committee.

Hardies, Tollini, and Newman were appointed to represent their respective counties.

Brietzke suggested that the senior members of the health board should be appointed to the Executive Committee, so he then nominated William LaHaie, Alpena County commissioner and health board member, to represent Alpena County.

However, Hardies also nominated Lucille Bray, Alpena County commissioner and health board member, to the committee.

Tollini told the board that if there were two nominees for the Alpena County seat, board members would have to complete a ballot vote.

Instead of the ballot vote, LaHaie chose to rescind his name for a vote.

“If the chairman, Mary, wants Lucille on the Executive Committee, that’s alright with me,” LaHaie said.

Board members voted to elect Bray as the Alpena County representative on the Executive Committee.

Later in the meeting, Michele Konwinski, DHD4 finance director, introduced the department’s new Environmental Health Director Joe Cheele.

Cheele said that he was born and raised in Cheboygan and grew up enjoying “spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, being on the water, being in the woods.”

“All my friends and family are from the area, so I’m excited to be in this new position,” Cheele added.

Cheele explained that he’s worked at the department as a sanitarian since 2018. A sanitarian conducts health and safety inspections.

“I got my feet wet for a little bit and I kind of know how things work, internally,” Cheele said. “I’m excited to work with all of you guys and I want you to know that I have an open door policy.”

Cheele’s official first day as director was on Tuesday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.