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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996/06/06 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 6, 1996 The Board of Health was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Chairperson William O. Hunter with Board Members Cady and Faughender in attendance. ATTENDANCE: William O. Hunter, Chairperson Mary Jo Cady, Board Member Mary L. Faughender, Board Member Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer Brad Banner, Health Services Director Gary Yando, Director of Community Development Pam Denton, Lead Environmental Health Specialist Dan Watts, Solid Waste Specialist Brent Long, Board of Health Clerk Sean Hanlon, Journal Harry Martin, On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee Warren Dawes, On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee Bill Taylor, Taylor United Tim Smith, Pacific Coast Oyster Growers Association Herman Drake, Drake Woodwaste Site CORRESPONDENCE Letter dated May 20, 1996, received from William H. Backous, SW Regional Supervisor, Water Quality Program, State of Washington Department of Ecology, regarding the County's Consent Order jointly developed by the County and Ecology to address water quality problems affecting marine shellfish. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Members Cady/Faughender moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the May 2nd, 1996, meeting with one spelling correction. Motion carried unanimously. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer, reported there have been four more cases of Hepatitis A since his last summary in May. Two cases were from the IV drug using community and two had to do with a restaurant exposure in a North Shore establishment. A clinic was held in Belfair to inoculate those who had been exposed. Mr. Brad Banner, Health Services Director, explained that the Belfair establishment has taken responsible action to correct the practices that allowed this outbreak to occur. The management has changed its policy which required their employees to work while they were sick, and they have changed the way in which they handle salads. It was believed that the disease may have been initially transmitted at a Kitsap County day care MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 6, 1996 - Page 2 of 5 facility. Dr. Trucksess noted that proper use of gloves, frequent hand washing, and handling salads with utensils is very important. The Health Department staff has worked 179.1 hours in communicable disease control from April 1 to May 31, 1996. This included 103 hours on the Hepatitis A problem. Clark County now has over 50 cases of measles. There is fear that it will be spreading north along the I-5 corridor. Forty-one percent of these cases have occurred in health care settings. For this reason, measles prevention for health care workers has become a priority. The Universal Vaccine Distribution Program for the State of Washington is now expanding to include the routine vaccination of 11 and 12 years with Hepatitis B vaccine. It is now mandatory that children entering kindergarten and first grade are required to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Pertussis. Measles screening will now be done when a student enters eighth grade. The Mad Cow Disease has been present in the United Kingdom since 1986 and reached epidemic numbers in 1993. Measures taken have now reduced these numbers. The United States stopped importing British beef in 1989. Surveillance is actively taking place in the United States. VARIANCE AND APPEAL PROCEDURE Mr. Banner reported that the Prosecutor's Office has worked with him in improving the county's variance and appeal procedure. The procedure pertaining to eligibility had been too broad and vague. Therefore, the wording of the variance and appeal procedure has been revised and a new section entitled Applicability was added. The proposed changes to the procedure were discussed. The Board concurred that Section II (b) should have a reference to solid waste appeals which are first heard by the Health Officer and then, if requested, by the Pollution Control Board rather than the Board of Health, as in other appeals. Board Members Cady/Faughender moved/seconded that the amended Variance and Appeal Procedure be approved with the addition to Section II (b) stating, "except for solid waste appeals which will be directed to the Pollution Control Board." Motion carried unanimously. ON -SITE SEWAGE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Mr. Banner requested action from the Board pertaining to the Mason County On -Site Sewage Operation & Maintenance Program. He noted that the issue had been continued to this meeting, after a public hearing was held and public comment had been received. The most recent update to the proposed program was dated April 22, 1996, and included all the Board's recommendations as a result of the public hearing. Chairperson Hunter noted that the program was voluntary, and wondered what procedure would be followed if someone declined. Mr. Banner read from the proposal that enforcement options assuring compliance with the mandatory portion of the program are limited. Therefore, it is recommended that enforcement be limited to a Notification of Non- compliance recorded on property deeds. This would provide an incentive for participation, without exceeding departmental enforcement resources. The advisory committee members have discussed this for many hours and have recommended vigorous public education. Chairperson Hunter asked how much staff time would be required to initiate the program. Mr. Banner replied, MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 6, 1996 - Page 3 of 5 that initially, it would take quite a bit of their technical and administrative time to get the program going. The staff would shift their time accordingly, and he did not anticipate hiring additional staff. After the program is activated, they will have a better idea of the amount of staff time dedicated to this function. Board Member Faughender asked if Mr. Banner believed the department could administer the program as written. Mr. Banner responded he believed they could, but not easily. He believed the program was logical and clearly stated. Board Member Cady referred to the letter written by William H. Backous, DOE SW Regional Supervisor, Water Quality Program, in which it was recommended that the marine shorelines be phased in faster. Board Member Cady stated the marine shorelines were in Phase 3, due to the extensive work which has already been done through the Clean Water Districts. Mr. Backous' letter stated that, "Ecology can only support a program that phases in marine shorelines more quickly, or at a minimum, deletes the requirement for additional board action." Board Member Cady commented that checks and balances were necessary and review periods were needed to know whether the program was working correctly before further phases were continued. She would amend Phase One, Item 3, adding the wording at the end, "and along marine shorelines that have not participated in Clean Water Districts." That would extend the length of Phase One quite a bit if the marine shorelines in Pickering Passage, the rest of Case Inlet, and Hammersley/Oakland Bay area were added. Phase Three, would also be amended to read, "along marine shorelines eam.4de which have participated in the Clean Water Districts," so they were not hitting areas that have already been done. She believed education was the way to ensure active participation. The county's part would be education and notification. The rest will go out to private enterprise which she was in favor of. The county will also have a listing of qualified pumpers and installers. She believed the lakes should remain a high priority because many people are getting drinking water from Mason County lakes. Board Member Faughender noted that North Bay has never had a Clean Water District and yet it has been extensively tested. Board Member Cady suggested that the wording, "and along marine shorelines except for North Bay, Case Inlet, Lower Hood Canal, and Totten/Little Skookum," be added to Phase One, Item 3. They agreed that Phase Three, Item 2 should remain as written. Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that the Board of Health adopt the Mason County On - Site Operation and Maintenance Program updated April 22, 1996, with the following addition to Item 3, Phase One, "and along marine shorelines except for North Bay, Case Inlet, Lower Hood Canal, and Totten/Little Skookum." Chairperson Hunter asked for discussion to the motion. Board Member Faughender stated that Mason County has tested over 5,000 septic systems and have repaired or were in the process of repairing those found to be damaged. This was far beyond what most other counties and municipalities have been able to do. They were now ready for the second stage, which was the Operation and Maintenance Program to protect the shorelines, critical aquifer areas and critical lakes and streams. The plan was, of course, a compromise. It was probably not as strong as some would like to see, or stronger than others would like to have it, but he believed it was a workable compromise. They will continue their effort to protect Mason County from pollution. Everyone wants clean water in our lakes, bays, streams, and wells. He whole-heartedly endorsed the program. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 6, 1996 - Page 4 of 5 Board Member Cady commented that at public hearing, almost 100% of the people in favor of the draft were either from the On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee or from a state agency. That bothered her, and, as a result of that, started working with others to get a program which the public would support. The way in which the press handles the issue will be important in having it start out on the right track. The County will actively educate the public. She was happy that the plan addresses clean drinking water. The State Department of Health and Puget Sound Water Quality published old drafts of the Mason County Operation & Maintenance Program without the word "draft" clearly seen, even though the document had been clearly stamped, "draft." The publishers had included one sentence which stated the document had not been adopted. She directed the staff, when mailing out drafts for review, to have them marked "not for publication." She objected to the way Mason County's drafts had been published, and asked that a letter be sent to the Department of Health and Puget Sound Water Quality informing of this. Chairperson Hunter remarked that the letter from the Department of Ecology stated that funds would not be easily obtained if the Board did not follow their recommendations. However, when programs have been adopted, very few funds have been received to help accomplish the implementation. Also, he believed the Board of Health should have review authority. He was not a strong advocate of the Operation and Maintenance Program, but he would support it today. Chairperson Hunter called for questions. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Banner will prepare a new On -Site Operation and Maintenance Program document with the one amendment for the Board of Health's signature. FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that Neda Campbell, Curtis Owen and Ruffus Garoutte be reappointed to the Food Advisory Committee. Motion carried unanimously. SOLID WASTE MONITORING - HERMAN DRAKE Mr. Herman Drake, Shelton, addressed the Board concerning the Drake Woodwaste Site. Dr. Trucksess excused himself from the meeting because Mr. Drake may be filing an appeal which would be heard before him. The Board was able to hear Mr. Drake's concerns because his appeal process may take him before the Pollution Control Board, but not before the Board of Health. Mr. Drake presented a letter protesting his inclusion in the agreement between Mason County and the Pacific Groundwater Group for Solid Waste Monitoring. Board Member Cady read the letter aloud. Mr. Drake explained the woodwaste process at his site. He stated the level of woodwaste has been lowered and was no longer a fire hazard. There was approximately 30 acres involved, and he wanted this product because the soil there was mostly gravel. He wanted to level the property, and grind the decomposed woodwaste into top soil which would be placed about 6 inches deep over the entire area. This would allow the property to be used for ball parks or many other things. It would be a nice piece of property and would not be an eye sore. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 6, 1996 - Page 5 of 5 Chairperson Hunter noted that the monitoring program referred to by Mr. Drake was very extensive and expensive. Mr. Banner noted that the woodwaste creates a leachate which tends to add color to the water and increases PH, as well as being a potential fire hazard. He noted the site would need to be analyzed, and the department would be willing to work with Mr. Drake to do that. In fact, a meeting has already been scheduled with Mr. Drake and the county's consultant. Mr. Drake commented that he has several years of testing which has not indicated a leachate problem. Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that this matter be continued until the next Board of Health meeting. Motion carried unanimously. JULY MEETING DATE CHANGED Board Members Faughender/Cady moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting in July be held on July llth, 1996, due to the first Thursday being the July 4th Holiday. Motion carried unanimously. ON -SITE SEWAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Advisory Board Member Harry Martin thanked the Board for approving the On -Site Operation and Maintenance Program and congratulated Mr. Banner for his leadership role. Mr. Warren Dawes commented on. the satisfactory experience he had working on the On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee. MEETING ADJOURNED Board Members Cady/Faughender moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting be adjourned at 11:13 a.m. Motion carried unanimously. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH William O. Hunter, Chairperson Mary J ' ady oard Membe, Respectfully submitted, M. L. Faughender, oard Member Lorraine Coots