HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/11/02 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 2, 1995
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 Pam Denton, Environmental Health Specialist
William O. Hunter, Board Member Sandy Miller, Mason County Network
Mary Jo Cady, Board Member Don Woolliscroft, B-Line Septic & Design
Brad Banner, Health Services Director Dave Ghylin, Dave's Designs
Steve Kutz, Director of Personal Health Don Malkowski, Alt. Septic Services
Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer Warren Dawes, Shelton resident
Wayne Clifford, Technical Administrator Henry Minch, On-Site Sewage Advisory Board
Mark Tompkins, Program Manager Ralph Wingert, On-Site Sewage Advisory Board
FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Brad Banner recommended that Donald Betker, owner of the Hungry Bear Restaurant, be
appointed to the Food Advisory Committee. Board Members Cady/Hunter moved/seconded
that Mr. Donald Betker be appointed to the Food Advisory Committee. Motion carried
unanimously.
ON-SITE SEWAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Brad Banner recommended that Harry Martin be appointed as a member of the On-Site Sewage
Advisory Committee representing the Lower Hood Canal Watershed. Board Members
Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that Mr. Harry Martin be appointed to the On-Site Sewage
Advisory Committee representing the Lower Hood Canal Watershed, Board Member Cady
asked if Mr. Martin had made application personally or if an organization had recommended him
for the appointment. Mr. Banner replied it was an application made by Mr. Martin. Motion
carried unanimously.
Henry Minch informed the Board he was also a member of this committee and needed
information regarding the length of appointments. Brad Banner answered that terms of
appointments were made for one year from the date of appointment. The Board`asked Mr.
Banner to submit an update of advisory board appointments at the next meeting.
RICK AITKEN APPEAL
Board Member Cady announced that the Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Order in the Aitken
appeal were ready for adoption. The Board found that the order issued by the Mason County
Department of Health Services should be revoked, and if and when Mr. Aitken decided to drill
a well to serve his property, he would be bound by the regulations set forth by the Mason County
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November 2, 1995 - Page 2 of 5
Department of Health Services. She noted that the appeal hearing had been very convoluted, with
a lot of issues being brought up which had nothing to do with the matter being decided by the
Board, and many of those issues would need to be resolved by Mr. Aitken and the Timberlakes
Community. Board Member Cady moved that the Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Order
(Exhibit A) be approved. Chairperson Faughender noted he was not present during the
hearing, and therefore, he would not be voting on the motion. Board Member Hunter
seconded the motion, stating he concurred with the motion and would vote in favor of it,
as presented. Vote: H: yes; C: yes; F: abstain.
ON-SITE SEWAGE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Brad Banner requested that an evening public hearing date be set to allow the On-Site Sewage
Advisory Committee to present the Operation and Maintenance Program for the Board to review
and for public testimony to be given. Board Members Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that
November 21, 1995, at 8:00 p.m., be set for public hearing to consider the On-Site Sewage
Operation and Maintenance Program. (The Board of Health would convene after the
County Commissioners' meeting on this date). Motion carried unanimously.
1996 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEE PROPOSAL
Brad Banner requested a public hearing to consider proposed 1996 Environmental Health fees.
Board Members Cady/Hunter moved/seconded that the public hearing to discuss the 1996
Environmental Health fee proposal be held during the Board of Health meeting on
December 7, 1995, at 10:30 a.m. Motion carried unanimously.
OLSEN APPEAL
Brad Banner advised that the Olsens have appealed a determination made by their Department
regarding an on-site sewage system which was failing. It had been appealed to the Health Officer
which upheld the Department's findings and now the Olsens wished to continue the appeal
process before the Board of Health. He requested that a date be set for that hearing. Board
Member Cady asked why this matter was to be heard before the Board of Health rather than at
the State level. Mr. Banner replied that, in general, these items go from the Health Officer to
the Board. He anticipated that the hearing may take two hours of time. Board Members
Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that the Olsen appeal hearing be set for December 6, 1995,
at 10:00 a.m. Board Member Hunter noted he would like to see a resolution to the testing
procedure problem between the State and Health Department prior to the hearing. Motion
carried unanimously.
HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT
Dr. Mark E. Trucksess reported that the first case of Influenza A in the state was reported from
Spokane. There have been some cases reported in Idaho, but so far no epidemics.
The Hepatitis A epidemic in Thurston County has now reached 87 cases since January, 1995.
Many cases were in the IV drug using community and follow-up was very difficult due to
resistance in giving names of contacts. Mason County had one case of Hepatitis A reported in
a 33 year old female. However, they have been unable to follow-up because there was no name
or address given. The woman was still unaware that she was tested positive for both Hepatitis
A and C.
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November 2, 1995 - Page 3 of 5
One case of tuberculosis in a Mason County resident has been found. The patient has been
started on a 3-drug regimen.
The National Committee On Immunizations has made a recommendation that they begin to use
the inactive polio vaccine shot rather than the oral form of the vaccine, at least for the first 2
doses. The reason for this recommendation was that there has not been a natural case of wild
polio in the United States since 1979, but there has been.8 to 10 cases, every year, of vaccine-
induced polio because the oral vaccine was a live vaccine. This matter was on hold because the
CDC has not yet concurred with the recommendation and because the inactive vaccine was not
readily available. If the CDC concurs, production of the vaccine would occur, and it would
probably be several years before it was actually initiated.
Testing for lead levels in 5,695 children under the age of 14 in the State of Washington has been
completed and some positive levels were found. Mason County was not mentioned in the study.
Mr. Kutz commented that, based on their records,only one Mason County child had been tested.
Dr. Trucksess noted there were low-positive results in Thurston and Kitsap Counties. He
believed the medical community should be induced to be more suspicious about the possibility
of lead toxicity and to perform testing if it was deemed appropriate.
LOAN POLICIES - WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND
Wayne Clifford asked the Board to adopt the loan policies regarding the Water Quality
Improvement Fund Program. The final policies had been reviewed by the Board previously and
had been developed through coordination with the Mason County Treasurer and the Centennial
Bank. The policies set out procedures for setting interest rates and listed general guidelines for
the application process for loans. Board Member Cady questioned whether the policies had been
reviewed by the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Mr. Clifford replied he did not believe they had
been. Board Members Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that the Water Quality Improvement
Fund Loan Policies be approved subject to review and approval by the Prosecutor's Office.
Motion carried unanimously.
COMMUNITY NETWORK UPDATE
Sandy Miller, State Department of Social and Health Services, informed that the Community
Network was made up of 23 board members, 3 of which were appointed by the County. Their
mission was to institute a 10-year comprehensive plan and a 2-year action plan. The Family
Policy Council needed to receive the comprehensive plan by March for review and approval.
Prior to that, the plan would need to be reviewed and signed by the Board of Health.
Funding for the network was for planning only, there were no program or support dollars and
would not be forthcoming until the comprehensive plan was completed.
Issues being addressed were drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out of school, child abuse and
neglect, poverty, violent delinquent acts, teen pregnancy and male parentage, out-of-home
placements and domestic violence. Community meetings and surveys were done to identify the
three most important issues facing Mason County. They were identified to be drug and alcohol
abuse, dropping out of school, and child abuse and neglect.
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November 2, 1995 - Page 4 of 5
A series of meetings with community members and service providers to identify protective factors
and risk factors of the three targeted issues were held. From that, a document entitled Building
Communities From the Inside out - Community Mapping for Mason County was developed to
identify the assets of the community which were helping to prevent these behaviors. In
developing the plan, those beneficial agencies and programs could be targeted.
Many studies have been done and now it was time to do something. Their goal was to have a
draft plan to the Board by January, 1996. At the same time, the draft would be given to the
community for feedback. In February a finalized plan would be presented for additional review
by the Board so it could go before the Policy Council in March.
Board Member Cady asked at what point funds would be allocated. Sandy Miller replied that
would happen when and if funding was received. Funding was not certain, at this point.
Chairperson Faughender asked if.the network would be an allocator of funds if funding was
received. Sandy Miller replied it would depend on the legislature. It was actually questionable
if the networks would survive the legislative process. Even so, the information being gathered
was very valuable.
CORRESPONDENCE - STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Letter from the State Board of Health regarding their decision to commend and support local
boards of health in facilitating the coordinated delivery of mental health services to their
communities.
MINUTES APPROVED
Board Members Hunter/Cady moved/seconded that the minutes of the August 3, 19959
meeting be approved as circulated. Motion carried. Vote: C: yes; H: yes; F: abstain due
to his absence during this meeting.
Board Member Cady/Chairperson Faughender moved/seconded that the minutes of the
August 31, 1995, meeting be approved as circulated. Motion carried. Vote: C: yes; F: yes;
H: abstain due to his absence during this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Board Members Cady/Hunter moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting be
adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Motion carried unanimously.
MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
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M. L. Faughender� hairperson
MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 2, 1995 - Page 5 of 5
p 0
William O. Hunter, Board Member
Mary J Ca , Board ber
Respectfully Submitted,
Lorraine Coots