HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/11/16 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
411 North 5'h Street,Shelton,WA
November 16,2021
Virtual Attendance:Randy Neatherlin,County Commissioner;Sharon Trask,County Commissioner;Peggy Van
Buskirk,Hospital District#2;Dave Windom,Mason County Community Services Director;Lydia Buchheit,Mason
County Community Health Manager;Alex Paysse,Environmental Health Manager;Darrin Moody,Hospital District
# 1;Keri Davidson,Shelton School Board;Kathy McDowell,City of Shelton Council Member Seat#2;Dr.Keri
Gardner,Health Officer;Gary Plews,Fire Fighters Association;McKenzie Smith,Clerk of the Board.
1. Chair Peggy Van Buskirk called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda—Kathy/Cmmr.Trask moved and seconded to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion carried.
3. Approval of Minutes—Cmmr.Neatherlin/Cmmr.Trask moved and seconded to approve the September
minutes as presented. Motion carried.
4. Health Officer Report—Dr.Keri Gardner
Dr.Gardner shared that since becoming the Health Officer,she has spent a significant amount of time with
the school superintendents. It has been a high priority to help get the message out,work with the
superintendents struggling with the usual workload of starting a new school year and the added layer of
testing,quarantining,and contact tracing. Dr.Gardner began her career in Public Health and has done a lot
of work in both rural and urban environments and communities. Overall COVID cases,hospitalizations,
and deaths are declining. The deaths we are seeing now are a result of the Delta variant. Staff may have
recognized discrepancy with the numbers pulled from the Washington State registry. Since September 1,
there have been 38 COVID-related deaths. Vaccinations are slowly picking up. Pediatric doses for
COVID have arrived. The message is the same—vaccines work.
5. Administration Report—David Windom
Dave shared a presentation of what is presented to Area Command regarding COVID hot spots. As of
November 15,across the state about 79%of the population has received one dose and 73%is fully
vaccinated. The bottom line up front(BLUF)is that cases have decreased recently but are still high. The
Department of Health stopped updating all metrics on the testing tab of their website. Mason County
dropped out of being a hot spot. Mason General is in good shape with hospitalizations going down. School
rates are also declining. 46%of deaths are from long-term care facilities. Early November more guidance
will be received. Washington State will modify the guidance most likely. There are three contingencies—
vaccine,test,or modify.
6. Environmental Health Report—Alex Paysse
Alex highlighted program updates such as billing and fee updates with the Clean Water District Committee,
getting the food safety program back on track,recent staff changes. Sewage standards such as design and
construction standards related to on-site sewage regulations. The code was updated earlier this year and
will be effective January 1,2022.
Keri/Kathy moved and seconded to approve changes. Motion carried.
7. Community Health Report—Lydia Buchheit
Lydia shared her staff has gone back to their regular work and a new COVID team was introduced. The
first draft of the Community Health Assessment went out and should be finished by the end of the year. In
January they will move on to the Community Health Improvement Plan with the health coalition. The
Substance Abuse Program came to an end in October and her team has been invited to present at the
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
November 23,2021—Page 2
national conference. The data report should be coming out soon. There are 1,800 pediatric COVID doses
available and she estimates 2,000 to 2,500 people may want and qualify for that vaccination. 712 doses
have been given so far.
8. Other Business and Board Discussion
Continue with meetings on the 41'Tuesday of every other month. The next meeting will be January 25,
2022 at 3:00 p.m.
9. Public Comments
10. Meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.
ATTEST MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
McKenzie Smit ,ClerV6f the Board
Scat Hilburn,Hospital Dis icti #t #I
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Kathy Mc owell,City Commissioner
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Kevin Shutty,Vommissioner
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Sharon Trask,Commissioner
Peggy Buskirk,Hospital Distri a2
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Gary Plus,Fire Commissioner
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Keri Davidson, Shelton School Board