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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 January 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 Minutes: January 15, 1986 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B.G. Brown, Chairman John L. Pitts, Member Larry W. Dennison, Member Randall M. Durant, R.S. Charleta Handly, P.H.N. J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. David Goldsmith, Adminis- trator CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Glenn Ison ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and City of Port Townsend Representative Glenn Ison were not present when Chairman B. G. Brown opened the meeting at the appointed time. Commissioner John L. Pitts was in attendance. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Minutes of the December 18, 1985 meeting was approved as corrected by motion of Commissioner Pitts, seconded by Chairman Brown. NURSING DIRECTOR REPORT: Charleta Handly, P.H.N., presented the monthly, quarterly and yearly (1985) Nursing Service reports. In spite of the snow, a large number of people were served by the Nursing Service during December. Flu shots, blood pressure and the number of people served were all at higher levels in 1985 than for the same period in 1984. Follow UP on Senior Services: Mrs. Handly reported that Myrtle Corey of the Foot Care Program has looked at the Recreation Center facility in Port Townsend and if this program was moved there, there are a number of items that would have to be addressed. Mrs. Corey asked that Charleta Handly and David Goldsmith visit the next Foot Care Clinic in the Episcopal Church, to get a better idea of what is needed. Health Board Minutes, January 15, 1986 Page: 2 Nursinq Services to the West End: Clallam County's new Nurse for the West End is Christine Hatfield. She will be visiting schools in the near future. The State Tuberculosis consultant, Kay Anderson, will be coming to visit the 22nd of January. There are still T.B. cases being found among the illegal aliens who work in the forests of the West End of the County, Charleta added. Vehicular Occupant Protection Proqram: A mini grant of $500 has been awarded to Jefferson County from the Public Health Association for a "Vehicular Occupant Protection Program." In January the Traffic Safety Commission listed Jefferson County in a model community update. Charleta will contact the newspaper about this program. The following items were also reported by the Nursing staff during December: * Chicken pox is going reported in the schools. with their questions. around the community, and has been People call the Health Department * The nursing and environmental health sections having been working with a family with Hepatitis. * There was one case of Legionnaire's disease reported in the County. Water samples from the Port Townsend Paper Company Mill were tested, because the man works for PTPC, but they did not show any signs of the disease. Testing kits for this disease were obtained from the State lab, to test people with symptoms. HEALTH OFFICER REPORT: Dr. Fischnaller, reporting for Dr. Geerlofs who could not be in attendance, asked if any thought had been given to providing the test for Chlamydial infections that are becoming more and more common. The testing cost $20 per person. This condition will be a more and more important problem in public health in the future. Copies of a State report on these infections was sent to all the area doctors. Commissioner Pitts noted that this matter will be looked at when priorities are set for the Health Department. 1985 Vital Statistics Report: The 1985 Vital Statistics Report has been compiled by the Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics, Sylvia Adams. Totals were as follows: 1985 1984 Total Birth Certificates 167 186 Death Certificates 129 133 Still Birth Certificates 1 1 * Home Births Registered 16 35 (1977) Certified Copies of Birth Cert. 23 Certified Copies of Death Cert. 548 * This only represents "Registered" home births and may not be the actual total figure for Home Births in the County. Health Board Minutes: January 15, 1986 Page: 3 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR REPORT: The Annual Report for 1985 of the Environmental Health Section is being complied. The report for the month of December 1985 is as follows: * Food Services Inspections increased to 26 for the month. * Four final inspections and 13 follow up inspections were done. Two food establishments were found to be in poor shape and one of them voluntarily closed on Friday and reopened with limited food service later. * Two Food program plan reviews were done: Jackpot Grocery and the Sea Breeze Grocery. * Total contacts, for the year were 10,016. * Six septic tank permits, during the month. * Eleven site evaluations. * Income from Environmental Health activities during 1985 was about $8,000 over what was anticipated at budget time. * A School plan review was done for the Swan School. * Randy Durant attended several meetings at the Department of Ecology on the new Solid Waste Regulations, as well as a meeting on landfill liners. * The Solid Waste Regulations were effective in November of 1985 and are scheduled for implementation in two phases. Phase one is schedule to be effective at 18 months and phase two is scheduled for the four year mark. A project for 1986, Randy suggested, would be developing an inventory of abandoned dumps. The implementation of these regulations will be a big burden to the Environmental Health Staff workload. * The necessity of reassessing the value of the Site Evaluation process was discussed and will be addressed later. * The draft report from the Port Townsend Paper Company Sludge Application project, conducted last summer, has been received. A wrap up presentation and slide show will be done when the final report is finished. * The City of Winslow will be starting their sludge application project. * Dr. Fischnaller and Randy Durant met with two Cape George Sewer District Commissioners to discuss what will be done in this area. * The annual report on on-site management was received from the Garden Court Apartments and is acceptable. * A collection of Site Evaluations was done at the Termination Point Plat. (63 soil logs) They are trying to combine 50 to 60 lots into 10 building sites which would utilize one area for a drain field. Chairman Pitts suggested as a way to educate people who buy property in Jefferson County about all of the regulations, would be to develop a packet of information which could include the following items: Health Board Minutes: January 15, 1986 Page: 4 1) Information and regulations on Septic Tank systems, 2) Pasture Management (from Cooperative Extension), 3) "Hobby Farms" (from Soil Conservation District) and 4) Stickers with important phone numbers. Randy Durant reported that a couple of years ago the Extension Service had developed a package called "Planning Your Homesite" which had information input from the Health Department, Planning Department, and the Soil Conservation District. A way to get this information to the people is still needed, to ensure that the County is doing everything it can to educate the public in these matters. Randy Durant presented a copy of the Rules and Regulations that had been requested by Commissioner Pitts, for the Nursing and Environ- mental Health activities of the Health Department. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: David Goldsmith, Administrator reported that he has reviewed the budget in his first 15 days at this new position, and has also looked briefly at some of the programs. One thing that needs to be considered is a computer system which could be used to track grants and other statistics that are required. The Department Administrator or Health Officer is required by law to attend a Health Conference that is being held at the end of the week in Olympia and neither Dr. Fischnaller or David can attend. After discussion of what the meeting will be about and who is required to attend, it was decided that no one will attend from Jefferson County. A letter will be sent to the State Health Officer, Dr. Beare, advising that Jefferson County will not be represented, apologizing for that and introducing Dr. Geerlofs as the new Health Officer and David Goldsmith as the new Administrator. Gael Stuart reported that the liability insurance policy on Dr. Fischnaller should be cancelled on February 1. Since Dr. Geerlofs already has Professional Liability insurance through his practice the County will not need to provide this insurance for him. If the County and the Health Officer are sued over an action taken on behalf of the County, the Health Officer would be covered under the County's liability insurance. The letter received from the Board of Commissioners regarding the cost of the rent for the Health Department office space in the Multi- Services Building stated a higher total than was put into the Health Department budget during the budget process, Gael Stuart reported. This will require a budget extension at the end of the year. Commissioner Pitts advised that the cost per square foot was the same as charged in 1985, but since the office space was increased the rent increased. The Personal Services contract for Jeanne Hibbard will be changed to reflect the addition of the mileage fee that was paid in her last contract to her hourly rate because she is no longer traveling here from Port Angeles. Health Board Minutes: January 15, 1986 Page: 5 The grocery store licenses have dropped in the past year from 54 to 21. Seven grocery stores closed in the County which could represent as many as 12 permits because some have two. This will mean less revenue from these permits than was budgeted. A stabilization of the grocery store business in the area is taking place. Waiver re: Sea Breeze Center, Inc.: Randy Durant reported that a letter was received on January 13, 1986 asking for a waiver of the requirement that two public rest room be installed at the Sea Breeze Grocery Store. The requested is based on the fact that the proposed development is a convenience store and gas dispensing operation and deli type foods provided are for take out only, with no on premises consumption being allowed. Commissioner Pitts moved to approve the waiver as requested by the Sea Breeze Center, Inc. Chairman Brown seconded the motion. Environmental Health position: Administrator David Goldsmith reported that the applicant of choice for the Environmental Health position has notified the Department that he will not be accepting the employment offer. A determination needs to made on whether to advertise this position again. Settinq date the Edsall Short Plat: returns from Nicaragua. for Board to visit the Schultz property and This will be done when Commissioner Dennison Cronin Appeal of a Denial: Squamish Harbor: Randy Durant reported that Mrs. Cronin has made an application for are-evaluation and additional soil logs were provided. These two soil logs were totally unacceptable. Griffith Point Alternative System: Mr. Samples: Plans have just been received from Mr. Samples for the alternative septic system to be installed on his Griffith Point property. As far as fees, it was decided that the work on this alternative system will be charged for time spent, at a rate of $29.00 per hour. The Board asked that the department try to keep the total fees as reasonable as possible. Randy advised that four hours would be an estimate of the hours for the first review of this plan. Transition Process: David Goldsmith reported that Dr. Fischnaller and Dr. Geerlofs have met to discuss the Health Officer's duties and responsibilities and Dr. Fischnaller invited him to call if he has any questions. David Goldsmith is currently trying to spend his mornings at the Health Department. Commissioner Pitts thanked Dr. Fischnaller, Gael Stuart and the staff of the Health Department for their patience, cooperation and help during this transition period. Chairman Brown concurred and thanked Dr. Fischnaller for the years of service that he has given to the Health Board Minutes: January 15, 1986 Page: 6 Heal th Department and wished him well in his retirement. He also thanked Gael Stuart and wished him well in his future endeavors. The Nurses, Charleta Handly reported, are wondering what the next step will be in the transition process and how that will affect their section. Commissioner Brown advised that the Health Department staff should talk over their concerns with David Goldsmith and then any problems that he feels need further attention can be discussed with the Board. On-sits Manaaement Contacts for Kala Point Condominiums: Two letters and two sets of bills have been received by the Health Department from the Kala Point Utility Company for monies out of the Trust Fund held by the County Treasurer, Randy Durant reported. He will review the bills and discuss these contracts with the Prosecut- ing Attorney. The Commissioners will have to give the final approval for the paying of bills from this fund. David Goldsmith suggested that the PUD be contacted about taking over the administration of these contracts. The County contracts state that there can only be one manager for these contracts, that is acceptable to the Health Officer. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH /Vf/5?~ ....~ / B. G. Brown, Chairman Member