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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996/01/04 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 4, 1996 The Board of Health was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Chairperson Mary Faughender with Board Members Cady and Hunter in attendance. ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Chairperson William O. Hunter, Board Member Mary Jo Cady, Board Member Brad Banner, Health Services Dir. Steve Kutz, Dir. of Personal Health Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer AGENDA REVISION Mark Tompkins, Water Quality Program Manager Pam Denton, Environmental Health Specialist Carolyn Jensen, Environmental Health Specialist Warren Dawes, Shelton Sean Hanlon, Journal Cheryl Probst, Olympian Chairperson Faughender asked if there were any additions or deletions to the agenda. He added the following two items to the agenda: Election of new Board of Health Chairperson for the 1996 year and the On -Site Sewage Operations and Maintenance Program. ELECTION OF BOH CHAIRPERSON FOR 1996 Board Members Cady/Faughender moved that William O. Hunter be appointed Chairperson of the Mason County Board of Health for the 1996 year. Motion carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE Letter received from Charlene Poste, Environmental Policy Representative for the Squaxin Island Natural Resources Department, in support of the On -Site Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program. Letter received from Elaine Manheimer, President of the Union River Basin Protection Association, regarding the solid waste handling and disposal at the Belfair Sand and Gravel mining operation. MINUTES ADOPTED Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that the Board of Health approve the December 7, 1995 meeting minutes as circulated. Motion carried unanimously. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer, submitted information on a report from the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly dated November 17, 1995, regarding fatalities associated with automobile airbags. It has been reported that a number of deaths, especially in children, has been caused by the employment of airbags during crashes in which the children might have other wise survived. Any child who rides, unrestrained or incorrectly restrained, in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger -side airbag was at risk of serious injury or death if the airbag employs. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH JANUARY 4, 1996 - PAGE 2 OF 4 The 1994 Annual Communicable Disease Report from the Washington State Department of Health was reviewed. The following communicable diseases reported in Mason County were higher than the state average: AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, Pertussis, and Tuberculosis. There were 10 reported cases of AIDs in 1994. Dr. Trucksess emphasized that Mason County has an IV drug problem, which accounts for the Hepatitis B and C diseases. Another area of concern were the vaccine preventable diseases. There were two cases of Pertussis, which was twice the state- wide average. There were three cases of tuberculosis noted in the report. However, in 1995 there were none. Board Member Cady questioned whether the figures reflected the population at the Washington Correction Center. Mr. Kutz believed they were included, but stated they would check on that. ON -SITE SEWAGE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Board Member Faughender moved to adopt and implement the Mason County On -Site Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program as revised September 1, 1995, with the following changes to Page 6: To implement Phase I in the year 1997, Phase II in the year 1998, Phase III in the year 1999 and Phase IV in the year 2000. Board Member Cady seconded the motion for discussion. Chairperson Hunter called for discussion. Board Member Faughender stated he believed an Operation and Maintenance Program was needed. A great deal of money and effort has been invested in this county to test thousands of septic systems. Thousands were left to be tested in the Lower Hood Canal, as well as in other watersheds. He believes in public and private property rights and the need to proceed with the program. The reason he had moved to delay the implementations by one year was due to the six-month delay in reaching this point. He did not believe the first phase could be accomplished by 1996. However, a lot of work could be completed during 1996 to prepare for implementation of Phase I on January 1, 1997. Board Member Cady commented she did not believe they were quite ready to approve the program at this point. The plan has been well written, was reasonable, and was something they could all live with. However, there was not enough answers regarding the administration, costs, funding, and enforcement to pass a new regulation. As soon as the ordinance was enacted, the public would want these issues addressed and they were not prepared to do so at this time. She hoped that the advisory committee could address the next step which would be the administration of the ordinance. There was also a 3 to 1 vote against the proposal by the North Bay Case Inlet residents. In a meeting with the SW Regional Director of DOE in which this was discussed, a concurrence was reached that the additional issues needed to be addressed, as well as the mandatory shorelines portion. Chairperson Hunter commented he would be voting against the motion because there were too many unanswered questions regarding the implementation of the program. He would like information on the different testing procedures used throughout the state to insure that the testing procedure used here would treat everyone the same. Legally, the Clean Water Districts could prohibit them from entering the property unless there was a health issue. He wanted additional information regarding private property rights. He noted he was willing to work with the Health Department to resolve these issues. Chairperson Hunter called for questions on the motion. Warren Dawes, On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee, noted a correction which was made to the proposal. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH JANUARY 4, 1996 - PAGE 3 OF 4 Chairperson Hunter called for a vote on the motion. Vote: F: yes; C: no; H: no. Motion failed. PUBLIC HEARING - WATER ADEQUACY REGULATION At 10:30 a.m., a public hearing to consider revisions to the Water Adequacy Regulation was called to order. The public hearing notice having been read aloud. Brad Banner, Health Services Director, reported that the Water Adequacy Regulation was the outcome of the State's Growth Management Act. This regulation was originally developed in 1991 and implemented in 1992. The ordinance had been written by the Planning Department and has been enforced by the Health Department. The Drinking Water Advisory Committee reviewed the regulation and, along with Health Department staff, have developed a simplified version. The intent was to not change the substance in any way but to improve the wording. The strictness of the regulation was not modified. Since the public hearing notice had been advertised, comments regarding minor revisions have been received by the Planning Department, Carolyn Jensen has suggested an addition, and during a briefing with the Board the paragraph pertaining to the ordinance's purpose was improved. The draft Water Adequacy Regulation, including these revisions, was circulated. The sentence pertaining to the regulation's purpose was reviewed. Board Member Cady stated she had reviewed the comments made by the Planning Department and the Health Department's responses and was comfortable with them. Board Member Faughender commented on the discussion between the Health and Planning Departments regarding the use of the words appropriate and adequate. Mr. Banner replied that he did not believe it would be appropriate to change the wording because counties throughout the state were using the words "water adequacy." Chairperson Hunter asked how much water was required to meet adequacy requirements. Mr. Banner responded that it would be a minimum of 800 gallons per day, which had not been an issue. Chairperson Hunter noted that at the previous public hearings, several well drillers had testified that they had never drilled a well in Mason County which did not exceed this minimum. The additional paragraph on page four which was recommended by Carolyn Jensen was reviewed. Ms. Jensen informed she had not received any comments regarding this addition. Board Member Cady thanked the staff for improving the ordinance. Chairperson Hunter called for public testimony. None was heard. Board Member Faughender asked Mr. Banner to elaborate on comments made by the Planning Department. Mr. Banner replied that other regulations were referred to by reference in an effort not to address other issues in this ordinance. Board Members Cady/Faughender moved/seconded that the revisions to the Mason County Water Adequacy Regulation be approved as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. ON -SITE SEWAGE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Board Member Faughender noted that a lot of work has been completed on the On -Site Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program proposal and believed the staff needed further direction. Chairperson Hunter remarked that he had commented earlier that he was willing to continue to work with staff on resolving the remaining issues. Board Member Cady believed the direction MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH JANUARY 4, 1996 - PAGE 4 OF 4 had been to ask the staff to take the proposal back to the advisory committee. Chairperson Hunter commented he would like to discuss the matter further with Mr. Banner during a briefing. Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that the Operation and Maintenance Program proposal be returned to the Health Department staff for further discussion. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Board Members Cady/Faughender moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting be adjourned at 10:50 a.m. Motion carried unanimously. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH (Absent) William O. Hunter, Chairperson Mary o e dy, Board'Member ID M. L. Faughende Board Member Respectfully Submitted, (11futuuv,z Ototo Lorraine Coots