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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/03/25 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS 411 North 5"' Street, Shelton, WA March 25, 2025 Attendance: Randy Neatherlin, County Commissioner; Pat Tarzwell, County Commissioner; Sharon Trask, County Commissioner; Dr. Steven Krager, Health Officer; Darrin Moody, Hospital District No. 1; Peggy VanBuskirk, Hospital District No. 2; Eric Onisko, City of Shelton; Rachel Armas, Squaxin Island Health Director; Keri Davidson, Shelton School Board; David Windom, Public Health and Human Services Director; Ian Tracy, Environmental Health Manager; Ben Johnson, Community Health; McKenzie Smith, Clerk of the Board; and Dedrick Allen, MasonWebTV 1. Chair Moody called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m. 2. Approval of Agenda Peggy/Cmmr. Trask moved and seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes Peggy/Cmmr. Tarzwell moved and seconded to approve the January 28, 2025 minutes as presented. Motion carried. 4. Public Health Week Proclamation Removed from agenda, no proclamation was provided. 5. Health Officer Report Dr. Krager shared a presentation on measles. Key topics included what measles is, relevant data, and vaccination information. 6. Administration Report David discussed the House and Senate budgets; the House budget proposes a 4% reduction in funding of about $10 million per year over two years and the Senate budget proposes a 19% reduction in funding of about $22 million per year over two years. There is no change to Federal funding. David shared the United We Care pilot program has begun and is working with Mason Health. Staff are tracking referral codes. 7. Environmental Health Report Ian shared the On -Site Sewage Advisory Committee (OSAC) applications from Wes Graves and Tamara Cowles. Peggy/Cmmr. Neatherlin moved and seconded to appoint Wes Graves to the OSAC. Motion carried. Peggy/Crmm. Trask moved and seconded to appoint Tamara Cowles to the OSAC. Motion carried. 8. Community Health Report Ben discussed the 7, Annual Prevention Summit, which is being held Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Skokomish Connnunity Center. Ben shared the Substance Use Prevention Coalition has partnered with John Holbrook to conduct a kratom and whippet educational presentation. John presented the Youth Substance Abuse Awareness presentation. Key topics included the nutmeg challenge, kratorn, tianeptine, phenibut, kava, akuamma, damiana, HHC, psilocybin mushrooms, amanita mushrooms, salt nicotine, vapes, whippet, pricing examples, drinks, and other items of note. Darrin recommended the City and County discuss how this program can be supported. 9. Other Business and Board Discussion No other business or discussion. 10. Public Comments An individual discussed the Golden Pheasant neighborhood -based group and the increased crime in that area. There are sanitation and basic standard of living code violations as well as unpermitted living situations that are not being enforced. There seems to be a lack of will to enforce these codes. Regarding used needles, a good take back system is needed for individuals volunteering to help clean up roads and encampments. Enforcement in this area may encourage individuals to not stop and help prevent drug use. Another individual shared that they have purchased about $4k in camera equipment and have provided footage to the Sherift's Office. However, the Health Department is not enforcing current code. 1 1. Public Hearing for Food Establishment Appeal Ian shared this is a Public Hearing for the Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant permit revocation. Public Health has closed this restaurant three times in the past six months due to significant food safety code violations. There are many critical (red) violations, mostly associated with food borne illness. Mason County Code states that the establishment shall not be allowed to apply for a new permit for a minimum of six months. The Board of Health's role is to hear the appeal and either uphold the revocation, overturn the revocation, or provide an alternate solution. The biggest concern is the same repeated violations and educational outreach not working. The owner, Danwei Matila, has not completed the food protection management course, which is a minimum requirement. Danwei shared that Happy Garden has been owned and operated for ten years without issue. Now food inspection staff are requiring them to move storage from the back to the front, but there is no space. Danwei closed the dining section, offering only a to -go option, to allow movement of the refrigerator and storage to the front as well as comply with requirements. Renovation is estimated to cost $120k and Danwei does not have the funds for this but is willing to make minor changes. Vaigogo Matila, Danwei's husband, added that they paid for the food protection manager course but was unable to attend due to computer changes. Danwei did not pass the course on February 28 but is rescheduled for April 1. Happy Garden is run following the traditional Chinese restaurant way, but Vaigogo is encouraging Danwei to follow American standards. Eric asked if the hearing could be tabled until Danwei passes the food protection manager course and feels there are more than just storage issues. • Cmmr. Neatherlin shared concerns about the language barrier and Danwei not being willing to comply but is interested in changing the closure lengths if requirements are met. Cmmr. Trask discussed concerns about the violation scores and requirements not being followed. Cmmr. Tarzwell verified that Danwei understood the information provided from the inspections. Amy, the previous Happy Garden owner, answered yes. Darrin suggested reinspecting Happy Garden after April 1 if Danwei passes the food protection manager course and asked if a two -month window is acceptable for permits from the City of Shelton. Sunni reminded the Board that Happy Garden will need to contact the City of Shelton Planning Department for requirements which will affect the timeline for opening. Danwei added that an inquiry was made to the City of Shelton but there is no estimated timeline and that she cannot do all of the construction as planned. The back of the restaurant will be closed, and the restaurant will only operate fron the front. Cminr. Trask asked if any reports of illness have been made and what the policy states for the timeline after being closed. Sunni answered no, there have only been third -party complaints. The policy states that if corrections are made, a reinspection will be done. However, since this is a revocation, there is a minimum six-month closure unless appealed. The facility must be brought up to code. Eric asked why there is an issue now with the back room being used for storage. Sunni answered that the back room is a lockable shed, there is no issue with the dry storage, cooler, or freezer. The issue is when the back shed is used for food prep, there is no handwashing available. Danwei added that this was how it was used before she purchased Happy Garden but understands that food operation must be moved to the front of the business. Cinmr. Neatherlin/Peggy moved and seconded to enforce the six-month closure. Motion carried. Darrin requested Public Health staff provide an outline to Danwei and Vaigogo of the expectations in writing to use as a checklist. 12. Adjourned at 2:03 p.m. ATTEST McKenzie Smit , Cler1 f the MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MASON COUNTY, W NGTON Darrin Moody, Hospit. District #1 Eric nisko, City Council Pat Tarzwell, Commissioner Randyat Arlin, Co issioner .04J Sharon Trask, Commissioner Peggy us (irk, Hospital District #2 Rachel Armas, Squaxin Island Health Director Keri Davidson, Shelton School Board