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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-25-08 BOHMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS March 25, 2008 Attendance: Board Members: Lynda Ring-Erickson; Ross Gallagher; Tim Sheldon – absent Ex-Officio Board Members: Scott Hilburn, Hospital District #1; Peggy VanBuskirk, Hospital District #2; Frank Philips, Fire Commissioner; Tim LeClair, Skokomish Tribe 1. Commissioner Ross Gallagher called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. 2. Cmmr. Ring Erickson/Gallagher moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as published. Motion carried unanimously. RE-aye; G-aye; S-absent. 3. Correspondence – None. 4. Cmmr. Ring Erickson/Gallagher moved and seconded to adopt the regular meeting minutes of February 26, 2008 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RE-aye; G-aye; S-absent 5. Administrative Issues 5.1 Health Officer Report - Dr. Yu stated she has sent the Governor a letter to reapply for her position on the State Board of Health, which will end in June. There has been much communication regarding Tuberculosis, as yesterday was Tuberculosis Day. Dr. Yu stated there were two cases of Tuberculosis reported in Mason County last year. There have not been any cases reported so far this year. 5.2 Impact of loss of Conservation District Funds – Debbie Riley, Environmental Health Manager, presented information regarding the court ruling leading to the loss of Conservation District funds, which will result in the loss of $120,000 per year. The loss of funding will take away all of the discretionary funding for water quality work. The Annas Bay grant will end on June 30, 2008. Funding for shoreline and sanitary work in Hood Canal will end in 2008 as well. They are facing potential shellfish growing area downgrades in North Bay and Pickering Passage. Through .09 funding and a Targeted Watershed Grant, work will continue in Oakland Bay for approximately 6 years. Commissioner Ring Erickson asked if the loss of funding would result in the loss of Health Department staff. Ms. Riley stated they would not be able to add additional staff as they had planned, but will not loose current staff. Basically the Health Department will eventually have to cease all of their work on Hood Canal. Commissioner Ring Erickson asked that a matrix be made showing the direct effects of the loss of this funding on the current water quality programs. 5.3 Standards Update – Vicki Kirkpatrick, Health Director, stated a contractor from the State Department of Health would be doing an evaluation of the Health Department to see if they are up to public health standards. The final report should be issued in the fall. 5.4 National Association of Local Boards of Health – Ms. Kirkpatrick provided the Commissioners with their membership cards and renewal packets for the National Association of Local Boards of Health. BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS March 25, 2008 - PAGE 2 6. Community & Family Health 6.1 Immunization clinic update – Lydia Bucheit, Community and Family Health Manager, gave an update on the Health Department’s immunization clinic. Ms. Bucheit met with local providers to discuss immunizations. It was decided that it is working well to have community members go to their local providers for children’s vaccinations. There was a discussion about closing the Health Department’s adult immunization program as well. The providers said they would have no problem with vaccinating adult patients also, so the County’s adult clinic will be closing this month. More time will be focused on providing community education regarding immunizations and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. Commissioner Ring Erickson asked if the Health Department has ever worked with the Hospital Districts or Fire Departments to educate the community about other health issues such as traffic safety or childhood obesity. Dr. Yu stated there has been much discussion in the medical community about how to educate the community on health issues. Ms. Kirkpatrick stated there is a task force that has been working on community outreach. They have been discussing publishing a document to update people about the community’s health status as well as several other outreach efforts. 6.2 Introduction of New Staff – Ms. Bucheit introduced new Public Health Nurses, Amy Frost and Angie Stippich. 7. Environmental Health 7.1 Food Service Program – Jess Mosley gave an overview of Mason County’s Food Service Program. 7.2 Appointments to the On-Site Sewage Advisory Committee – Ms. Riley recommended appointment of Bob Hager to the On-Site Sewage Advisory Committee to fill the position reserved for a Watershed Representative and also reappointment of the current Advisory Committee members. Cmmr. Ring Erickson/Gallagher moved and seconded to re-appoint Don Wolliscroft, Brett Bishop, Toby Tahja Syrett, Cindy Waite, Guy Grayson, Bell Russell, Jim Henry and Brent Fox and to appoint Bob Hager to the On-Site Sewage Advisory Committee 7.3 Environmental Health Waivers – Information only. Debbie Riley, Environmental Health Manager, presented the Board with the current Environmental Health Waivers. 8. Public Comment – Hospital District Commissioners Scott Hilburn and Peggy VanBuskirk would like to put the W.I.C. program on a future agenda for discussion. Constance Ibsen stated she believes there needs to be investigation into the establishment of a Health District as opposed to just a Health Department. Ms. Ibsen also stated she thought it would be helpful if Mr. Mosley could check if septic systems were up to date on his usual visits of establishments. She also asked if the On-Site Sewage Advisory Committee now has all of its positions filled. BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS March 25, 2008 - PAGE 3 Ms. Riley noted that food establishments are already required to show proof of their septic maintenance in order to receive their food permit each year. She would have to check if all of the positions on the On-Site Sewage Advisory were now filled. 9. Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m. HEALTH OFFICER _______________________________ Diana T. Yu, MD MSPH Mason County Health Officer BOARD OF HEALTH MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON _______________________________ Ross Gallagher, Chair _______________________________ Tim Sheldon, Commissioner _______________________________ Lynda Ring Erickson, Commissioner