Martin Tremmel has been appointed Interim Health Commissioner for the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department.
Mr. Don Bartlett, President of the Board of Health for the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department made the following statement at the end of a Special Board of Health meeting July 29, 2013:
“The Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department Board of Health met in a special session to appoint Martin Tremmel as Interim Health Commissioner effective July 30, 2013. Mr. Tremmel has more than 20 years of experience in public health. His last position was at the Ohio Department of Health.
“Our priority continues to be the health of the citizens of Richland County. With the Leadership of Mr. Tremmel the Board of Health believes there will be no disruption of Health Department services. This appointment was necessary to remain in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code and requirements of grant funding sources. Mr. Tremmel will carry out all the responsibilities of the Health Commissioner with the duties and rights conveyed by the Board of Health.”
Tremmel will carry out the responsibilities of current health commissioner Stan Saalman who is on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues regarding a dispute between Saalman and another health department employee.
“The Board of Health is hopeful that the on-going investigation will be concluded quickly,” Mr. Bartlett said.
Martin J. Tremmel, MPA, JD, comes to the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department after serving since March 2008 as Assistant Director and later Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, and Administration for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). His responsibilities there included oversight of Human Resources, the Employee Assistance Program, and collective bargaining agreements for approximately 1,200 employees at ODH as well as overseeing the Equal Employment Opportunity data technology system for ODH and local health departments.
Tremmel is a 1986 graduate of The Ohio State University, majoring in Animal Science. He received his master’s degree in Public Administration and Health Care from Cleveland State University and his doctorate in jurisprudence from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
His long career in public health began in 1989 at the Erie County Health Department where Tremmel worked as an infectious disease coordinator. He subsequently served as Health Commissioner at Seneca County (1992 to 1995), Huron County (1996 to 2003), and Union County (2003 to 2008), before being appointed to the post with the Ohio Department of Health.
Tremmel and his wife, Joy, who works as an administrator for the Worthington School District in Franklin County, have two children, daughter Jillian, 24, and son J.D., 21.
Tremmel said he would work hard to gain the trust of the Health Board, staff and the community.
“I will listen to the staff, the community and most importantly members of the Board of Health to start implementing recommendations they collectively feel are necessary for the betterment of the citizens of the county,” Tremmel said.