When the Clay County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to consolidate the Clay County Health Department and the Clay County Department of Social Services on Nov. 16, a lot of people were surprised. Some were also disgruntled.

Within a few days, County Manager Mark Pullium told the Clay County Progress he had chosen Department of Social Services Director Debbie Mauney as the director of these consolidated services. He had already discussed the position with Mauney at that time, but she may have been one of the people most surprised by the turn of events.