Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/07/06 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH July 6, 1995 The Board of Health was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Board Member William O. Hunter with Board Member Mary Jo Cady in attendance. Chairperson Faughender present at 10.:50 a.m. ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Chairperson William O. Hunter,.Board Member Mary Jo Cady, Board Member Brad Banner, Health Services Director Steve Kutz, Director of Personal Health Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer Dan Watts, Solid Waste Specialist Will Satak, Environmental Health Specialist Kathy Giest, City of Shelton Kevin Burton, Journal Dale Crawford, Simpson Timber Company MINUTES APPROVED Board Members Cady/Hunter moved/seconded that the minutes of the June 1st, 1995, meeting be approved. Motion carried. Vote: C: yes; H: yes; F: absent. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT Communicable disease report for May, 1995 was reviewed by Dr. Trucksess. He informed that a state-wide epidemic of Hepatitis A was occurring. However, Mason County had only 16 cases reported in all of 1994. He noted there was a new vaccine for Hepatitis A which day care providers and teachers were recommended to receive. Approximately 75% of adults older than 50 years of age were already immune to the disease. DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Brad Banner advised that the policies and procedures for the Environmental Health Department had been written a number of years ago with modifications occurring periodically, and that it was timely to modify once again. Board Member Cady stated she had reviewed the proposed revisions and had noted typing errors'which needed to be corrected, and that certain items relating to staff development may need to be changed in the future if and when a Human Resource Director was hired. Her only concern with the proposal was the lengthy response time to priority five violations. She believed that one month was too long for a citizen to wait before receiving a response to their complaint. At the least, a telephone call should be made to explain that the complaint had been received and it would be investigated within the month. Board Member Cady moved that the language regarding priority five violations be amended to state that the Department would respond by telephone to the person making the complaint within one week, and that the complaint be investigated within one month of the complaint issuance. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH July 6, 1995 - Page 2 of 5 Mr. Banner agreed with the wording suggested by Board Member Cady, noting that one month's time would be the maximum length of time before an investigation was completed. Board Member Hunter stated he would like to see the document presented at next month's meeting with the corrections suggested by Board Member Cady prior to making a motion for adoption. INFLUENZA VACCINE SCHEDULE Steve Kutz presented schedules for administering the influenza vaccine during the months of October and November, 1995. New sites at which to receive the vaccine this year, at a cost of $8, would be at Wa1Mart, Safeway and Stockmarket. Dr. Trucksess informed that people 65 years of age or older and anyone with a chronic illness or immune problems should receive the vaccine. However, anyone wishing to receive the vaccine has the opportunity to do so. YOUTH RISK ASSESSMENT DATA - MASON COUNTY NETWORK Steve Kutz presented statistical information which the Mason County Network would be reviewing during a retreat in order to prioritize a youth risk assessment. He informed that the State Legislature has developed a list of eight problem behaviors which they have asked each community network to prioritize and to focus their efforts on reducing the occurrence of three of the behaviors. The plan which will be developed by the Mason County Network will be presented to the Board of Health for approval before being sent to the Family Policy Council. Community meetings have taken place at which state statistics, data and local surveys have been studied to decide which behaviors should be addressed in our county. Board Member Cady asked what happens to the other five problem behaviors which would not be selected. Mr. Kutz answered that those behaviors would continue to be addressed, just not particularly by the network. Board Member Cady asked if the network would only be able to distribute funds to those three areas or would they be allowed to support some of the other groups who take care of the other situations. Mr. Kutz stated that the money at their discretion would be re-distributed to focus on their priority areas. However, many of the behaviors were inter-related, and re- focusing community effort to those areas may also occur. Mr. Kutz reviewed aloud the statistical information. Arrests for liquor violations for youth between the ages of 10 and 17 in Mason County has a slightly lower average than that of the State. However, Mason County youth and young adults were hospitalized for alcohol and drug- related reasons at a rate significantly higher than the state average, and our county has twice the state average of traffic collisions involving alcohol or drugs for young adults 18 to 20 years old. An informal survey at the hospital emergency room showed that most of the alcohol-related accidents involve residents of the county, not tourists traveling through the county. Based on these statistics, the network believed that alcohol use and/or abuse was a significant problem. The following problem behaviors occurred more often than the state average and were-also considered significant and would be studied by the network: The rate of young women, aged 10 to 17 years having children which was 43% higher than the state average and suicide-related hospital admissions, for youth 15 to 19 years of age is 2.76 per thousand while the state average MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH July 6, 1995 - Page 3 of 5 is 1.5 per thousand. Domestic violence arrests in the county were nearly one-half of the state average. However, reported filing for petitions for protection orders for domestic violence in Mason County was 62% higher than the state average. 80% are filed against a spouse or someone living in the house. The network believed the petitions showed a more realistic picture of the problem. The number of children in foster care was also studied. Our county has nearly double the state average of children in foster care placement. The rate is nearly double the state average at 12.59 per thousand (131 children) while the state is 6.88 per thousand. The drop out rate for students in Mason County was 36% higher than the state average. If a student dropped out prior to the 8th grade, they were not added to the statistics. It was believed this may be a significant number. Native Americans also keep statistics on this subject and those figures would be considered. Arrests for violent crimes by 10 to 24 year olds, such as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, have more than doubled from 1992 to 1993 in our county. Accepted referrals to Child Protective Services for cases of abuse and neglect in Mason County and the number of children living in poverty were both higher than the state average. The number of children living in poverty in our county was significantly greater than the state average. The limited amount of things for children to do in our community and lack of parent involvement are comments consistently heard by Mr. Kutz in his position as Director of Personal Health. SOLID WASTE DUMPING SITE CLEANUP STRATEGY Dan Watts reported on the cost of cleaning up two illegal dump sites. The first site located behind the landfill on the Eells Hill Road consists of miscellaneous items such as couches, mattresses, appliances, and tires, and approximately 13 tons of garbage. The dumping fee was estimated at $1,620.00. The second site on the Cloquallum Road next to the Mason County rock bed has approximately 65 miscellaneous items, approximately 25 tires, and 15 tons of garbage with a total dumping fee of $1,724.00. The appliances at this site have been hauled away by a scrap hauler. The Department was still planning to use community service workers for the labor if the liability insurance allows it, and the property owners would block access to the dumping sites and provide transportation. Kathy Giest asked who would be paying the dumping fee. Brad Banner proposed that discussions be held between Community Development, the Health Department, and the Commissioners to decide which budget would pay for the dumping. Board Member Cady suggested that the property owners also be involved in the dumping fee discussions. Kathy Giest MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH July 6, 1995 - Page 4 of 5 asked how other counties handle this problem. Dan Watts replied that most counties really have not dealt effectively with this problem. However, Spokane city officials attach fines to utility bills when a person has been found to have illegally dumped. Board Member Hunter noted that counties do not have this opportunity. Mr. Watts noted that educational information listing what items can be dumped where and for what price would also be beneficial. Kathy Giest commented that alternatives and resources should be provided to a property owner when this crime happens to them because they are a victim. However, the county should not share in the financial responsibility of the property owner who would ultimately benefit from the cleanup. Mr. Banner noted that they wanted property owners to share in the cost. Mr. Dale Crawford informed he was in charge of fencing roads for Simpson Timber Company and every time he closes an access he receives complaints because citizens believe the roads should remain open. Closing Simpson access roads would not stop illegal dumping, and, if anything, it would cause dumping along the county right-of-ways. Brad Banner suggested the two sites be used as part of a pilot project. Chairperson Faughender noted it was not a simple problem and that proceeding with two test sites was possible since the costs have been found and cooperation with property owners had been received. Mr. Watts stated he would keep the board informed of their progress; noting they would like to have the two sites cleaned by the end of the year. Board Member Hunter commented that this was an issue which affects everyone in the county, not just timber companies. COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING PLAN Pursuant to the Board's request, Brad Banner and Dan Watts compiled relevant data and met with a hydrologist from the Department of Ecology which provides assistance to counties. The hydrologist has agreed to assist the Department in reviewing the monitoring taking place in the county in an effort to complete a comprehensive monitoring plan. The next step would be to get technical assistance from Gary Yando on hiring a consultant. Chairperson Faughender noted that this was not site specific, but it would involve all the sites the county permits in the county. ABANDONED CAR REMOVAL Board Member Hunter informed that some wrecking yards would pick up abandoned cars at no charge to the property owner. He asked that Mr. Watts find out which companies these were so that the information could be advertised to property owners. FOOD PROGRAM MANGER CERTIFICATION AND SELF-INSPECTION PROGRAM Will Satak announced that he taught the Manger Certification Classes in March and April after which participants took an 80-question examination. All thirteen participants passed the certification. The Board noted they would like to present the certificates to the recipients at a time when certificates were presented to non-smoking eating establishments. Mr. Satak explained the Self-Inspection Program was designed to be used in conjunction with the food manager certification. He noted that the training received at the manager certification course would prepare managers to set up quality food safety programs in their establishments. Requirements to participate in the self-inspection program were outlined. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH July 6, 1995 - Page 5 of 5 Mr. Satak informed that an opening was available on the Food Advisory Committee. He presented a listing of establishment owners/employees who were interested in being appointed. BELFAIR SAND & GRAVEL DUMPING Mr. Banner and Mr. Watts updated the board on a complaint from landowners adjacent to a site where Belfair Sand& Gravel was dumping. The landowners had suggested that the dumping was creating dust without adequate buffers. Mr. Watts would visit the site, investigate the permit, and report back to the Board. MINUTES APPROVED Board Members Cady/Hunter moved/seconded that the minutes of the May 4th, 1995, meeting be approved.. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Board Members Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting be adjourned at 11:35 a.m. Motion carried unanimously. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH M. L. Faughender, CVairperson William O. Hunter, Board Member Mary C y, Board It mber Respectfully Submitted, Lorraine Coots