HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/03/27 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
411 North 5`s Street,Shelton,WA
March 27,2018
Attendance: Randy Neatherlin,County Commissioner;Terri Drexler. County Commissioner;Scott Hilburn,
Hospital District#1;Peggy VanBuskirk,Hospital District#2;Gary Plews,Fire Commissioner; Kathy
McDowell,City of Shelton Commissioner,Keri Davidson,Shelton School Board.
Others in attendance:Dr.Yu,Abe Gardner,Lydia Buchheit,Allison Smallwood,Audry O'connor,Ben
Johnson,Debbie Riley,Christina Muller-Shinn.
Absent:Kevin Shutty,County Commissioner
1. Chair Scott Hilburn called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda—Peggy/Cmmr.Drexler moved and seconded to approve the agenda as written.All
in favor.Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approval of Minutes of January 23,2018—Scott Hilburn asked to amend the minutes,adding Dr.Yu to
those in attendance.Peggy/Cmmr.Drexler moved and seconded to approve the minutes as amended.All in
favor.Motion carried unanimously.
4. Health Officer Report-Dr.Yu briefly talked about influenza B. She then introduced Abe Gardner and
Christina Muller-Shinn,Allison Smallwood,Audry O'connor,Ben Johnson,Debbie Riley,and Lydia
Buchheit from Public Health.
Abe Gardner showed a power point presentation regarding a Syringe Exchange Pilot Program within
Mason County.He discussed reasons an exchange would be beneficial such as preventing the spread of
blood borne pathogens,less risk of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C,fewer syringes on the streets,and
fewer deaths from opioid overdose.
Debbie Riley discussed the cost of take back boxes.The box is$925 plus shipping.The plastic tote bins
which go into the main collection box are$12.95 each.Cost for time and materials to mount the boxes
would be$75 to$100 which includes the concrete and labor and can be done by County maintenance.
Logos and instructions would be$300-$400.Debbie said she spoke to Bart Stepp regarding disposal of the
used syringes.He voiced concern regarding the safety of his employees,but said he believed they could
come up with a viable solution.
Dr. Yu said the syringe collection boxes are concerning because the boxes need to be emptied on a regular
basis,then stored until they can be shipped for disposal.Thurston County is currently using a 10 foot trailer
to store and lock up used syringes until they can be transferred to a disposal site.
Chief Darrin Moody from the Shelton Police Department said they don't just take drug syringes,but also
needles from diabetics,and even from citizens that are taking care of others.He said those within the City
of Shelton are welcome to bring syringes in to the police department for disposal.Dr.Yu stated that
Stericycle is the company that picks up the used syringes from City of Shelton. She said the sharps
containers are around 17 gallons each and cost$25 to dispose of.
Abe returned to his presentation and touched on safety for law enforcement officers.Dr.Yu noted that she
spoke to a department in Louisville Kentucky who has a policy stating if a person admits to having a
syringe on them at the time of arrest,they will not be charged for having the paraphernalia on them.
Cmmr.Drexler questioned officer moody if it is common practice to question people if they have a needle.
He said it is common practice and talked about the difference between a loaded needle versus an empty
needle and officer safety.
Abe said the ideal exchange,to begin,would be mobile with a fixed route with access to naloxone kits,
health education materials,and drug treatment resources. Start up costs would include liability insurance,
the cost of a vehicle,staff(0.4 FTE$40,000),supplies(300,000 syringes would cost$26,000),and cell
phones.Dr.Yu added that.4 FTE is the bare minimum to hire someone. Ongoing costs would include the
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
March 27,2018-PAGE 2
vehicle,supplies, staff,storage locations for clean and used needles,and the cost of disposing the used
syringes.
Dr.Yu then passed out information from Kitsap County,Grays Harbor County,and Thurston County about
their costs for exchange programs.In 2016 Grays Harbor County spent$13,000 to dispose of 760,000
collected syringes through Stericycle.Kitsap County,who also uses Stericycle has a projected budget of
$85,000 for 2018.Thurston County has a Conex trailer in a transfer station for their syringes.Their budget
for 2018 is$1,500.Dr.Yu noted that the Washington State Department of Health can offer some financial
assistance,but the complete cost to run the program would be between$100,000-$150,000.
Abe noted that Public Health has contacted various community leaders and stakeholders for input and
feedback on an exchange program,which has led to great discussion.He invited anybody with questions to
contact him at Agardner@co.mason.wa.us or at 360-427-9670 ext. 131.
Scott questioned what impact an exchange had on keeping used needles off the streets.Abe said he did not
have exact data,but that other Counties have noted a positive impact.
Dr.Yu said Thurston County did note less syringes,though admittedly,they are still found on streets. She
said they began marking the syringes being handed out to find out if they were being littered.They found
that those handed out were not being disposed of on the streets.
Cmmr.Drexler asked about the reduction of HIV&Hepatitis C,along with how many of those using an
exchange program got help or went into recovery.Dr.Yu explained that the goal is to keep the numbers
low and prevent an outbreak such as the one in Scott County,Indiana.
Scott asked what the next move would be.Dr.Yu stated that first comes education,which is needed
regardless.Next,is support from the Board of Health(BOH)to motion forward movement to Dave so the
program can be briefed with the Board of County Commissioners(BOCC). She said the target is to start the
program in September.
Scott suggested a motion be made to move forward,and to have the exchange program return to the BOH if
the BOCC cannot fund it.
Peggy/Gary moved and seconded to direct Dave Windom and staff to move forward with a Syringe
Exchange Pilot Program and to discuss budget options with the Board of County Commissioners.
Cmmr.Drexler abstained,motion carried.
5. Community Health Report-Lydia Buchheit went through her report and touched on Communicable
Disease and Notifiable Conditions,Treatment Sales tax,and Point in Time data touching on homelessness
in Mason County.
Ben discussed the new North Mason Prevention Coalition and their first meeting.He addressed the
problem with huffing and air duster cans within Mason County.He said that the air cans are being stolen
from many stores in the area and the fact that there has been one overdose so far.Chief Moody discussed
simple options that large stores such as Wal-Mart and Safeway could help with like locking up spray paint,
and canned air.Unfortunately due to their size and corporate status,Wal-Mart is no longer on board with
locking up the cans.Chief Moody stated that huffing is a problem across all age groups.
Ben presented a draft letter to local stores asking to have the canned air and poppers locked up or removed
from the shelves.
Cmmr.Neatherlin asked to have the letter brought forward to the BOCC for briefing.
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
March 27,2018-PAGE 3
Lydia discussed the Comprehensive Opioid Program Grant. She and Abe went to Washington D.0 at the
beginning of March for orientation and training.She praised the program and the flexibility towards what
the County.needs. She said that Mason County is the only West Coast County that was awarded this grant,
and is also the smallest county awarded. Abe was asked by the director of the conference to speak at the
next national conference this summer.Lydia asked that the BOH support the grant project to coordinate
services around the entire county.
Peggy/Kathy moved and seconded to support the grant project.Cmmr.Neatherlin,Scott Hilburn-
Nay.Motion carried.
Scott noted that he was not familiar with the program and asked for more information at a future meeting.
Cmmr.Neatherlin and Lydia had a discussion about a similar program collecting similar data in Kitsap
County.
Emergency preparedness-Region 3 of coalition of Emergency Preparedness Partners has been informed by
that they will be dissolving coalitions around the state and creating only two regions for the state of
Washington.The west side region will be operating out of Seattle. She said that the Region 3 coalition is
made up of five counties and is very large and active and wants to stay operational even without funding.
She requested that the BOH draft a letter of support to the State.
Cmmr.Drexler stated that she would like to know the Legislative intent with this dissolution.Lydia noted
there is still discussion. Scott said the BOH would likely support this,but would like more information at
the next meeting.
6. Administration Report- Not discussed.
7. Environmental Health Report-Debbie Riley discussed the drinking water program and her hopes for the
programs growth in Mason County.
8. County Health Rankings-Allison Smallwood presented a power point presentation regarding health
ranking throughout Washington State.Currently,Mason County is ranked 28 out of 39 in the state.The
following statistics were discussed:
• Length of life-Mason County has improved in premature death.In 2018 the rate was 7,500 per
100,000
• Physical fitness in the County has gone down.In 2018,31%of people were obese in Mason
County.The chart is based on a BMI over 30.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections have gone up: 372.3 per 100,000
• Preventable Hospital Stays have improved 35 per 1,000 hospital stays were preventable.
• High School Graduation-Mason County has improved.74%of ninth-grade students are
graduating.
• Children in poverty-the number has gone up.23%of children under the age of 18 are living in
poverty.
• Unemployment-The numbers have remained the same since 2017 at 7.8%.
• Violent Crime-Improvement:231 crimes per 100,000.The definition of"violent crime"was
questioned. Lydia clarified that violent crimes were defined as offenses that involve face to face
confrontation between the victim and perpetrator including homicide,rape,robbery and
aggravated assault.
• Drug overdose deaths currently at 20 per 100,000.
Scott asked for an opinion of what should be worked on to make a change.Lydia suggested the needle
exchange program would be a good start.
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
March 27,2018-PAGE 4
9. Workforce participation rate-Cmmr.Drexler stated that the current workforce participation rate is 45%.
Targets for good employment within Counties should be between 55-65%.Discussion was had regarding
possible causes.
10. Public Health Week Proclamation—Peggy/Keri moved and seconded to support the Public Health
Week Proclamation as presented.All in favor.Motion carried unanimously.
11. Other Business and Board Discussion-None
12. Public Comments-None
13. Adjourn-4:58 p.m.
ATTEST MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
Me&ssa 'C erk o e Board M�r _ L
Scott Hilburn,,Hospital District#I
1< me-L-w'w
Kathy McD well, City Commissioner
Kevin Shu ,Commissioner
C
Aandy Neatherlin,Commissioner
Terri Drexler,Commissioner
V
Peggy kirk,Hospital District#2
i
'J
Gary Plews,tire—Commissioner
Keri bavidson,Shelton School Board