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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/12/03 - Board of HealthMason County Board of Health Fee Appeal Hearing December 3, 1997 - Page 1 of 5 MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH REVISED FEES HEARING DECEMBER 3,1997 AT PUD AUDITORIUM 307 COTA ST, SHELTON, WA The Mason County Board of Health was called to order at 1:55 p.m. by Chairperson Mary Jo Cady with Board Members John Bolender and Cindy Olsen in attendance for the Health Services Fee Appeal Hearing. ATTENDANCE: Mary Jo Cady, Chairperson John Bolender, Board Member Cindy Olsen, Board Member Brad Banner, Director Health Services Mark Tompkins, Environmental Health Director Steve Kutz, Personal Health Director Mike Rutter, Mason County Central Services Mary Duncan, Mason County Journal David Keith, KMAS Peter Stacy Nancy Plews, Board Clerk ) Sonja Rau, Board Transcriptionist NEWSPAPER NOTICE: Brad Banner, Director of Health Services read the Fee Appeal Hearing Notice that was placed in the Mason County Journal on November 20th and 27th, 1997. STAFF REPORT: Brad Banner, Director of Health Services explained that Health Services is supported through grants, fees, motor excise tax and through the County General Fund. "Each year we look closely at expenditures to make sure we are making optimal use of our resources. We look at both program and expenditure line." Last Octoberthere was 1 person laid off from Environmental Health Food Program and at end of last year, 5 people laid off due to the completion of the Lower Hood Canal Sewer Project. This year the Commissioners were provided with the Matrix showing each one of the programs - showing what was mandated and what wasn't mandated. Each expenditure line was looked at in the Environmental Health Budget to see what can and can't be reduced. Annually look at the revenue side of the budget. Brad Banner handed out a draft resolution and a copy showing the Personal Health proposed changes and the remainder deals with Environmental Health fees which is broken down by program area. The fee proposal's are based on actual cost and spread it out to the different activities to see how much the cost is to do each one of these things. That is the bases for the proposal. Mason County Board of Health Fee Appeal Hearing December 3, 1997 Page 2 of 5 PERSONAL HEALTH CHANGES: Steve Kutz reported that there are 5 fee categories that they are proposing to delete this year as they are no longer needed. 1. Office visits fee's proposed changes from minimal new established to a detailed new established office visit - range from $15 to $3 5. 2. Travel Clinic fee's, which is part of the Immunization Clinic, were raised to reflect the actual cost to do this work. When you look at the consumable within department; the immunizations, the vaccines, medications, lab work, and x-ray's - we base those fees on the cost of performing those services. The sputum test went from $0 to $3 - many of these services are provided free by the State Lab, but they do not pay the postage and handling fees - the $3 fee is for those cost. 3. Communicable disease fee's are delivered on a sliding fee scale, based on the published Federal Poverty Levels and the fees range from 200% of the poverty level and based on the income of the individual needing these services; they may pay full fee or no fee based on their income. 4. The optional programs have no sliding fee scale as they are not necessary for the ongoing health of the community. Example would be some of the immunizations that the people come in for their Travel Clinic - based on full acquisition cost for those services. LAND USE FEES: • Brad Banner stated that the only change of significance here is the short plat fees - increasing it from $88 to $105 to better reflect the cost of doing the short plats. Each lot is evaluated for suitability for a dwelling. The septic and the water are addressed and there is usually follow-up work to be done if it is a public water system. PETER STACY TESTIMONY: Testified to the increase of building fees three years ago. Didn't feel the fees were justified. Wanted to know how much work is actually involved in man work and what is the fee for that? Brad Banner said he calculated the on -site program based on the stafftime that is allotted to that and the septic cost according to time -sheets of the staff. Brad explained how he got the actual cost and what other counties are charging and how they are breaking these cost down into fees. Mark Tompkins explained how the septic system fee is broke down and the inspections that take place on these permits. Nancy Plews stated that she calculated the minimal fee at $45 an hour into $395 and came out with 8.7 hours which is over a two year period. Mark Tompkins explained that this varies according to the site and what isn't included, the cost of supplies and administration, in the budget. Mr. Stacy asked how many permits the county had been doing on a yearly basis. Brad Banner replied about 600 a year since 1995. Chairperson Cady stated that the Criminal Justice system that doesn't pay for itself and takes more than what they have for it. She stated that this is the reason there are fees for the individual things. Mr. Stacy stated that Mason County Board of Health Fee Appeal Hearing December 3, 1997 Page 3 of 5 he is not sure these cost are being distributed in a real equitable manner and he wasn't sure this was really possible. Has no problem with the Health fees, but does with the increase building fees concerning the septic system fees. WATER PROGRAM FEES: Brad Banner reported that this fee is broken down according to types of water systems. The 10 to 14 were never reviewed before but the State is now requiring this. Well construction permit - the well driller has to get a start card from the Department Of Ecology in order to drill a well and they charge a fee for that. The Department of Ecology turned it over to the counties to collect this fee and they kick -back part of the fee. The well drillers wanted to see this money stay local so they were encouraged to petition the Health Services and this was negotiated with the Department of Ecology with the Health Services asking for a certain amount for taking this over. The first year the fee was set at $60 and last year at $40 and this year dropping it back to $20. The only reason for this fee was to finish paying for that particular service and the fee is being kept down by incorporating quite a few cost with the regular septic inspections so a separate person isn't sent out that often. SOLID WASTE FEES: Brad Banner reported that the solid waste fees are pretty much what they have been. There are some increases proposed for the tonnage charge at the waste station which is moved across the board for Environmental Health an hourly rate of $50 from $45 to reflect a cost. We took out any fees for appeals as this is a right of a person that goes along with the permit. Considerable amount of cost working on the Monitoring Program for the solid waste sites with a Consultant, Pacific Groundwater Group. This group's cost and lab cost is charged back to those facilities and our staff cost was not being charged back to those facilities. Brad Banner stated that there were three drop boxes at the areas where people take their garbage which then goes to the transfer station. Mr. Green keeps track of his time in collecting from these drop boxes. The cost is $231. Peter Stacy asked if the Web Hill septage/sludge site is collecting any fees from the haulers. Chairperson Cady stated that from a court case they developed a plan for collection and monitoring. She also stated that Mason County sends to Klickitat County hazardous material and there is receptacle thing taking place. Brad Banner stated that we collect permit fees but feels that money is lost due to not charging for staff members time spent on monitoring. Peter Stacy said he felt that the dumpers from other counties are getting away far too cheap and the Mason County residents are paying more to cover this cost. Mason County Board of Health Fee Appeal Hearing December 3, 1997 Page 4 of 5 Brad Banner noted that under the Solid Waste Fee at the bottom of the page the Environmental Health Staff will begin charging and hourly rate to the sites when they have to go out to these places. LIQUID WASTE FEE: Due to a shortfall rates were raised for the individual septic permits. ANNUAL FOOD SERVICE PERMIT FEE: Steve Kutz reported that the Advisory Committee meet and voted to support the recommend adoption. The food service permits makes this almost self-supporting. Steve Kutz also discussed the Certified Manager Program courses which is used by Thurston County, Kitsap County and Jefferson County. The person who has the Certified Manager course and has a certificate reduces cost for permits by 2/3rds. The number of complex menu large restaurants, 4 managers are certified and 22 not certified. Of the complex menu small places there is 1 certified and 54 that are not. Of the kitchens 10 are certified and 17 are not. Discussed the food establishments that are mobile or at the fair and so decided to have an off site vending permit fee to cover these and also the restaurants that want to take part in the fair and different events can purchase this permit. LIVING ENVIRONMENT FEES: Brad Banner discussed the school inspection and trying to work with other committees in order to work as teams, so as not to have all the different inspections taking place at different times. LABORATORY FEES: Brad Banner stated the fees were not correct and needed to be corrected. MIKE RUTTER, COMMENT: "Joe Q Public" Wanted to know about all the Advisory committees. Brad Banner stated that there is a: Drinking Water Committee On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee - Realtors, Builders, and Citizens on committee. Food Sanitation Advisory Committee - Citizens also on this committee. Lower Hood Canal Water District Committee AIDS Committee (The Advisory Committes focus is mainly regulations and input.) NEW TAX LAW: Chairperson Cady commented on the new tax law that has just come in of 1.09%. She stated that the tax payer is going to pay 1.06% regardless of what the County does. Board Member Bolender stated that the Junior Taxing Districts will take .04 cents - the Mason County Board of Health Fee Appeal Hearing December 3, 1997 Page 5 of 5 tax payer will pay the same amount of money. The question is what services does the tax payer value more - that is the balance that the Commissioners have to try and keep. The impression is that if a budget of 1.09% is adopted, that property taxes will go down - this is not true - therwill not go down. The people voted for something and they do not know what they voted for. Brad Banner stated that "The people that use specific services - the general population should not be paying, subsidizing, fees for services. People who pay property taxes are subsidizing the Public Health Department, although they do not use the services. By looking at the fees, the people that use the services pay the fees and the general population then does not subsidize these fees." Board Member Bolender asked if a fee was accepted at 80% could the Department deal with the other 20%. Brad Banner stated that the only way you could streamline it would be to cut additional staff. Without changing the procedures Brad stated he could not see this being done. RESOLUTION ADOPTION: Brad Banner read the resolution. Board Member Bolender moved to adopt the resolution as proposed and the attached fee schedule as proposed. Board Member Olsen seconded. Chairperson Cady asked to add amendment regarding last page modification. Board Member Bolender asked to withdraw his motion and to begin again. Board Member Bolender moved to adopt the resolution and amending it to remove the paragraph "whereas modification... and attaching a corrected sheet, and remove and change the page of Lab fees schedule. Olsen seconded. Cady, Aye; Bolender, Aye; Olsen, Aye. Meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Respectifully submitted by: Sonja ChairpeQn,1Vry Jo Cady, �u oard Member, John Bolender 1 B and X1V elnber, Cindy Olsen )