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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 March COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL ST A TI STICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385.0722 HEALTH BOARD BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B. G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member Cynthia Howarth, Director Environmental Health (Position Vacant) Director of Nursing Kathy Stafford, Administrator J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. Health Officer City of Port Townsend Representative: Karen Chang MINUTES: MARCH 21, 1989 Chairman B.G. Brown opened the meeting at the appointed time. Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and Commissioner George C. Brown were both present as well as Kathy Stafford, Cynthia Howarth, and Linda Atkins. Dr. Geerlofs was not in attendance. City Representative Karen Chang was also present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 1989 meeting as read. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: following matters: Kathy Stafford reported on the Stratpqic Planninq Process: Kathy Stafford reported that she has developed a strategic planning process for the Health Department to Health Board Meeting Minutes: March 21, 1989 Page: 2 use for future planning. This will be reviewed by the Health Officer as well as the rest of the staff. Additional Telephone Line: An additional telephone line is needed by the Department, Kathy Stafford reported. There have been complaints from people who have not been able to reach the Department in a timely manner because the telephone is always busy. The cost would be $39.21 per month for an additional line. The original installation will cost approximately $150.00. Commissioner George Brown moved to approve the installation of an additional phone line for the Health Department as requested. Commissioner Dennison seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Interim Plan for Nursinq Staff: Kathy Stafford asked that Irene Senior Pomeroy be appointed as Acting Nursing Director until June 1, 1989. An LPN could be hired part time to carry out some of the duties that will be shifted among the Nurses to accommodate this staff change. The part time position would be temporary to June 1, 1989. Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the appointment of Irene Senior Pomeroy as Acting Director of Nursing until June 1, 1989, and to approve hiring a part time LPN until that date. Commissioner G. Brown seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Search Committee for Director of Nursinq: Applications for the Director of Nursing position would be accepted until May 1 and if qualified applicants are found, a new Director could be hired by June 1. A search committee of four people was formed including Kathy Stafford, Dr. Geerlofs, one Board member, a representative from the Nursing staff and Cynthia Howarth. The Board will advise Kathy Stafford of the member that will serve on the search committee. The advertisement for this position will be sent to all the Health Departments in the State, posted at the University of Washington and advertised locally before any advertising is done out of state. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Environmental Heal th Director, Cynthia Howarth reported on the fOllowing: Continuing Education for County Licensed Septic System Designers and Installers: There is proposed state legislation which would require continuing education for septic system designers and installers licensed by the County, Cynthia Howarth reported. She recommended that continuing education be done at least once per year, even if this legislation does not pass the State Legislature, however, quarterly education sessions would be better. If there are twelve people at a time for training, Cynthia added, the State will come here to do the training. The discussion continued regarding training, the trust that needs to be developed between the Health Board Meeting Minutes: March 21, 1989 Page: 3 licensed installers and designers and the Health Department and the recourse the County has when systems are installed improperly. Chairman Brown asked if there has been any feedback from the installers on this proposed policy? Cynthia Howarth indicated she has not discussed it with all of them yet. Chairman Brown suggested that they each be sent a copy of the proposed policy to let them know what the County is considering, and be asked for their input. Cynthia Howarth will send a copy of the draft policy to all of the licensed designers and installers and report back to the Board at the next meeting. Food Sanitation: Cynthia Howarth reported that a piece of a veterinarian needle was found in a steak purchased at Safeway. Safeway worked wi th the Heal th Department to make sure that this situation was corrected. The store did post a sign for four days advising customers that they could return steak that was purchased at the store, although the sign did not say why they could return the steak. Cynthia thanked Chairman Brown for his help in this situation. Liquid/Sol id Waste Report: Cynthia Howarth updated the Board on several on-site sewage disposal systems that are failing and what is being done to correct these situations. She thanked the Board for approving the 90 day repair policy for failing systems and reported that it has helped the Department in making sure that something is done on these systems in a timely manner. Grants: The Health Department has been awarded two grants applied for; 1) Solid Waste Enforcement grant for a total amount of $15,892.00 which is an addition of $4,522.00 over what was previously approved for monitoring, Linda Atkins reported. This monitoring would be done independently at the landfill, the sludge application sites and possibly at the Port Townsend Paper Company landfill. This grant requires a 25% match from the County. 2) A Household Hazardous Waste Collection grant in the amount of $6,739. This grant will be used to hold a household hazardous waste collection day. Since this is only a "household" hazardous waste collection day, Cynthia Howarth suggested that it be scheduled in conjunction with a small business and industry hazardous waste collection day. That way the collection truck would be here and the cost would be less for the small businesses, industries and the schools. The 50% match for this grant can be from in-kind services. June 10 is tentatively scheduled for the next collection day. The Board concurred that Cynthia Howarth proceed with the planning for this day and work to coordinate it with a date for the small businesses and industries. Request for Variance; Quincy Street Coffee House: A letter requesting a variance from Ordinance 2-77 requiring two public restrooms has been Health Board Meeting Minutes: March 21, 1989 Page: 4 received from Linda Natali the new owner of the Quincy Street Coffee House. The letter was reviewed by the Board. Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the variance and allow one restroom as requested by the owners of the Quincy Street Coffee House. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Alternative Septic Sludqe Disposal Systems: Cynthia Howarth reported that other counties, industries, and the Environment Protection Agency have been contacted regarding alternative septic sludge disposal systems that can be considered for use in the County. She and Gary Rowe met with Northwest Cascade on Tuesday and will meet with Soilganics on Thursday. Staffinq Prioritips: More staff is needed, Cynthia Howarth advised, especially to deal with failing septic systems. New requirements for inspections of public pools, public hot tubs, bed and breakfast establishments, as well as hazardous waste, etc. are all requiring more time of the department staff. There are areas in environmental health that the staff does not have time to address. Cynthia Howarth advised that she feels a full time sanitarian is needed. Commissioner Dennison asked that a complete proposal be developed for the Board which indicates specifically how a full time person will be utilized, and the total budget impact. Request for Waiver of Fee: Mr. Marko Taylor is requesting that he not be required to pay the fee for updating his sewage disposal permit because it expired while he was out of the country, Cynthia Howarth reported. She noted that he was sent notices that he had to renew his sewage disposal permit. It was a consensus of the Board that Mr. Taylor pay the required fee. The Board asked Cynthia Howarth to figure out and report on what it costs the County to process a permit renewal to see if this fee should be changed in the future. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH B.G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member Public Change Notice in Meeting Dates Affidavit of publication STATE OF WASHINGTON) COUNTY OF JEFFERSON) " u:.~ ..a Jt .J::-;;> I)' -;; ".. :~:n ;.:Jf I! 18 .."".. : Ii ~ il1>-li 1'~ i"!lJ f i 8 ~..: 8'1; I!. E_(1cn,t:"Oc l!hg.~g~ -.:: E :#CO::!alcD- ., - , ... .t-, .... .... ... fRANK W. GARRED, being sworn. says he is the publisher of Ine Port Townsend/Jefferson County Leader, 0 weekly newspaper which hos been established, published in the English longuage and circulated continuously os a weekly newspaper in the town of port Townsend, in said County and State, and for general circulation in said county for more than six (6) months prior 10 the date of the first publication of the Notice hereto at- tached, and Ihot the said Port T ownsend/Jefferson County leader wm on the 27th doy of June 19.41, approved as a legal newspaper by the Superior Court of ~aid Jeffer~on County, aod that annexed i~ true copy of the Jefferson County Board of Health if.!.!: S sl}Jj ~ ..'1'1;'.& : illjjji 1.-1 ~~ ..;:;: Iii.. 8- ... elj~ ~..j i~:i~jrf _ ~_~~J! a~ it appeared in the regular and entire i~sue of ~aid paper it~elf and not in 0 supplement thereof for a period of one consecutive week~, beginning Of! the 15th day aL!ebrualJ; lL_~~-, 15th February and ending on the~cfoy of 89 19_____, and that said new~paper was regularly di~tributed to its ~ubscribers during all of this period. Thai the full omount of s 12. 3 8 ha~ been paid in full, pe',"l="~a~ Sub~cribed and ~wo"-n. ltJ/-I5efqra:.me-.~i_s..:~_~~bay of Februa~, --____~_-~ 19J12_ Linda Natali 1840 - 36th St. Port Townsend, WA March 17, 1989 Gwen Howard ......\....... Jefferson County~Oept. 802 Sheridan Port Townsend, WA 98368 Dear Gwen, Recently my partner Alison Perry and I bought the Quincy Street Coffee House, located at 126 Quincy St., Port Townsend. At the time of the sale we were assured that customers of the coffee house would have use, as in the past, of the restrooms located in the Town Tayern. Indeed, it was a part of our lease agree- ment. These restrooms were accessible through a door in the coffee house that opened into a hallway where the restrooms are located. Subsequent to our purchasing the coffee house, we were told both by the Liquor Control Board, and the new owners of the Town Tayern that we, i.e. customers of the coffee house, could no longer haye access to the restrooms. This decision was made in light of the fact that , should a minor enter the premises of the tavern through the coffee house door, ,the owners of the tavern would have sole liability. In an effort to ameliorate this situation the only thing we've been able to come up with is to build our own restroom inside the coffee house. Our purpose in writing this letter is to ask that we be granted a yariance that would allow us to build one restroom rather than two. At this point, it constitutes quite a hardship for us to build even one restroom, not haYing planned financially or time- wise to haye to do this at all. We understand that these matters are addressed to the Board of Health through your office, and appreciate your assistance. ~~ Linda NATALI CC: Kathy Stafford COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEAL TH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEAL TH HEALTH EOUCA TION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385-0722 March 14, 1989 Mr. Myron G. Offstein 90 Victoria Loop Port Townsend, WA 98368 Dear Mr. Offstein: This is in answer to the questions raised in your letter of March 8, 1989. 1. The definition of a health hazard is a "situation in which the potentia 1 for illness exists, but is not occurr ing or imminent. If remedial action is not taken, a public health hazard may become a public health emergency" (Beare memo 5/22/87) . 2. The immediacy of a health hazard relates to the definition of a septic system failure, (a) "effluent has been discharged on the surface of the ground prior to approved treatment; (b) effluent has percolated to the surface of the ground; or (c) eff 1 uent has contaminated or threatens to contaminate a ground water. In Cape George, cases of (b) have resulted in repairs or pending repairs to the systems. In 1986, Gray and Osborne, consulting engineers, performed a faci 1 i ty plan for the Mid-Quimper peninsula, particularly Cape George. A letter was sent to 270 households and 67% responded. Of these, 32% had observed problems with their own or neighboring systems. This report is in the Environmental Health office. The answer to your other questions will require a thorough analysis of each eXisting permit and a sanitary survey of the entire Cape George population. We do not have the manpower to conduct an anal ysis of each permi t. These records are avai lable to the public for your review. In January, the Director of Environmental Health instituted a computerized system of recording septic failures through the County. There were three (3) in Cape George which were either recently reported or under repair during January. Page 2 Myron G. Offstein March 14, 1989 We respond to each complaint and verify visible sewage or septage. We have not stated nor do we believe that "there exists severe fecal contamination along the beach and cliffs". Evidence of sewage surfacing above septic systems, and odors along the beach have been reported; Gray and Orsborne found fecal coliform in two of four samples along the shorelines of Cape George Colony. Wi thout unearthing an entire system, we would not be able to determine the total cause of a septic failure and digging up systems would do more harm. Reasons for septic failures include installation into poor soils, improper installation (e.g., unlevel pipes), owner misuse or overuse, leaky fixtures, lack of pumping septic tanks, and driving on the drainfield. We have not said that all septic tanks need to be replaced or that owners of property with failing systems will be condemned. Dr. Fischnaller, our previous Health Officer, said, "the groundwater is now being contaminated and no doubt is reaching the bay. This situation will have to be corrected in the near future or some home owners will ev~ntually have to abandon their homes when failing systems can no longer be repaired". A repair is made to the best ability of the soil conditions and land area. Thus far no one has had to leave t~fir property. Mound systems are used in areas of failure throug~~ the County. Sincerely, ~~h.D Director of Environmental Health CH/cp Dr. Peter J Geerlofs Department of Health/Ecology 802 Sheridan Port Townsend, WA 98368 March 8, 1989 RECtlVEIJ MARlO'8S Dear Doctor, Jtrl~. '--,f":~~TY HEAHH [)tPT. This letter is an attempt to clarify the statements made ( both written and orally ) as to your department's opinions and positions reference to Cape George Colony Club property. As you are aware, during recent times many statements and predictions have been made, basking In the shadow of the Health Department's discipline and authority, that conditions at the Cape are grossly dangerous to the extent that they required the placement of an official and public declaration of a "Health Hazard" inclusive of all properties. These opinions have been displayed and discussed at some length, but Questions asked of the Instigating authority, your Health Department, have not been answered to our satisfaction. As a resident thereof, I ( and several hundreds of concemed citizens) are worried about I) does Indeed a true hazard to our Immediate health exist? and 2) If the. Immediacy is not a hazardous factor, how can we explain the devaluation of our properties to potential buyers? In order to simply, honestly and cooperatively gain some knowledge and assuage our fears, a number of us have contacted the Health Department The same Health Department from whence issued this "Health Hazard". It was common fate to achieve little satisfaction, even as to the seemingly simple anwers to basic Questions. In truth, the only commonality we all agreed upon, was that in most instances, the legitimate Questions were answered inadequately. I now wish to once and for all clear these matters up and receive from your Department the correct and proper infonnatlon requested. Will you be so good as to reply to the following Questions? 1. The number of septic systems that have failed or indicate signs of failure in the Colony and In the Village. 2. The number of owners of such systems that have complied with your order to cOrTeCt the system. . . . page 2 3. Have you conducted. certified" tests for contamination throughout our beach area? If you have done so and have the reports may we please have copies of them? Statements are being made that there exists severe fecal contamination along the beach and cliffs. Did this opinion originate from your office? 4. Have you thoroughly investigated and determined whether aforementioned failed septic systems are due to Improper Installations prior to county approval, or because of owner abuse and lack of proper mainetenance? 5. Statements have been made that if the new type sewer system now in mind is used, then all septic tanks, good and/or bad, must be replaced! Is this comment generated from your office? 6. Further statements have been widely voiced that if a sewer system is not approved, then the property of residents with a failing system will be "condemned" and the residents will no longer be able to live in their home. Was this opinion oficlally voiced from your department? The answering of these questions will help us to once and for all understand the true situation at Cape George Colony. Thank you for your time, efforts and cooperation in this bothersome matter. Your earliest reply will be anticipated and deeply appreciated. Sincerely, G#~ ~!4, oJ Myron G. Offsteln COPIES TO: Kathy Stafford Cynthia Hawarth Gary Goldbaum, MO Health Officer Washington State C. Don Leas, RS Environmental Ecology Washington State