County’s longtime Environmental Health director retires
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After three decades of dedicated service, Lake County’s Environmental Health director has decided to retire.
Ray Ruminski was honored for his years of service during the Board of Supervisors’ final meeting of 2017 on Dec. 19.
Ruminski worked for the county for more than 32 and a half years, working his way up through the ranks until he eventually was appointed to lead Environmental Health 17 years ago.
Over the last several years, Ruminski has played a pivotal role in the county’s response to the Rocky, Jerusalem, Valley, Clayton and Sulphur fires.
As Environmental Health director, he’s taken on oversight of the county’s part in the debris cleanup, working with state and federal agencies and assisting the city of Clearlake regarding the Sulphur fire response.
Supervisor Rob Brown read a proclamation honoring Ruminski for his record of outstanding service.
Brown said Ruminski began with the Health Services Department in May 1985 as an assistant sanitarian for Environmental Health.
In 1992 Ruminski was commended for his work on the redesignation of Lake County with the State Integrated Waste Management Board as the Local Enforcement Agency. Brown said Lake County was one of 20 out of 60 redesignated due to Ruminski’s research.
From there, Ruminski held hazardous materials and environmental health specialist roles before he was promoted to Environmental Health director on Jan. 1, 2001.
The proclamation lauded Ruminski for his “mentorship and guidance, calm commitment, willingness and ability to work with the public, contractors, County departments, and many community members to solve seemingly un-solvable problems.”
It also recognized his instrumental role in working with state and federal governments during the wildland fire response and recovery, “dedicating many hours of help and encouragement to the communities and the many citizens impacted throughout the debris cleanup and recovery process.”
Brown said Ruminski’s “outstanding performance, superior dedication and extraordinary contributions” ranged from pulling a small child’s tooth in the office lobby to solving problems in the field.
He added that Ruminski will be greatly missed, and that was echoed by staffers who rose to praise him and thank him for his service.
“I’d like to thank everyone I worked with very much,” said Ruminski. “I happened to land in one of those situations where I could be successful based on the work of other people. It’s a cool thing.”
He added that he recommended those who get the opportunity to be a country health inspector take it.
Ruminski has previously said he would come back and volunteer to help the Public Services Department, which Brown said they hadn’t forgotten.
Health Services Director Denise Pomeroy also thanked Ruminski for his service, calling him a remarkable man and a true steward who was also humble and kind.
Pomeroy said Ruminski has claimed he has no passion, that he’s a scientist, but she said she thinks he has a passion for the people of the community.
Environmental Health staffer James Scott called Ruminksi “the complete package.”
Scott explained, “You brought out the best in every one of us” and in those he met, a quality that not everyone has.
Ruminski also never asked someone to do something he wasn’t willing to do himself, worked in the field with such stamina that most people couldn’t keep up with him and had an eye for detail, Scott said.
Ruminski’s retirement went into effect at the end of December.
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