Following up on a pledge he made in February, Mayor Danny Jones replaced Dr. Steven Artz Monday on the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department board.

City Council members unanimously endorsed Jones' appointment of one of their own - Finance Committee Chairman Bobby Reishman - to Artz's seat on the board. The change is effective July 1, when Artz's current term runs out.

"Dr. Artz has sat on the board for 21 years. We need to make a change," Jones told council members. "I'm not here to pick a fight with anybody."

Jones apparently decided to replace Artz after he met privately with Health Department representatives on Feb. 1. He later said Artz acted disrespectfully toward him and was an obstacle to his efforts to move the Health Department.

Jones and Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper last year unveiled a plan to move the department from its longtime home on Lee Street near Charleston Town Center and the Civic Center. They said developers wanted to build a hotel on the site.

Although the developers have since dropped the project, Jones and other city officials are working with the Health Department in hopes of moving it to the city-owned former warehouse at 601 Morris Street.

Also, in an apparent effort to speed up the moving process, Jones convinced council members in March to slash by half the city's annual $200,000 contribution to the Health Department, and place the other $100,000 in a contingency fund. He also sent city Finance Director Joe Estep to examine the department's books.

Reishman, a downtown real estate developer, will not serve out his entire 5-year term with the Health Department, Jones said. "He will serve while we need his financial expertise in the transition."

The Health Department is in good shape financially, he said. "I'd like to hold their $100,000 in contingency until after July 1."

The city's Convention and Visitors Bureau is booking a convention with a huge church group in 2013, Jones said. The group will need 12 hotels.

"I told them by 2013 there might be a new hotel there that will host them," Jones said. This is part of a convention district vision that will help the downtown hotels."

City Manager David Molgaard, meanwhile, said he met recently with Health Department Director Dr. Kerry Gately. "I'm putting together a floor plan that will meet their needs. I'm also working on parking. Then we'll probably hire an architect to finalize the layout."

To contact staff writer Jim Balow, use email or call 348-5102.

Following up on a pledge he made in February, Mayor Danny Jones replaced Dr. Steven Artz Monday on the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department board.

City Council members unanimously endorsed Jones' appointment of one of their own - Finance Committee Chairman Bobby Reishman - to Artz's seat on the board. The change is effective July 1, when Artz's current term runs out.

"Dr. Artz has sat on the board for 21 years. We need to make a change," Jones told council members. "I'm not here to pick a fight with anybody."

Jones apparently decided to replace Artz after he met privately with Health Department representatives on Feb. 1. He later said Artz acted disrespectfully toward him and was an obstacle to his efforts to move the Health Department.

Jones and Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper last year unveiled a plan to move the department from its longtime home on Lee Street near Charleston Town Center and the Civic Center. They said developers wanted to build a hotel on the site.

Although the developers have since dropped the project, Jones and other city officials are working with the Health Department in hopes of moving it to the city-owned former warehouse at 601 Morris Street.

Also, in an apparent effort to speed up the moving process, Jones convinced council members in March to slash by half the city's annual $200,000 contribution to the Health Department, and place the other $100,000 in a contingency fund. He also sent city Finance Director Joe Estep to examine the department's books.

Reishman, a downtown real estate developer, will not serve out his entire 5-year term with the Health Department, Jones said. "He will serve while we need his financial expertise in the transition."

The Health Department is in good shape financially, he said. "I'd like to hold their $100,000 in contingency until after July 1."

The city's Convention and Visitors Bureau is booking a convention with a huge church group in 2013, Jones said. The group will need 12 hotels.

"I told them by 2013 there might be a new hotel there that will host them," Jones said. This is part of a convention district vision that will help the downtown hotels."

City Manager David Molgaard, meanwhile, said he met recently with Health Department Director Dr. Kerry Gately. "I'm putting together a floor plan that will meet their needs. I'm also working on parking. Then we'll probably hire an architect to finalize the layout."

To contact staff writer Jim Balow, use email or call 348-5102.