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Home My WebLink About07 July COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL .,1 I ',' PUBLIC HEAL fl1 NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206)385.0722 HEALTH BOARD Minutes: July 14, 1987 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B.G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Glenn Ison Mary Catlin, D.O.N. and Administrator J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. Rick Micklich, Director of Environmental Health *********************************************************************** ********************************************************************* Chairman B.G. Brown called the meeting to order in the presence of Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and Commissioner George C. Brown. All staff members except Mary Catlin were present. Glenn Ison representing the City of Port Townsend was also present. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: meeting were approved as corrected Dennison, seconded by Commissioner The Minutes of the June 16, 1987 by motion of Commissioner Larry W. George Brown. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Since Mary Catlin was not present Chairman Brown led the discussion of the recommendations made by the State after their study of the Health Department operations: * Short Term: Rick Micklich should become oriented with the environ- mental rules and regulations of the State and should contact other county Health Departments for aid in this process. A written policy and procedure should be developed for the enforcement of environmental health regula- tions. Health Board Minutes: July 14, 1987 Page: 2 Written recommendations will be submitted to the County in draft form for review. Dr, Geerlofs added that the State advised that they will be doing audits of some programs such as the landfill, food service and sewage disposal. Discussion of procedures ensued, how other counties handle problem cases, and how to handle problems that have been on-going for a period of time. NURSING REPORT: Dr. Geerlofs reported, in the absence of Mary Catlin, that attention has been refocused on communicable dis- eases. Reporting from local doctors and the hospital has improved. School Contracts: There has been less involvement in the school than the Department would like partly due to staffing shortages and partly due to the varying needs of the schools. Providing basic services is the goal for renegotiation on the school contracts, as well as keeping the funding level previously established. Staff Levels: The need for additional nursing staff is critical, Dr. Geerlofs stated. Chairman Brown responded that it is not known what the chances are of improving the staffing level in the nursing section in 1988. More will be known as the budget process is begun in the next few months. Chairman Brown added that the Board realizes that the present staff is working very hard to get the job done and that there is a need for health services in the community. The Health Department staff needs to realize that the Board is conscious of the need, for more staff but the various department budget requests and funding levels have to be fit into the priorities of the County as a whole. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORT: Rick Micklich submitted the written report of the previous months activities and explained changes that are being contemplated for the section. * A new policy will be developed for keeping track of monthly activities to provide more accurate figures for reporting. A goal of doing 14 final inspections on every 15 septic system installations has been established. Implementation of the designer program is being researched, * * Clyde Grace Septic System; 231 Roqers Street, Quilcene: The Grace family has applied for funding through the County's loan program for septic system repair in conjunction with the Quilcene Water Quality study, Rich Micklich reported. Janet Welch designed the system which represents the best of a bad situation and would improve the system. Health Board Minutes: July 14, 1987 Page; 3 The current septic system on this site is failing and discharging sewage on the ground. The new design has problems maintaining minimum distances from the well (approximately 45 feet), a stream on the site and from the high seasonal groundwater. Even though these distances outlined by the State cannot be met on this site, the County and the property owner will be better off if this new system is installed. Rick Micklich stated that he concurs that this system is the best that can be done for this property. Even though the system will be close to the high seasonal groundwater and the stream, precautions can be taken to obtain a higher quality effluent before it reaches the groundwater. The use of low water use fixtures will be encouraged. Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the Clyde Grace sewage disposal permit as recommended by the Environmental Health Director, Commis- sioner George Brown seconded the motion. Proposed Fee Chanqes; Environmental Health and Medical Services: Chairman B.G. Brown reported that the proposed changes in the Environmental Health fees will be reviewed by Rich Micklich before any further action is taken. The public hearing for the proposed changes in the Nursing fees has been set for July 27, 1987 at 11:30 a.m. in the County Commissioners Chambers. The Board advised that the recommendation of the Community Health Nursing Advisory Board on these proposed fee changes be for- warded to the Board before this hearing. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ~~) B.G. Brown, Chairman or Larr . ~llER JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH OEPAH' "'."... e02 SHERIDAN A VENUE PORT TOWNSEND. WASHINGTON 91l3Gll (206) 31lS.()122 SEWAGE DISPOSAL PERMIT RECEIPT NO. BUILDER DATE ~fi/F7 .~ 'fit I. ,lCl'i .~. r; :< ~ u; r- _ en 0 ~m l: C 0 Rl- :D TANKlDRAINAElDO. ~ E ~ SITE 6~ ~ .sIZE 5~LL'I d etvV h~Af'~ owner t .;13/ po~r" 5 AddresS Qllt!rn)(' 1t,s-.59g-tj Phone Directions for Iocallng site INSTAll NEW SYSTEM 0 AEPLACE SYSTEM 0 ,PARTIAL AEPAIRg) lYPE OF NO. OF BUILDING BEDROOMS Previous site evaluation by Health Department Yes No .x Depth to maximum seasonal water table /1 j Source of potable water supply Public Private v Source type: Drilled well..lL..... .Dug well Other BASEMENT - SOIL TYPE DESCRIPTION 1) tJ-I.J" H,f/ldK ~bw>>-t!L.5 5"/I~~ 1;1-';8' Sd-fySAcd ht! ~"a-Ifl; ,,",o#lm' 01 J.?' 2) ()-t ;<Ay de 9,0,*- ('l ~ t;-?o CL 4 /(zo ~ k.,P.#tr~cV.;lS' 3) EVERY,/lPPLICANT HAS THE RIGHTOF APPEAL AS. PER .JEFFERSON COONTY ORDINANCE 2-77. . 4) , SIGNATURE OF APPUC".ANT pm REf'OVAl. Of 00 ,.V;JOR DlSTOOBANCE OF SOl IN nE ~ED 00 APPROVED OOAINFIElD III MEA rAY O,lEATE SITE <DNDITlONS THAT ME ltlACCEPTABLE I'M nE INSTALlATION OF A g sEW.^GE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. Nff QWlGE IN BUILDIf<<> OR SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANS (INCUIllf'li PLlI'1BUIi sTUBOUT LOCATION) NIDloo LOCATION OF HlllSE OR OOAINFIElD INVALIDATES llUS r PERMIT uaESS PRIOR N'f'R(NA1.. IS OBTAINED FRlX'I ntE HEALlH IlEPARll'EN.f. (CdJ lIedtb Dept. for final i.nspection). ST1.B OUT PU,HHf<<> PJ!IJVE FOlJ'<<Y1,TlON FOOTING. DrainU.e1d Length Trench width ' Ti'ench depth No.lines_Tank siZe&,!$!'.?II(.. Soil type and applicatio,Q rate used for design GPD/ft2 COMMENTS: S&6od-s it- hell,uu:( <?"1f~e,t... fJeuk1l1!'-a ua.,t,c:...t ~~~.. k AtV .tf1'IJt"k: /H;tJa<A 'i? .qj',,*n..;O Ci1JlS,6Ud~A<R"'a.t...Y t-.,I.;./ f..4. ~~ 'dI"J. du.l'u.....r fJ"'nutU~. ' , .APPROVED DATE INSPECTED PARTlAUFINAt. DATE I celli')' that this system was Installed In . manner approved by Ihe Heallh Depart....ent. INSTAllER'S SIGNATURE CATE OATEINSTAll.ED ,_ JC~of7"8~ _ ~ (=- ~-------~ ~)~\",l. ___.___ I I , CID ... ~ o ~ -4 ~ '.0 % _ U> '< x I~ z Q ~ o c > r- :l fr " ?ii o rn r :z: ~ !B ".,' ,...1 . , JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM DESIGN PARCEL 'lis LEGAL/LOTfI: See .2'~ r.;r7v l?.,){J SITE II. DATE SUBMITTED: ~/H/~7 SUBMITTED BY.~ APPLICANT. ;~/~:~~/:E !7A'Arp- {//II/ r.,.-.,?,., I. SOIL INFORMATION Include soil textural characteristics and the depths at which significant changes occur. Be sure to include depths where mottling or impermeable layers occur. Date Logged: /~~~ . Depth Soil Characteristics from To snd Cl... (drainfield () /.:;.. KdiJ1 eL~sd '--.' -> /eJ .1/8 &-"1 1i.r~ _..~~-- t<J,,-o (2,1 {to A .tU I ",i .;.z" . II. CALCULATIONS Depth Soil Characteristics , I From To and Cl_ (drainfield), 0 & t/. c!i /71. et.<5,5,/ .-=-- - t; f() e't:. /f S,';tZ N.o a..,I-5c." "IIo~ 4.1 d)t''' If for residential use, daily water consumption use, attach calculation number of bedrooms ~{ .. use t determine -' Depth Soil Ch&racteristi;jI Fro: To snd Cl_ (reserve) 0, I , j -,. I If for GPD. , estimated non-residential I ! Application Rate (from State Guidelines and County Regulations, EPA design manual, and soil data) .~ Zf9L Drainfield Sizing: Absorption area in square feet ";!OO Trench length or bed configuration ~~ Volume of drainr,ock needed ?: 5 fct; Volume of medium ~and if needed J<J/A -."._-~ ..,.... ---.........._--... ,..--. ___V", _........~__. , ._~.:.-:;::-'tTf':"'..F..~'_J.,.~-.-..l"" .'.':-:~--:--'-'-'-" --. III. SEPTIC TANK ~ ~\" .-.;r, .}~ Composi tion and size .LjtJr""17AJtj <:;"'/'It'J (311/ ,../U~ Is the tank to be waterproofed (coated)? ',,, '1:",... IV. PUMP REQUIREMENT, IF NECESSARY ft}~~ Elevation difference in feet Friction loss in distribution system in feet Pump capacity should be gpm at foot head loss Dosing volume in gallons Number of doses per day Volume of pump chamber in gallons , Is the pump chamber to be waterproofed (coated)? V. DRAINFIELD CROSS SECTION A ~ Drl!!f~.t!~ ,'\ \. '\, " , IJl/nv'G, " ~\~~ A. "-"' .21j Depth into native material. B. &. Rock depth below pipe. C. ;"J-.;:?o Separa t ion from trench bottom to impermeable material/ seasonal saturation* //~// ___- J, _ _, E: --I 1 , I ; J. D. E. AliA .3t- " Fill depth Trench width G :" , , / *If less than three feet attach technical justifi- cation. VI. DRAWING ~ ~h{";'/~fJtUaft~~dr ~(JI k I'ILr hL ~k. AJ{)lT' '1/17.5 /S',4 /#"~AJR,,9ICY ~P/?/~, \ .' ..---._---- .,....~.,.,.~:.- ,,;..~ -----.--------- - - ._._ .. 'W ~:~- .-........ -~/.. ......:;-~. - . '...ar! ,';;,,;: i f.;. :...~ ~._-l"'. --r:.--F',~ ;4" ,,-j ~. .7.. ,.; J~ A ~.:.~',c,;.. ~ _~'.' :'0. ,,--''''-,:..:._~ t;'f.I(r~.,~ ~.," -.~.."",. ~./~n;~... #.. -~~ ...~.. ..' '.. .tI il'.. '>. ~..,r"'. ifll': ','" . ,..itil h-,,~ ,:~ ~.,: " \". ";'\' i""!~~i'.~" . ,'~" ,tr~'"l('''". ,'1Il " .~~~ ~_! .~-'-~~li~~~ . -~~~J . ut~:u- --~ _.~:::. .o;i:";----'.";4-:: JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARfMENT p.o, Box 1220 Port 1bwnsend, Washington 98368 Thlephone (206) 385-1427 JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE David Goldsmith, Director June 11, 1987 Dear Steve I have enclosed a desLgn for a septLc repaLr Ln the QuLlcene area and thought I'd send along an explanatLon. The sLte Ls on the BLg QuLlcene floodplaLn where small lots and hLgh seasonal water tables are commOn. I have consLdered the LnstallatLon of a mound on thLs sLte, but rejected Lt because of the necessLty of reducLng setbacks to an unacceptable level. A long term solutLon to the septLc problems Ln thLs regLon ~s beLng consLdered at thLs tLme. UntLl decLsLons are made, I am wLllLng to authorLze the temporary repaLr of systems on the floodplaLn. I hope thLs doesn't cause you too much dLs- comfort. If you have any questLons, please feel free to call me. I 'd apprecLate your prompt revLew so that thLs sLte can be wrapped up prLor to the end of the grant perLod. _____._Lv- SLncerely ----- Janet L. Welch REf'i::\!:I\ ~" -' t \- ;., ~.: JUN 1 5 '87 JEFF. ('Oi..':4T'r Hb~L1 H lXo?T, E ~ ~ r- -~'-- "' III ~ ~ I ' t " ,{ -tS - - - - - -,"' '" I~ If< u I~ I? I ~~ <;: " "':::] "it. :..r> t:7 z;! co )">1 ~ -< \ '\ ~, \ , , \ \__.1. j " :!l "\ (:>r s: ~- w --.J , - ~~ I q."C I ~ ~ I ~ "," .t:' 'ih. I "'" '" ,-,,,, c ~ ~ ""~ V (// ~r .. j 1 __ . --YV\l3-1J5 ./ 1\ -'.... )<. H' .).(. .~-_.._._-).r_..._-~.).,._----,->=~,.---....-><.---~ ~ .---' .-- ~ ~ ~ -, ~~, ~i2- ~~~~ ~?;:\ P'~o:I\')\ ~"" ~ :!> b- Q c "bi"li \) :.;: r1'\ ~ ~~ It ~ ~~~~ ~k t.31.(j)~ 1iF.;~~ ~~ l>...-- " ~::t, ~~~~ ",-I.. t ;tJ Q ~~ ~ '"" .Q\ [tl ~ ~ -)~ CO, ~ '" ~ ~~ ~ ~ t t <;, '--~l>c} .. ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ :tl ~:j \ .... -\- ) '1 C-" ~~ 30 ):; ~~ 1::: ::z,; ~ 111':::'2 C'\ ~ '" ,::-,. , ~ ~~ ~\)J~ ~~ ~ t p ~ ~ ~ t. c ~ ~ > .... t'- " ~ t~ ~, ~ b ~ III ::;;:-'L '-7 - ~ 1':" F: t'l " c; "" ~\ 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~,~ n, l:: < ~~~ ~ ~ Ill" ~ '3' '" ~i c II ~ cte p ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -< ~~ ~ ~ r-- ~t 2.~~ ~~ '\; ~ -~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -.: ~ M) ~ '" ~ i'll ;" ~ f'\: JS ;t ~,,~ U\ ~ ~ ~ r ~~ :" ~ ~ ~ p ~ ~ ~ ~ VI ~ (\ ~ \) :::J ~ ~ <:. ~ ~ f.C. --1 7'i ~ 0 c; ~ --.J\ ~1 " . . . " COMMUNICABLE OISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH eDUCA nON JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385,0722 ~~i; ~- To: The Board of Commissionerf From: Mary Catlin Administrator ~-~ Date: July 8, 1987 -~ Subject: Meeting July 7, 1987 attended by the three com- missioners, David Goldsmith, Rick Miklich, and myself. I would like to put into writing my reasons for being so disturbed by the meeting yesterday. Yesterday, at the end of three hours discussion, the meeting was summed up as a "turf war"; the implications being that the problem was one of Mary trying to protect her turf. I disagree with this characterization of recent acts and events. All parties agree that historically the Health Department has had a large workload, a poor public image, and that the health department needs to update policies and proceedures as new regulations become law. Much of this problem has stemmed from understaffing. We do credit David Goldsmith with getting an additional part time environmental staffmember in 1986, and agree with him that that needs to be a full time position. I disagree with the Board, however, about the direction that further mea- sures must take to correct existing problems. One solution to the departments problems stated yesterday by the Board was "to spin off" health department responsibilities to other departments that were in better shape and had the manpower. I do not think that this is an appropriate longterm solution. It does nothing to correct the underlying problems. It creates a system of county government that relies very heavily on the strengths of certain trusted individuals rather than working to create departments and systems to handle the problems that exist. Giving some health department responsibilites to other depart- ments may run the risk of asking people to make technical deci- sions outside their areas of expertise. .There is a large gulf between knowing the regulations and knowing why the regulations exist. 1 . . c B.G. Brown said yesterday that it had been a conscious decision of the Board of Commissioners to give the money that had been granted (and I know only of DOE grant number G0086052) to the Health Department to Building and Planning to administer. I believe the Commissioners were acting in good faith. However, it places the Health Department in a very difficult position when actions are being carried out in the name of our department of which we have little control or knowledge. For example, see attatched correspondance from the Department of Ecology that indicates that the Fiscal Officers Patty Carlton and Mel Lick (206-459-6202) were never informed that the Building and Planning Department was the grantee, and had awarded the grant with the expectation that the Health Department would be administering and doing the work. As the Commissioner point out to me about the health department~ image, "It~ not how things really are, it~ how the publ ic perceives them." There are many points we discussed yesterday that certainly could be perceived as improper: the grant source DOE was never informed that the original grantee has nothing to do with the grant, and grant correspondance is sent in the Health Department"s name to a P.O. box which is not our own. The Building and Planning sanitarian is required by WACs to work under the Health Officer. However, the Health Officer Dr. Geerlofs was never informed that she is doing septic tank repairs and believed that he was only authorizing her to do a water quality reasearch study. No department can find paperwork authorizing her to work under the Health Officer"s authority. The Health Department has also felt and discussed on several occasions with the Commissioners and Janet Welch, the sanitarian, that her designs were not always the most cost-effective solution for the problem. This was described yesterday as "a problem between Bill (Glasser) and Janet", as if it were a personality problem. In my one discussion with her in May when I reminded her that she had to submit designs to the Health Department. She said she is not under Bill"s authority, she is not an employee of the Health Department and was only submitting designs as a cour- tesy. That is a problem concerning following the line of authority. It is not a personality problem. Communication and misunderstandings are other problems that exist. Yesterday David Goldsmith said that he had managed to get an extra full time equivalent in nursing time added to the Health Department Budget. I apologized for the rudeness of my response that stemmed from my frustration. Even if we were fully staffed for all budgeted position, the Health Department"s 1987 budget actually has fewer nursing FTE budgeted than the 1985 budget. In 1985 there was a full time nurse practioner, the Nursing Director, a full time public health nurse and a part time MCH nurse. In 1987 we have these same positions budgeted. However less nursing time is available because the DNS now does administration for the Health Department. In 1986, the budget DID include money for a much needed additional full time public health nurse. However, that position was never filled, that money was not expended, and in the 1987 budget was not even requested. David"s intent was to add an additional nurse. The actual outcome was that in 1987 we have less nursing time in 2 , -- , , these positions than in previous years. A lot of my frustration yesterday stemmed from the differences in the County Commissioners plans for public health and the limited version of what I am aware. I requested yesterday copies of the Dabob Water Quality Grant. Environmental Health would like to be included in discussions of the county wide septic tank repair plan that was mentioned yesterday. I think it is also important for us to communicate with the commissioners that our interpretation of Environmental Health includes areas other than on-site waste disposal. For example, I think that is important for Environmental Health to have a presence on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and a part in the plans for the disposal of hazardous waste. Since the Health Department has regulatory responsibilities in these areas, it makes sense to include us in the planning so that regulations are met. It helps us communicate more clearly with other agencies. The Board criticized my communication with the State over a septic repair design. We are a small health department that handles numerous technical decisions and questions from Yellow Fever in Nigeria to toxic levels of propane exposure to unusual septic tank design considerations. I expect my staff to seek expert consultation when they have questions. It is to the client and county's advantage that we seek out the expertise of other Health Departments and expertise at the State level before making decisions on non-routine matters. While we had no Environmental Health Director we had no choice. It was a three hour meeting, and my comments here do not touch on many additional subjects that were discussed. But I would sum- marize the meeting as one where we did not agree upon the actions that would improve the Health Departments current problems. We would all agree that such solutions should honor administrative codes, grant obligations, and professional judgement. I have raised questions about whether these obligations have been met. To reduce my questions to "turf war" hides the larger and more important issues involved. Respectfully submitted, Mary atlin M.P.H., B.S.N. Administrator 3