Member Slams Health Dept. of Northwest MI Board of Health Following Health Officer Resignation

Lisa Peacock has been the health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan since 2015.

Peacock is now resigning, claiming she has been working in a hostile work environment and has received a lack of support from members of the board of health.

“She has done heroic work and the reward from some people has been to treat her pretty poorly,” said Charlie MacInnis, who sits on the board of health.

Peacock was at the forefront of many of the decisions made by the health department, including a mask mandate that was imposed on schools in their jurisdiction.

That was followed by a board of health meeting where many parents showed up to voice their frustrations.

“Two other commissioners have been on the board of health but were so traumatized by the near riot in a September meeting that they said ‘I can’t do this anymore’,” said MacInnis.

Peacock was almost forced out of the health department last year when members on the board of health called for her resignation.

MacInnis, who joined the board shortly after that September meeting, said the current board and their meetings are chaos.

“If I could predict the future about the health department, I could predict what my contribution is going to be but its so chaotic, so unpredictable,” stated MacInnis. “I still don’t know how agendas are set. It seems to be random in nature and I don’t see how that helps our community.”

Peacock’s resignation will take effect on April 29.