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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM081612JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, August 16, 2012 2:30 PM — 4:30 PM Masonic Hall, 1338 Jefferson Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Phil Johnson, Chair, County Commissioner District #1 Thomas Locke, MD, MPH Health Officer David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Director John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Director Roberta Frissell, citizen at large (County) Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Services Director Catharine Robinson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Vice Chair, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Chair Johnson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:31 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin, Jill Buhler, and Sheila Westerman Members Excused: Catharine Robinson, Roberta Frissell Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Veronica Shaw, Julia Danskin, Jared Keefer, Cathy Avery APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Westerman moved to approve the agenda for the August 16, 2012 BOH meeting; Member Buhler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Westerman requested the following changes be made to the July 19, 2012 BOH minutes: page 2 under "Whooping cough vaccine and rates" the third sentence be changed to read "Not all people with positive pertussis tests meet the strict criteria to be counted as a confirmed case and many adults with pertussis have mild symptoms and are not tested." On page 5 under Public Comment, in the last paragraph with Dr. Locke's response to the public, the 5th sentence is changed to "That decision is subject to appeal to the local board of health which can affirm or reverse the health officer's decision." Member Buhler requested the following corrections: at the top of page 4 mid way down the sentence beginning with `Potential', is changed to read "Potential positive impacts of Prevention and Public Health fund authorized programs in Jefferson County include improved public health capacity, environmental health tracking capabilities, increased funding for the visiting nurse program.", 4 lines down from that the sentence be changed to "He concluded by stating that making sure everyone has access to effective basic health services is an important part of achieving the goal of improving community health.", and on page 5, in the last paragraph on a sentence is changed to read "He notified the mill that their landfill was inappropriately classified as an inert waste landfill and needed to be reclassified as a limited purpose landfill designation." Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes of the July 19, 2012 BOH meeting as amended; Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Nurse Family Partnership Regional Approach Ms. Baldwin reported that Thrive by Five has chosen to fund 3 different projects in Washington. The largest project being funded is Nurse Family Partnership (NFP). JCPH's application through Thrive by Five was to sustain and enlarge their Nurse Family Partnership program and assist Kitsap County in starting their program. Yuko Umeda, PHN at JCPH, who has provided NFP for the past 13 years, is providing supervisory services to Kitsap County and the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe while they start their programs. Thrive by Five funding and the services provided to the tribes and Kitsap County have allowed JCPH to replace an NFP staff vacancy. Pertussis Update and Vaccine Report Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Program Coordinator, gave an update on the current status of the Washington State pertussis outbreak. Ms. McKenzie reported Jefferson County is seeing a decrease in the number of pertussis cases, but there are some counties who are still seeing an increase in the number of confirmed cases. As of August 11, 2012 there were 3,484 cases of pertussis reported in Washington State, with 220 of those cases being in infants under the age of one. Ms. McKenzie stated there were two new cases reported in July which has brought Jefferson County's pertussis reports to 24 confirmed cases and six suspect cases. They have found that 73% of the cases in Jefferson County have been in unimmunized individuals. West End Natural Resource News Tammy Pokorny, Environmental Health Specialist Il, presented the West End Natural Resource News which is edited and published by Jefferson County Environmental Health in partnership with Clallam County. A copy of the publication was included in the agenda packet. Ms. Pokorny briefly outlined articles which were in the publication. Rabies in WA State, Testing of Bats Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Program Coordinator, discussed the Washington State Department of Health News Release on Rabies found in Washington bats, which was included in the agenda packet. The news release stated that three bats have tested positive for Rabies in Washington State this summer requiring the people who were exposed to those bats undergo Rabies post exposure vaccination treatment. Ms. Mckenzie stated that in Jefferson County they have sent three bats in for testing this summer, out of the three bats two tested negative for Rabies and the third could not be tested because the head had been crushed during the capture. Ms. McKenzie stated that humans should avoid contact with bats by bat proofing their houses and if there has been any human contact with a bat, the bat should be captured and tested for rabies. Shellfish Closure Updates Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Director, updated the Board on the current shellfish closures in Jefferson County. Temporary closures have occurred this summer in response to Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) testing that Environmental Health staff have conducted. Mr. Keefer reported that last week Quilcene and Dabob Bay have re -opened for recreation shellfish harvest. A closure for DSP is in effect for Discovery Bay, Hood Canal from Seal Rock south to the Mason County line and a closure for PSP is in effect for Discovery Bay, PT Bay, Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay, Oak Bay, and Port Ludlow including Mats Mats Bay. Response to Questions from BOH 7-19-2012 Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Director, presented Dr. Locke's response to Member Westerman's questions regarding the PTPC landfill permit, which were raised at the July 19, 2012 Board of Health meeting. A copy of Dr. Locke's response to Member Westerman's questions was included in the agenda packet. The first question Mr. Keefer addressed was `who decides whether a landfill groundwater monitoring plan is adequate and how samples are collected, analyzed and interpreted?' Mr. Keefer pointed out that groundwater monitoring plans must meet standards set forth in WAC 173-350-500. The second question addressed was `how the provisions in a landfill permit are enforced and where the "teeth" are'. Mr. Keefer stated the enforcement of the landfill permit is through the local health jurisdiction, the actual language in the permit is what guides the required activities at the permitted facility and violations result in actions taken. There are provisions for both civil and criminal penalties in the permit. The final question addressed was, `is it possible to do core samples of the landfill to determine what type of waste is in the landfill?' Mr. Keefer stated that borehole studies are routinely done for analysis to develop the groundwater monitoring plans, which are detailed in WAC 173-350- 500(2)(b), however the local health authority must have probable cause to require core sampling of an existing, permitted landfill. Mr. Keefer did point out that waste stream characterization is routinely done to test waste as it is brought to the landfill. NEW BUSINESS School Exception Rates Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Program Coordinator, presented the vaccine exemption rates for school entry due to new state law requirements. Ms. McKenzie reported that statewide vaccination exemptions for kindergarten students dropped from 6.0% in the 2009-2010 school year to 4.5% for the 2011-2012 school year. The Jefferson County vaccination exemption rate for Kindergarten students dropped from 15.9% to 9.5%. Ms. McKenzie stated they are working with the schools to reduce the number of students who are out of compliance with immunization requirements. A child is considered out of compliance if the school does not have immunization records on file or the records are not up to date. JCPH is providing training to schools on the use of the State's CHILD profile electronic immunization database to obtain immunization records for students who lack required documentation of their vaccination status. Drug and Alcohol Community Prevention Planning Process - 2012 Kelly Matlock, Prevention Coordinator, for Jefferson County Public Health, reported that Jefferson County was one of the first of 19 communities that was chosen to receive support for an initiative focusing on preventing alcohol and drug misuse among youth and young adults. The program is called Prevention Redesign Initiative, funded by the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. The local coalition chose to focus their energies on Port Townsend and to receive training from the Communities That Care (CTC) program. The training taught skills for identifying the highest prevention needs in Port Townsend, creating a strategic work plan and implementing evidence -based strategies for addressing identified problems. Anne Dean, Jefferson County Community Network Program Manager, presented the values that the Port Townsend Coalition (PTC) felt were important for creating a program to prevent youth substance abuse in Port Townsend. Values chosen by PTC include preventing substance abuse for all youth, covering the entire life span, creating easy access and reducing barriers, reaching out to the most vulnerable and under -served segments of the community, building community capacity and widening relationships with public, private and home schools. Ms. Dean also discussed the three major risk factors as determined by the 2010 Healthy Youth Survey. The three major risk factors PTC and CTC will look at reducing are, friend's use of drugs, intentions to use drugs and perceived risk of use. Ms. Dean closed with a review of PTC's goals as outlined in the Prevention Redesign Initiative handout included in the agenda packet. Big Quilcene Fishing Season — Septage and Solid Waste Jared Keefer updated the Board on the environmental health concerns that arose last year when hundreds of fisherman per day on the Big Quilcene River left solid and human waste on the shoreline of the river. Degradation of water quality led to closure of the commercial shellfish harvesting area near the rivers mouth. Mr. Keefer asked the Board whether they think it is appropriate for JCPH to supply sanitary facilities and refuse collection receptacles along the Big Quilcene River during fishing season to avoid the same issues that happened last year. Board members spoke in favor of this plan and encouraged JCPH to come up with a plan for the coming years. Student Based Health Centers Annual Report Jean Baldwin presented data on the school based health clinics; graphs were included in the agenda packet. The graphs show that the number of students being seen is increasing. Ms. Baldwin pointed out that 41 % of the students in Chimacum are using the clinic in the high school. Ms. Baldwin stated the school based clinics are improving overall health, better managing chronic diseases, maintaining low teen pregnancy rates and decreasing teen STD rates. Ms. Baldwin also discussed the graphs from Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene on mental health and substance abuse services provided at the school based clinics. These services are funded by the Mental Health/substance Sales Tax. None ACTIVITY UPDATE PUBLIC COMMENT Mary Marinkovich spoke in favor of meetings between the mill and JCPH regarding the landfill permit being open to the public and the mill being issued a limited purpose landfill permit. Dave McWethy urged JCPH to issue a limited purpose landfill permit to Port Townsend Paper. Helen Lauritzen read comments from some of the over 400 people that have signed the online petition to have a limited purpose landfill permit issued to Port Townsend Paper. John Arndt read a letter written by the President of the Local Union 175 for the U.S. Steel Workers Union which addressed the current status of the landfill and testing and monitoring of the Port Townsend Paper landfill. Scott Tennant, Union member of the local Union 175 and a mill wright at Port Townsend Paper supports Port Townsend Paper and the current permitting process. Renee Bush encouraged further investigation of ways to re -use the wood ash from Port Townsend Paper for things such as producing fertilizer. Carol Gallop spoke in favor of issuing Port Townsend Paper a limited purpose landfill permit and expressed concern that the landfill will eventually leach toxins into the bay. Nancy Frederick expressed concern over an inert permit being issued and urges that the landfill be monitored. Kevin Clark urged that a limited purpose landfill permit be issued to Port Townsend Paper. Eveleen Muehlethaler spoke on behalf of Port Townsend Paper regarding the positive things Port Townsend Paper does and thanked the Board for their patience. Ruth Apter spoke in favor of a limited purpose landfill permit being issued to Port Townsend Paper and keeping good jobs in Jefferson County while maintaining a healthy environment. Bill Curtsinger expressed concern over possible health effects caused by the mill. Gretchen Brewer feels that the community is a stakeholder and should be involved in the meetings between JCPH and the mill. Todd Stevens spoke in favor of a limited purpose landfill permit being issued to Port Townsend Paper. Gary Fredrick expressed concern over the material in the mill landfill being inert because of the PH level of the material and is also concerned over why the owners of the mill are fighting the testing if it is beneficial for the community. Doug Milholland spoke in favor of a limited purpose landfill permit being issued to Port Townsend Paper and core sampling of the landfill. Doug Leeds supports Port Townsend Paper on the landfill issue. Annika Wallendahl, Environmental Manager for Port Townsend Paper Corporation, addressed five recurring environmental issues, the difference between inert and solid waste, why other mills don't have an inert permit, groundwater monitoring, financial assurance, and Port Townsend Bay. Peter Lauritzen spoke in favor of requiring a limited purpose landfill permit to Port Townsend Paper. Stephen Schumacher read from a letter he received from Department of Ecology regarding the mills landfill, which he also distributed to the Board. Ted Shoulberg feels the community does play a role in the process of issuing a permit to Port Townsend Paper for their landfill and spoke in favor of a citizen being allowed at meetings between JCPH and the mill. Jim Todd expressed concern over the waste being deposited in to the mill's landfill and encouraged a limited purpose landfill permit be issued. Lynn Nadeau encouraged the Board to be careful and monitor the mill landfill. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The next Board of Health meeting will be held on September 20, 2012 from 2:30 — 4:30 pm. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johnson adjourned the BOH meeting at 4:32 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PhiWohnson, Excused Roberta Frissell, Member Excused Catharine Robinson, Member �w Ie&. Lj 4 * � Sheila Westerman, Member Respectfully Submitted: Stacie Reid C�(1 Ji Buhler, Vice Chair ustin, Member