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Home My WebLink About062024M .4 09efehson Public Healt REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Thursday, June 20, 2024 @ 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Courthouse— Commissioners' Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA Hybrid Meeting Board Members Staff Members Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Denise Banker,Community Health Director Kate Dean,Chair,County Commissioner District#1 Dr.Allison Berry,Health Officer Heidi Eisenhour,County Commissioner,District#2 Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager Amanda Grace,Vice-Chair,Community Stakeholder Alisa Hasbrouck,Environmental Health Manager Dr.Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Barb Jones,CHIP Program Manager Monica MickHager,Port Townsend City Council Apple Martine,Public Health Director Grey Schad,Consumer of Public Health Pinky Mingo,Environmental Public Health Director Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director Vice-Chair Grace called the June 20, 2024 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:32 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Vice-Chair Amanda Grace,Members Greg Brotherton,Heidi Eisenhour,Kees Kolff and Grey Schad. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker,Dr.Allison Berry,Michael Dawson,Alisa Hasbrouck,Barb Jones, Apple Martine,Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw. PUBLIC COMMENT Vice-Chair Grace called for public comment. Commenter enquired about the reporting procedure when finding dead wildlife(in this case, a seagull). Commenter remarked that the response received from Public Health was confused. Commenter spoke about bird flu testing, including its unreliability,and also about government regulations' unbalanced emphasis on family farms,rather than factory farms. Members and staff responded to commenter's concerns. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice-Chair Grace requested a motion to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2024 meeting. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the minutes. Member Eisenhour seconded the motion,which carried by a unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 3 G.Gilbert (I) APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice-Chair Grace called for a motion to accept the agenda for June 20,2024. Clerk noted the agenda, as printed,was incorrect as it identified Chair Dean as conducting the meeting, but Chair Dean notified,before the meeting,that she would be absent. Also, Chair Dean would not be present to provide a State Board of Health Update. Clerk asked to amend, indicating that Vice-Chair Grace would conduct the meeting. [There was some confusion in the sequence of events and Clerk proposed this amendment to the agenda during the discussion of the minutes.] MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the agenda as amended. Member Kolff seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson County Public Health(JCPH)Report Staff Member Martine reported on current and recent events at JCPH, including the recent acquisition of a state grant to fund the completion of the JUMP! playground; progress in processing septic permits;the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee meeting to discuss use of opioid settlement funds; and innovations in the pollution prevention assistance program. 2. Jefferson Healthcare Report Dr. Kolff provided a brief report on the hospital's facility replacement and expansion project,which is progressing satisfactorily. Dr. Kolff also noted that hospital staffing has increased substantially since its low ebb during the pandemic. 3. Infectious Diseases Update Dr Berry reported a recent death from COVID in the County. Also, pertussis is circulating through the schools; and avian flu continues to be a potential risk due to influenza's remarkable ability to mutate. Caution should be exercised as to coming into contact with any wild birds; also avoid raw milk, and take care with indoor/outdoor house cats, as cats' respiratory systems are similar to humans' and flu transmission is possible. NEW BUSINESS 1. Board of Health Members,Appointments Staff member Martine announced that the Board of Hospital District No. 2 proposed the reappointment of Dr. Kolff as the representative of"Public Health, Health Care Facilities, and Providers." The Port Townsend City Council proposed Monica MickHager as its representative to the Board of Health. The Tribal Representative position remains vacant,despite efforts to engage a tribal member. 2. South County Healthcare and Immunization Access Report Staff members Barb Jones and Alyssa Wyrsch presented on a nine-month research project to evaluate barriers to healthcare and immunization access, and food insecurity among families with school-age children in southern Jefferson County. Possible solutions were suggested. 3. On-site Septic System (OSS)Rule Revision Update Staff members Carter Erickson and Pinky Mingo discussed the state's revision of its OSS Code,revised largely for readability and clarity, and the county's responsibility of bringing its code(J.C.0 8.15) into alignment with the state code by April 1, 2025. The County is additionally reforming code to lessen the burden on the public, and addressing some concerns that it is anticipated the state will address in its next revision. Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 3 G.Gilbert FUTURE POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS No discussion. ANNOUNCEMENTS Member Brotherton announced that he believed the ATSDR(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) would be publishing its research on the potential health impacts of emissions from the Port Townsend Paper Mill on Monday, June 24,2024. Member Kolff announced his absence for the July and August Board of Health meetings. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next regular meeting of the Board will be held on July 11,2024 at 10:30 a.m. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, July 18,2024 from 2:30 p.m. —4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Vice-Chair Grace adjourned the June 20,2024 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:16 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Approved Telephonically Amanda Grace,Vice-Chair Glenn Gilbert,Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted Page 3 of 3 G.Gilbert