HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 November
COMMUNICABLE
DISEAS&CONTAOL
PUBLIC HEALTH
NURSING
VITAL
STATISTICS
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH
HEALTH
EDUCATION
JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
B02 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 9B36B
(206) 3B5.0722
HEALTH BOARD
Minutes of November 19, 1991
BOARD MEMBERS:
STAFF MEMBERS:
B. G. Brown, Chairman
Larry W. Dennison, Member
Richard E. Wojt, Member
Larry Fay, Director of
Environmental Health
David Specter,
Administrator
Nancy Gow, Director of
Nursing Services
1. Peter Geerlofs, M.D.,
Health Officer
CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
REPRESENTATIVE:
Sheila Westerman
The meeting was called to order by Chairman B. G. Brown. The following
Board and Staff members were present: Commissioner Larry W. Dennison; David Specter;
Larry Fay; and Nancy Gow; J. Peter Geerlofs; Celia Kudishin; and Yuko Umeda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the
minutes of October 15, 1991 as presented. Chairman Brown seconded the motion which
carried by unanimous vote.
Health Board Minutes - November 19, 1991
Page: 2
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Pro2l"am and Grant Update:
. David Specter reported that they had just received the final budget reductions
from the State. There were budget cuts for 1992 and 1993. He isn't sure
how these cuts will affect the Department.
. The State Board Of Health has asked Jefferson County to participate in updating
the State Health Report that comes out every two years. There will be
community forums to receive input between now and February.
. David Specter explained the car safety seat program. These seats are donated
by the Rotary. The parents are required to sign a loan agreement, deposit
$15.00, and are instructed on use and care of the seat. They are asked to return
the seat in good condition in three months and can renew this agreement for up
to one year. There is a "hold harmless" clause in the agreement.
. In updating the dental contracts, David Specter found that the Hygienist is
covered under Risk Pool Insurance, but the Dentist isn't. Chairman Brown
explained that the dentist carries his own malpractice insurance. The Dental
Program is entirely grant funded by the State and is a Jefferson-ClaIlam
program. There isn't an interlocal agreement at this time, but the Prosecuting
Attorney Mark Huth suggested that an agreement be drawn up.
. Since July, the WIC program has been eligible for reimbursement from the State
for blood tests. This has added another $4,000.00 in revenue this year.
Facilitv Update: The design for the space at the Castle Hill Mall has been
finalized. The cost estimate came in at $163,000.00. The target estimate is $141,000.00, and
some items have been cut to bring the remodel cost down to $147,000.00. Dr. McCarron has
instructed workers to begin remodeling although they still need to trim off about $6,000.00.
Mete System: There is a Thurston County representative who will be
presenting a Staff orientation on this system. They are waiting for an additional printer and
terminal which was ordered a few months ago. As a result, they have been able to input data,
but they can't print that data out.
APEX: The State has agreed to do a special data run on the Community
Health Needs Assessment for Jefferson County. They had planned to do it for all the counties
in March, but agreed to do it earlier for us.
Health Board Minutes - November 19, 1991
Page: 3
DIRECTOR OF NURSING REPORT
Clinical Pertussis: Nancy Gow explained that there are several confirmed cases
(three adults and four children) of whooping cough in the County. Several people that didn't
want the DPT vaccine for their children have now requested it. It has been ordered and there
will be a charge for a regular immunization visit, plus the cost of the vaccine. At this point
the shots will be available for children only.
Flu Clinics: In October the number of people vaccinated was over 1,100.
They will have to reevaluate for next year, and possibly put a cap on the number of clients
receiving vaccinations.
HIV Testine: The number of people being tested for AIDS has doubled since
last year. This takes about four hours per client. About 80% is funded by the State. At this
time they are managing four people that are mv positive.
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORT
Tom and Barbara Hermsen Water Availabilitv Notification: Larry Fay
explained that the State Growth Management Act requires that an adequate potable water
supply be available for a property owner to receive a building permit. The Hermsens have
property at Mats Mats Bay. They have drilled a well 300 feet deep that did not supply
enough water to meet State standards. There is a community well in the area owned by
Dugan and Donovan, but they don't think there is enough water to add the Hermsens. They
are the first property owners in the County to apply for an altemate water supply source.
The source the Hermsens have proposed is a reverse osmosis system to pump water out of
Oak Bay, desalinate, and flush the waste water and solids back in. H they need 800 gallons
a day as outlined in the Growth Management Act, this would mean thousands of gallons of
water would have to be taken out of the bay each day. There was a discussion about the
County accepting their proposal because they had tried several other alternatives. The other
provision would be that the Hermsens let any future owner of the property be aware of the
conditions. Everyone concurred, on the approval of Prosecuting Attorney Mark Huth.
Group B Water System Proeram: The State Health Department has said that
approval of group B or public water systems is low on their priority list right now and could
be held off for as long as a year. The Growth Management Act mandate for an adequate
potable water supply may add a demand for more of these systems and more monitoring.
There was a discussion about the County taking over inspection and monitoring of these
systems. Technical aspects would be handled by the PUD, the Health Department would deal
with the administrative elements. Commissioner Dennison stated concern about starting a new
program this year with budget cutbacks being required. He suggested that research be done
on a proposal for the 1993 budget.
Health Board Minutes - November 19, 1991
Page: 4
1992 Health Department Budl!et: There was a discussion regarding cuts in
the budget to reflect the new budget goal. The goal in the Department is to make some
strategic cuts without cutting programs.
* * . * * * *
The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, December 17, 1991.
MEETING ADJOURNED
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH
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B. G. Brown, Chairman
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Excused Absence
Richard E. Wojt, Member