WILMINGTON — Following interviews this week by the Clinton County Board of Health, Katie B. Burwinkel was named the next Environmental Health Director succeeding Matt Johannes, who will be retiring.
A Clinton County resident, Burwinkel has been employed by the Clinton County Health District since spring 2008. Her current position with the health district is as Registered Environmental Health Specialist II.
“I am honored and excited to serve our community in the role as the Environmental Health Director. Matt Johannes has been an outstanding mentor demonstrating the importance of education before enforcement. It will be a practice we will continue along with building working relationships with each person we interact with,” Burwinkel said.
“I am confident our Environmental Health Division’s work will continue to make a positive impact all while helping to promote and protect public health in Clinton County,” she added.
Effective Saturday, October 1, Burwinkel will become the Deputy Environmental Health Director; and effective March 1, 2023, she becomes the Environmental Health Director when Johannes retires from the position he’s held since 1996.
With the Clinton County Health District, Burwinkel has been Food Safety Program Supervisor, where she manages facility inspection frequencies and plan reviews.
Her in-progress Master of Public Health studies through Wright State University focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and reducing health inequalities.
She earned a bachelor of science degree in 2008 from the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio. She majored in environmental science with a minor in biology.
The Clinton County Health District’s Environmental Health Division, in its mission to help ensure a healthy and safe community, administers public health programs mandated by Ohio law.
Those programs deal with household sewage treatment and private water systems, as well as food service operations, public pools and spas, manufactured home parks, RV parks and more.
The commercial and residential plumbing inspection program is supported through the Environmental Health Division. Registration of plumbers, issuing permits, and performing inspections are all part of the plumbing program.
The Environmental Health Division also educates the public as a service.
“Providing information and help on many environmental concerns ranging from mold and bedbug remediation, private water system and sewage treatment maintenance and even tips for proper food handling for your summer and holiday parties is done by our staff on a daily basis,” states the Environmental Health section in the 2021 Clinton County Health District’s annual report.
