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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 July County Health & Human Services HEALTH BOARD MINUTES JULY 20,1995 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS Robert Hinton, Chairman Richard Wojt, Member Glen Huntingford, Member David Specter, Health Department Director Jean Baldwin, Director of Nursing Services Larry Fay, Director of Environmental Health Chester Prudhomme, Director of Substance Abuse J. Peter Geerlofs, M,D., Health Officer CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Bob Sokol The meeting was called to order by Chairman Robert Hinton. The following Board and staff members were present: Commissioner Glen Huntingford, Larry Fay, Linda Atkins, David Specter, Chester Prudhomme, and Judi Morris. Commissioner Richard Wojt, Jean Baldwin and Bob Sokol were not present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve the minutes of June 27, 1995 as presented. Chairman Hinton seconded the motion. The motion passed, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No public comments. DIRECTOR'S REPORT FINANCIAL REPORT: Judi Morris reported that 49.9% of the budget has been expended and 43,2% of budgeted revenues have been collected as of June 30, 1995, Equipment and Travel/Training expenses are over the biannual projections due to advance purchasing for the whole year and training received early in the year to enhance employees skills and capabilities, Those expenditures actually reflect annual figures and will be at or near budgeted projections at year end. Chairman Hinton asked about the lease expenditure. Judi Morris replied that the Health Department pays rent a month in advance and in addition, the Permit Center's lease is transferred through the Health Department's budget, therefore, indicating more of a budget shortfall than actually exists, NURSING DIRECTOR'S REPORT No update HEALTH DEPARTMENT 206/385-9400 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 206/385-9444 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 206/385-9400 ALCOHOl/DRUG ABUSE CENTER 206/385-0650 FAX 206/385-9401 HEALTH BOARD MINUTES - JULY 20, 1995 Page: 2 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT APPEAL OF PERMIT DENIAL. #SEP95-0071: KENNETH AND SANDRA MORRIS. APPLICANTS. (WILLIAM MORRIS PROPERTY OWNER): Larry Fay stated the Morris' are applying for a sewage disposal permit for their property located in Nordland on Marrowstone Island. The State Department of Health's position is consistent with Jefferson County's policy on wet season evaluations which states that in order to issue the permit when there is less than 18" of usable soil, the property must first go through a wet season evaluation to verify that suitable conditions exist. Linda Atkins stated during her first visit to the site in April she observed water in four holes, two containing water at 12", one at 7" and another at 5" from the surface of the ground. The results indicated that not enough soil existed on the site for the proposed septic system. Based on the results of her inspection she mailed a letter to the applicants denying the permit. New holes were dug in an alternate location on the lot and new soil logs were provided by the septic system designer, Ted Stricklin. After visiting the site she found better soil conditions than the previous site but there were distinct indications of soil modeling at 12", IS" and 16" from the surface of the ground. These results, combined with the previous results, led her to the conclusion that there is not 12" of usable soil on the lot. Chairman Hinton asked if this is typical of soils in that area? Unda Atkins answered that permits have been issued for other septic systems in that area, although no permits have been issued for this particular type of septic system. The existing septic system on the lot has been in place for six years with no apparent failure or need of repair. Chairman Hinton asked if her visit in April took place during the torrential rains? Jerry Morris, of Morris Enterprises and the brother of the applicant, stated that her visit did take place during that time. He has been installing septic systems for years and with his experience he feels the ground in the alternate location is adequate for the system. Commissioner Huntingford asked about the elevation of the proposed system in comparison to the existing system? Unda Atkins answered that she did not perform an elevation check but in her observation there is probably only about a 2 % slope. Larry Fay stated when Health Department staff conducts inspections during the dry season they rely on features such as restrictive layers, soil modeling and discoloration as indicators of a seasonal water table. Due to the critical nature of sites such as the Morris' and the concern about the ability to judge the water table depth during the dry season, policies were adopted requiring wet season evaluations of sites with less than 18" of usable soil. In order to be consistent with Health Department policies they are requiring a wet season evaluation of the holes in the alternate location. Kenneth Morris stated they started this process six months ago and having to wait and go through a wet season evaluation will cause a hardship for them, both physically and financially. Chairman Hinton asked what the procedures would be if, after the wet season evaluation, it was determined that there is less than 12" inches of usable soil? Larry Fay stated the 12" minimum requirement is a State standard. Linda Atkins added, in that case the Health Department would be unable to issue a permit for the system unless the State granted a waiver. The Morris' submitted a design for a standard system because alternative systems are more expensive and they were trying to keep costs down. If necessary they are agreeable to installing a sand-filter system. HEALTH BOARD MINUTES - JULY 20,1995 Page: 3 Commissioner Huntingford asked Linda Atkins her opinion regarding the soil modeling as a definite indicator of the water table location? Linda Atkins replied that in the original four holes that contained water, there was not reliably distinct modeling above 12" from the surface of the ground. She is not absolutely confident of the location of the water table, however, the soils in the alternative location are definitely better. Discussion ensued regarding concerns about the public health risk if the system fails and the procedures for mitigating and treatment. Larry Fay added that there may also be a zoning problem with this project. The Health Department learned that zoning regulations prohibit more than one residence on a lot. This conflicts with what the Health Department has been told in the past. Larry Fay is waiting to hear from the Deputy Director of Public Services, David Goldsmith for clarification of this matter. Jerry Morris stated that they have been working with the Permit Center and all the permits have been approved except for the septic system. If there were problems regarding zoning they would have been informed before any pennits were issued. Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve a waiver from Health Department policy provided an upgraded system is installed for the highest degree of protection. Chairman Hinton seconded the motion. The motion carried. ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE SERVICES DIRECTOR'S REPORT PROGRAM UPDATE: Chester Prudhomme reported that the Health Department has finished a contract proposal for the State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA). The contract needs to be signed by the Board of County Commissioners and returned to the State prior to July 30, 1995. He then reported on the back log of court cases. NEW BUSINESS Larry Fay stated a number of reports have come from P. U.D. regarding various water issues on Marrowstone Island. The County is working on water resource planning and has scheduled a meeting with the State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Program Manager for Wednesday, August 30, 1995. The purpose of this meeting is to outline the issues and discuss the responsibilities. It is the position of the Health Department that the water situation is primarily a resource matter which is the Department of Ecology's responsibility to manage. When direction is received from the Department of Ecology regarding water quality and water availability the County can make decisions on building permits and plats, etc. The fmal item for discussion is the oversight of engineers. Larry Fay stated the Health Department reviews all the septic system designs submitted by engineers. Not all engineers are qualified to design septic systems, The group of engineers that the Health Department works with on a regular basis provide good designs for the most part. The only regulatory control the Health Department has over an engineer's work is through the review of their plans and the issuance of permits. According to State law and a recent court ruling, the Health Department cannot require HEALTH BOARD MINUTES - JULY 20,1995 Page: 4 any special licensing of engineers or make any statement regarding the competency of engineers to do designs. The court did not rule on whether or not the designing of septic systems is a practice of engineering. Jefferson County has a good track record with alternative systems because of the precautions taken to insure protection from failures. Larry Fay stated he had spoken with two engineers that have indicated they like having the Health Department review their designs in order to fmd any mistakes that may have been made. Getting it right the first time is certainly in the best interest for the applicant as well as for the engineer and the County. Commissioner Huntingford asked if the County's approval of the design eliminates the liability of the engineer? Larry Fay answered that the Health Department never changes the design of an engineer. If there is a problem with it, the engineer is notified of the problem. If the engineer chooses not to fix the problem the permit is not issued. The Health Department is responsible for the issuance of the permit. If they issued permits without reviewing the engineers work there would be a shared responsibility for any problems with the design. Larry Fay feels Health Department staff need to meet with the engineers to review the process and time involved. The Health Department currently has a four week backlog. Commissioner Huntingford stated he is concerned about the Health Department's workload since there is already a backlog of work and there are plans to add more work (ie. water issues, BMP's for salt-water intrusion, tracking of well log data). How can the Health Department reduce the time spent on various functions and still provide good public health services, Commissioner Huntingford asked? Linda Atkins answered that the Health Department's review of engineer's work is not highly detailed. It's the site inspections that are time consuming, After discussing ways to reduce time in the process, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 1995 at 1:30 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY ~.BO OF HEALTH ,/-- ~ ~ '---- Please Publish: One (I) time, July 19, 1995 Bill: Jefferson County Commissioners P.O. Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 NOTICE CHANGE IN HEALTH BOARD MEETING DATE The Jefferson County Board of Health will be meeting on Thursday, July 20, 1995 at 1:30 p.m. at the Courthouse in the County Commissioner Chambers, First Floor, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, W A 98368. Next the month the regular schedule for this meeting will be resumed, which is the fourth Tuesday of the each month at 1 :30 p.m. ~ ~\-- ~ on, Chairman Jefferson County Board of Health NOn.CE CHANGE IN ltEALtHeOARl> ME1ETINGOATE The 'Jel~QnCot.lnty Board' 01 Heanh will be meeting on l"hljl'$day July 20, 1995 at 1 :30 p.m. at th~ Courthouse. . iQ,,;, ,tf\eCll\ltlty CommlfSfonElr <lI1a'iIltie1'$ ,P/rst Floor 1820Jefferson Street, f'olfTOWn8eIId: ' WA9836!k .' ,. .. , : N~xt th~.F11qftihthe "IluJerschedUle lorth!s meetiog will be, resumed which is lhefOurthTiJ\!sday olthe each month at 1:30 p.m. . RQber1HintQn, Chlli~" Jeffe~ COU~eollrQ~!-l!l$lth . ..... _'"- 331t7-{9 Affidavit of Publication STATE OF WASHINGTON) SS COUNTY OF JEI'FERSON) SCOTI WILSON. being sworn, says he is the publisher of the Port Townsend Jefferson County Leader. a weekly newspaper which has been established, published in Ibe English language and circulated continuously as a weekly newspaper in the town of Port Townsend in said County and Slate. and for general circulation in said county for more than six (6) monlhs prior to the date of lhe first publication of the Notice hereto attached. and thai the said PortTownsend Jefferson County Leader was on the 27th day of June 1941 approved as a legal newspaper by the Superior Court of said Jefferson Counly and that annexed is a true copy of the Notice Change in Health Board Meeting Date as it appeared in the regular and entire issue of said paper itself not in a supplement thereof for a period of one consecutiveweeks,beginningonthe 19 th day of Jul y . 19--22. and ending on the 19th dayof July ,19.2.L,and that said newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscrib. ers during all of this period. That the full amount of $ 15.75 has been paid in full, attherateof$7.80 ($7.00 for legal no' 'ved electronically, mndem or disk) per column i h for h in Publisher Subscribed and sworn to befor<<me tJiis 19 th day of July .W~. , J ') 'forlb:~taleofWashi:gton, V residing at Port Hadlock.