HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/01/24 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
411 North 5a'Street,Shelton,WA
January 24,2023
Attendance: Randy Neatherlin,County Commissioner;Kevin Shutty,County Commissioner;Sharon Trask,
County Commissioner;Dr.Keri Gardner,Health Officer;Darrin Moody,Hospital District No. 1;Peggy
VanBuskirk,Hospital District No.2;Kathy McDowell,City of Shelton;Keri Davidson, Shelton School Board;
Ian Tracy,Environmental Health Manager;Melissa Casey,Community Health Manager;McKenzie Smith,
Clerk of the Board;and Dedrick Allen,MasonWebTV
1. Chair Peggy VanBuskirk called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda
Cmmr. Shutty/Cmmr.Trask moved and seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
3. Resolution to Set 2023 Meeting Dates
Cmmr.Trask/Cmmr. Shutty moved and seconded to approve the Resolution setting the 2023 meeting
dates. Motion carried.
4. Elect Officer Positions
Peggy/Cmmr.Trask moved and seconded to appoint Cmmr. Shutty as Chair. Motion carried.
5. Approval of the September 27 and November 29,2022 Minutes
Peggy/Keri moved and seconded to approve the September 27 and November 29, 2022 Minutes.
Motion carried.
6. Health Officer Report
Dr.Gardner shared that it is a rough season for Influenza A,Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV),and
COVID. Influenza A is a strain of H1N1 which the flu vaccine covers. The number of cases has
tapered,but flu season is not over. There have been several serious Tuberculosis cases and two deaths
over the last few months and the Department of Health and Mason Health have been doing contact
tracing. More resource allocation is needed for communicable disease. Screening is needed to help
identify Tuberculosis cases in the community to avoid it spreading. For Hepatitis C,an individual
needs to be hired to do case management and treatment. Mason Matters shared that 50%of cases in
Mason County are 55 years old and older. The rate of treatment in Mason County is less than
10%even though it is a largely insured population. Assistance is needed to get patients treated.
Most treatments are a pill taken every day for 8 weeks and allows the patient to avoid liver
damage,liver cancer,and death. The Human Papillomavirus(HPV)vaccine recommendation has
been lowered from ages 12+to ages 9+.
Xylazine,a veterinary tranquilizer also known as"Tranq",is linked to an increasing number of
overdose deaths and is being used both intentionally and unintentionally. This drug can cause severe
wounds and even amputation. Xylazine is a sedative that lasts a long time,is addictive,and does not
respond to Narcan.
Broad themes to consider for strategic planning include homelessness,fresh water,and substance use
and treatment. Homelessness—while Public Health cannot provide housing,it can help with the
coordination of service for sanitation assessments for homeless camps. The City of Shelton has taken
lead on the Homelessness Task Force. Fresh water—assessment of water quality in fresh water needs
to be done. Substance use and treatment—the County has limited services to address this problem.
Mason County is in the top 30%of Washington counties for smoking rates. Tuberculosis and
Hepatitis C screening and vaccinations need to be focused on. There is also an emergence of
infectious diseases such as polio,measles,mumps,and rubella due to an uptake against childhood
vaccinations. Unity is needed and there is room for improvement of the coordination of care services
in both health care and social services. COVID put a huge strain on healthcare services. There is also
a lack of value of Public Health. The Public Health department protects the safety of the community,
drinking water,shellfish,air,waterways,sewer,and more. The value needs to be highlighted.
On a positive note,life expectancy has gone from below the State average to being at the State
average and is projected to exceed the State average in the next ten years. The current life expectancy
is 79.6 years.
Peggy VanBuskirk added that children need to be vaccinated and COVID gave a negative view on
vaccinating. The HPV vaccine can prevent cancer. Fresh water is also important.
Keri Davidson shared that the schools have high rates of vaping in the Junior High and High School.
Highlighting the value of public health to the community is important.
Cathy McDowell added that both freshwater and saltwater are important.
Cmmr. Shutty shared the importance of partnership opportunities. The City and County are both
facing homelessness issues,need substance use prevention and response,and need to know how to
best deploy the opioid settlement funds. Staff need to have resources available to them.
7. Administration Report
Dave Windom shared that it is still flu season. There are positions open on the Board of Health for
representatives from the Squaxin Island and Skokomish tribes and for underserved communities. The
American Indian Health Coalition is helping to find members. The Public Health Strategic Plan was
last completed in 2018 and was through 2020. Staff has worked to identify strengths,weaknesses,
opportunities,and threats. The work plan will be done every year and reviewed in December. The
focus is to move away from COVID and more towards preventative care. $104k is set aside for Hep
C. Mason County ranks 5t'worst county in the state. Over 25%of constituents work outside of the
County. The healthcare community is not as focused on latent Hep C care. The medical system,staff,
and financial system are stressed. The hope is to coordinate people and physicians interested in
tackling Hep C.
State legislature is in long session and the budget looks good compared to previous years. A lot of
public health work is hinged on Foundational Public Health Services(FPHS)funding. Unfortunately
contracts were not signed until late in the season which limits the use of funds. New funded positions
include a Health Educator and an Epidemiologist. Public Health is partnering with Mason Health and
the YMCA for WIC services and is funded for training and facility prep. The goal is to open around
June or July.
The opioid settlement funds have come in and the County is partnering with the City of Shelton to
decide how best to use those funds. There has been discussion with the CEO of Cascade Pacific
Alliance regarding the State's funds.
Cmmr. Shutty added that this is also an opportunity to look at other opportunities and services such as
childcare.
8. Environmental Health Report
Ian Tracy shared that FPHS funding added an additional food enforcement position and on-site code
enforcement position.
Ian worked with the On-Site Sewage Advisory Committee(OSSAC)regarding the Environmental
Health Building Permit Policy and Environmental Health On-Site Sewage Requirements Based on
Location of Proposal Policy. The original policy was set in the 1990s and revised in 2001. Changes
include requiring treatment level B for existing septic systems. Drain fields such as dry wells or
seepage pits are very harmful to the environment and difficult to detect. Effluent needs to be treated
to a higher standard. There was a change in the law that when you sell your home you must get a
septic inspection instead of just getting your septic pumped.
Peggy/Kathy moved and seconded to approve the updates to the septic regulations. Motion carried.
The County has a county-wide Clean Water District that covers all areas which drain into Hood Canal
or South Sound and is supported by a$5.06 fee applied to all parcels. Funds cover surveillance and
investigations for pollution sources. This is primarily focused on marine shorelines;lakes are fairly
limited due to state regulations. Anna's Bay and Oakland Bay are the focus. Staff walk shorelines to
collect samples and monitor major rivers and creeks. A live web map was created to allow the view
of monitoring results from monthly samples. The Clean Water District meets quarterly.
9. Community Health Report
Melissa Casey highlighted the strategic planning process. Grant cycles are ending and a request for
proposals is moving forward for different programs. Health Educator,Emily Laymen,creates the
reports and infographics and will be working on video. Large strides have been made to get the
Mason County Health Coalition running. The Community Health Assessment has been updated;
however,there are gaps due to COVID. Quantitative data tells half of the story while qualitative data
tells the whole store. Positive social norms are a focus. Funding dollars for this project are focused
on tobacco,vaping,alcohol,and marijuana. Education needs to be increased around fentanyl as well.
Youth voices allow them to target intervention and engage youth as well as increase positive
childhood experiences.
Ben Johnson, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Coordinator,added that part of the discussion is
prevention and works Choice,Cedar,and North Mason schools. Students have done a community
neighborhood survey regarding a community norm mapping project. Listening sessions allow time
for a question and answer group on where substances are from,how students are sneaking substances,
what places don't ID,all without identifying specific individuals. Schools are struggling to prevent
vaping. The County provides funding for youth groups for these types of projects and prevention
services.
Nieves Villa,Choice student representative,shared it is crucial to target youth to educate on the
consequences of substances which are often romanticized by social media and advertisements. A
group of students walked around the community where such substances are sold and looked at the
establishments and advertisements. The industry attracts youth and young adults. Substance abuse is
very common and it is important to have conversations and questions around it. Students were able to
point out areas that have issues such as the Huff n Puff trail. It is important to understand how youth
gets ahold of these substances. Social media,music,etc.pressures youth to use substances. The goal
is to promote better decisions. Posters were put up around school and presentations were given in
advisory and homeroom classes. Students know where they can go for help. Nieves is trying to make
this program more bilingual.
Jack Lommel sees a lot of promotion around drugs and cigarettes being adorable or cool. Friends and
parents are providing these substances. Kids need to be taught from a young age about substance
abuse.
Scott Bowen added that social media plays a key role. Posts show individuals with cigarettes and the
viewer thinks that it is cool and wants to try it out. Stores attract youth with cool decorations and
flashing lights and don't always as for an ID. Social norms are classifying this as a normal and cool
thing to do. There are a lot of syringes laying around.
10. Other Business and Board Discussion
Dave shared that him and two staff are going to the Agents of Change Conference to learn how to
better communicate looking at demographics and micrographics.
Ben shared that the Mason County Prevention Summit will be April 14 at the Skokomish Tribe
Community Center.
Cmmr. Shutty encourages setting aside time for substance abuse topics,funding,grants,etc. A bigger
discussion is needed around Narcan and the ability to push it out to the community. Treatment Sales
Tax funds can help purchase additional Narcan kits. There may be broad protections around the Good
Samaritan laws regarding Narcan.
Cmmr. Trask would like to store these kits with AED kits.
Emily Laymen,Health Educator,introduced herself.
11. Public Comment
Constance Ibsen,Co-Chair of Lower Hood Canal Watershed Coalition and member of the On-Site
Sewage Advisory Committee,receives a lot of questions regarding individual septic. Currently,many
questions are centered around the king and continuous high tides and what individuals should do about
their septic systems. Wells along the shoreline have debris in them and individuals do not know what
to do. Constance encourages Environmental Health to make a local video or website and target people
to come to a local meeting. Other questions are regarding funding match amounts,the difference
between state and indirect federal monies,discretionary money amounts from the County,why certain
grants were applied for,what is a priority,what is required by the state or federal government,etc. It
is integral to community health that these topics are discussed.
12. Adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
ATTEST MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Damn Moody,Hospital Dis rict#1
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Kathy McfJowell, City Commissioner
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R dy NeaNerlin,Commissioner
SharonTrr k,Commissioner
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Peggy VA Buskirk,Hospital District#2
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Garya y P1e*s,Fire Commissioner
Keri Davidson, Shelton School Board