HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026_06_18_BOH_Minutes_Executed~ J,ffooon
PublicH~
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Jefferson County Board of Health
Thursday, June 18, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse - Commissioners' Chambers
1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA
Hybrid Meeting
Board Members
Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner, District #3
Heather Dudley-Nollette, County Commissioner, District #1
Celeste Dybeck, Tribal Representative
Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner, District #2
Amanda Grace, Vice-Chair, Community Stakeholder
Dr. Kees Kolff, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner
Monica MickHager, Chair, Port Townsend City Council
Gabrielle Vanwert, Consumer of Public Health
Staff Members
Denise Banker, Community Health Director
Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer
Lara Cittadini, CHIP Manager
Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager
Carter Erickson, Environmental Health Manager
Apple Martine, Public Health Director
Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health Director
Jenn Mitchell, Finance Manager
Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director
Chair MickHager called the June 18, 2026 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:33 P.M.
Members Present: Chair Monica MickHager, Vice-Chair Amanda Grace, Members Heather Dudley-Nollette,
Celeste Dybeck, Heidi Eisenhour, and Dr. Kees Kolff.
Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Lara Cittadini, Michael Dawson, Carter Erickson,
Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo, Jenn Mitchell and Veronica Shaw.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair MickHager called for public comment.
Commenter announced that Friends of Public Health (FPH) now has a website (friendsofpublichealthjefferson.com),
and suggested that Public Health might want to put a link to the new website on Public Health's web page.
Members (of the BOH) appreciated the website, yet commented that the FPH website might note that it is not
connected to Public Health and the comments and notes on the webpage are those of FPH, not of Jefferson County
Public Health. It was also suggested that the FPH website might have a link to the Board of Health's formal agendas
and minutes.
In response to written public comment:
Written comment expressed concern about the safety of the municipal water system, and also concern about the risk
of an event similar to the Longview paper mill explosion happening at the Port Townsend paper mill.
Respectfully submitted
G. Gilbert
Page 1 of 4
M em bers expressed a wish to place water safe ty, and the curr ent lack of water (m entioned in the P.T. Leader), as a
fu tur e agenda item with a presentation. Staff m em ber Erickson advised there are opportuni ties fo r discussion of the
Coordinated W ater System Plan under the W ater Utility Coordinating Comm ittee. There is special m eeting on June
24th at 3 PM in the Pacific Room at Public Health, an opportunity to discuss long-term planning for the city water
system.
Concerning paper mill safety, Member Dudley-Nollette mentioned that the Local Emergency Planning Committee
(LEPC) is addressing local paper mill chemical concerns at their public hybrid meeting on July 8 at 2:00 p.m.
Community members and various agencies are invited to attend, and a representative will report the committee's
hazardous material strategies back to the council. It was suggested that paper mill safety could also be a future BOH
agenda item.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair MickHager called for a motion to accept the agenda for June 18, 2026.
MOTION: Member Dudley-Nollette moved to approve the agenda. Member Grace seconded the motion, which
carried by a unanimous vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair MickHager requested a motion to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2026 meeting.
MOTION: Member Grace moved to approve the minutes. Member Dybeck seconded the motion, which carried
by a unanimous vote.
OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report
Staff member Martine's JCPH update included a tribute to retiring Environmental Health/Water Quality Director
Pinky Mingo.
JCPH is coming up to the end of its grant season, as most of its huge portfolio of grants are based on the state fiscal
year. This coincides with the beginning of budget season which, as the Board knows, was very complicated last year
due to budget cuts, and this season is likely to be similar.
Staff member Martine announced that recreational shellfish closures are covering almost all county beaches and that
paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have reached lethal levels in some places. Recreational shellfish harvesters should
not determine safety on the presence of commercial harvesters, as commercial shellfish harvest batch can be tested by
the state or can be taken to clean waters to purge the toxin out of it, to sell at a later date.
2. Jefferson Healthcare Report
According to Member Kolff, Jefferson Healthcare has decided for this year to delay a potential levy lid lift to combat
financial headwinds, while outside consultants help identify potential operational efficiencies. A major source ofthis
financial strain is large commercial insurance companies reducing their reimbursement rates, prompting the hospital
to fight for better pricing. Additionally, Jefferson Healthcare is exploring regional alliances and resource-sharing with
Olympic Medical Center and other local healthcare entities to stabilize healthcare on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Discussion ensued, particularly in regard to the hospital's collection and sliding fee policy (discussion to be continued
at a later meeting).
3. Infectious Diseases Update
Dr. Berry reports that, while local COVID-19 transmission remains low and flu cases are sporadic, public health
officials are tracking a regional rise in pertussis cases among school-aged children. While Jefferson County currently
has no known outbreaks, there is a cluster in Clallam County and residents are urged to stay updated on their 10-year
Respectfully submitted
G. Gilbert
Page 2 of 4
Tdap vaccines to prevent the severe, prolonged coughing characteristic of the infection. Nationally (not locally),
measles cases continue to climb and officials encourage up-to-date vaccinations and pre-visit phone calls for any
concerning childhood rashes.
Finally, returning travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are being monitored to prevent any local
transmission of Ebola, and there are no known cases.
NEW BUSINESS
[NEW BUSINESS was reordered as a courtesy to guest student presenters]
2. Report on Port Townsend Schools' M ini-Grant
Former JCPH staff member Laura Tucker introduced students participating in the Students for Sustainability project
cleaning up trash from West Coast beaches (which was sponsored by a Youth Comm ercial Cannabis and Tobacco
Prevention Program mini-grant).
In May, a volunteer group of 15 teenagers (with chaperones) traveled to the coast to tackle a major beach cleanup.
The team braved muddy hikes to the beach, with even more grueling hikes back hauling 540 pounds of plastic and
styrofoam debris, waste which could have degraded into hazardous microplastics. Their efforts filled an entire cargo
van and inspired a separate passing group of hikers to help finish clearing the pile.
The volunteers recovered from their hard work with an overnight stay at a local Airbnb, bonding over games and
movies.
The students expressed great satisfaction in doing something to help the planet and hope to make the trip an annual
event.
1. HB2442 Revenue tool for Local Govern ment Part VIII - Public Health Clinic Property Tax
Accompanied by slides, JCPH Director Apple Martine discussed the complexity and special needs of a disparate,
largely rur al county. JCPH's program of treatments which it provides is based on the particular needs of this
population. Governm ent funding no longer keeps up with the need.
The new state law House Bill 2442 gives local governm ents new tax tools and flexibility to fund comm unity services
such as public health. It provides for a new tax levy on property, intended to create sustainable funding for essential
health services.
Director Martine asked the Board's assistance to determine how best to proceed and how to judge county citizens'
willingness to financially support Public Health services.
Discussion ensued. Further consideration is required as other local entities (including the Parks Department and the
hospital) are also considering increased levies, and decisions made at the federal level have made life more expensive
for everyone. A public process for feedback is recomm ended.
AN NOUN CEMENTS
Member Grace announced that graduation is tonight, June 18.
FUTURE POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS
No discussion.
AGENDA PLAN NING CAL ENDAR
The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next regular meeting of the Board will be held on July 9, 2026 at 10:30 A.M.
The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 2:30 P.M.
-4:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted
G. Gilbert
Page 3 of 4
AD J O URN M E N T
C h a ir M ic kH a g e r a d jo u rn e d th e J u n e 18 , 2 0 2 6 J effer so n C o u n ty B o a r d of H ea lth m eetin g at 4 :3 1 P.M. until the
next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed.
FHEALTH
~~
Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant
Portions of these minutes were drafted with AI assistance.
Respectfully submitted
G. Gilbert
Page 4 of 4