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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 February .. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385-0722 HEALTH BOARD Minutes: February 19, 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 *********************************************************************** ********************************************************************* The meeting was Chairman B. G. Brown with Larry W. Dennison present. in attendance. called to order at the appointed time by Commissioner John L. Pitts and Commissioner Dr. Geerlofs was the only staff member not NURSING DIRECTOR REPORT: The method of tallying statistics for the Nursing Section is being revised, Charleta Handly, P.H.N., reported, so the written report has not included in this month's information. The following services were performed during January: * Charleta Handly attended a workshop for Grant Street School P.T.O. which was given by the Child Abuse Council, of which she is a member. There has not been an unusual amount of Flu reported in the County. There is Influenza B in King County and Influenza A on the East side of the State. A communi ty meeting was held by a local church on AIDS. There were several calls after that meeting from people with concerns. A workshop for the professional community, here in Port Townsend, is being arranged by the Health Department. The part time Nurse, Nancy Smith, will be returning to work next week. The Senior Coordinating Council and the Senior Citizens Advisory * * * * Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 2 * Council meetings were attended by Charleta Handly so that she can keep up with the needs and wants of the seniors. The Foot Care Program will be moved to the Port Townsend Community Center as soon as the changes made in the building are finished. Dr. Geerlofs and Charleta attended a planning meeting for another Health Fair. It will probably be held in the Hospital. Jack Gray, Administrator for D.S.H.S. has been working with the Nursing section to improve the coordination between Child Protective Services and the Health Department. A person from the State Immunization Program and a person from the National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, reviewed the County's immunization program last week. Someone from the State will be returning in March to do a Health Education Workshop for the Health Department Nurses and Doctor's office Nurses in the community on immunizations. The Port Townsend Library has been awarded a $24,670 grant to do a Health Information Resource Center and has asked for the Health Department's help. Dr. Geerlofs and Charleta Handly will provide material recommendations and review services. * * * * Coming Up: The Auditor for the WIC grant program will be here on the 10th and 11th of February. A new State Nursing consultant for the Maternal Child Health grants will be here on the 6th of March to acquaint herself with Jefferson County's programs and needs. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER REPORT: Randy Durant reported that during the month of January the following services were performed: Food Service Proqram: 33 food service inspections were done in the City of Port Townsend, with 71 Food Handler Permits being issued partially as a result of these inspections finding people working in food service establishments without a valid Food Handler Permit. There was a voluntary closure of one food establishment. An appeal inspection of a local food establishment, and an appeal conference for another food establishment were held during the month. On-site Sewaqe Proqram: 18 sewage disposal permits (15 same period last year) were issued, and 14 site evaluations (which is the same as last year) . No short plats were done this year (3 short plats and 1 long plat this time last year). Randy Durant met with the Kala Point Utility Company manager regarding the status of on-site system management at Kala Point. One new installer was licensed. The on-site program is running with a two week lag from the time an application is made to actual permit issuance. Other Services: Reviewed plans for the relocation of the Swan School, and plans for a new proposed Bed and Breakfast establishment in the City of Port Townsend. Randy Durant gave a talk to the Quilcene Lions Club Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 3 on water quality. Public information was provided on request regarding contamination of wells during the floods in the County. Follow up was done on the Winslow Sludge site, which will begin operations next week. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: The monthly nursing reports that the Board usually receives, David Goldsmith reported, are generated from a myriad of information that is compiled for a quarterly report on the Maternal Child Health Grant. These monthly figures will be dispensed with because they are time consuming to generate and the monthly report will concentrate on reporting community services, program changes, and trends that are occurring that will have impact on the budget, etc. The Foot Care Program's move to the Port Townsend Community Center started out to be a smooth process until the Seniors met and decided that they didn't want the program to be done in the Dining Room. Now the Day Room is being considered for the location of this program. Peter Simpson, Director of the Clallam-Jefferson Community Action Council will check with the Seniors and report back to David Goldsmith. Dr. Geerlofs will be gone until the March Health Board meeting. A meeting was held with the Puget Sound Health Systems Agency regarding a Managed Health Care Grant for low and moderate income people, who are not covered by insurance or are not qualified for Medicare or Medicaid. This is essentially a charity care system, which had initial interest in a grant that would provide a managed care system at the County level. Due to the input from the local medical community, Jefferson County chose not to get involved. An Eminent and Emergency Medical Aid (EEMA) Grant has been awarded to the Community Action Council which will also provide assistance to these people who do not currently fit into the health care assistance system. The Health Department will be the medical screening agent for this grant with the CAC doing the income screening. Dr. Geerlofs and David Goldsmith have been reviewing the organizational structure and staffing levels of the Nursing section and after they have had a chance to discuss and develop their ideas they will report back to the Board on this matter. The final touches are being put on the 205j and the Shellfish Protection grant applications, David Goldsmith added. The budgets and applications should both be finished this week. An additional $12,000 ($6,000 from each grant) has been applied for to cover the water sampling program. Two full time people will be needed by the period of these grants (12 to 15 months). In kind services will run about $30,000 for these grants. It is questionable how much time can be given to these projects by the environmental health staff. Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 4 Lead time is needed to get the programs up and running: Determine what the schedule will be, initial map work, scheduling boats and their use, etc. Lead time for the Sanitarian will also be needed so that he will understand the system. The whole 15 month project is scheduled to begin on April 1. The Project Manager should be on board at this time to start the ball rolling and the Sanitarian can come on board a couple of months later to spend some time in the summer working with Randy and his staff. The DSHS laboratory is booked up, but they will do the water sample testing and the seal scat testing for these grants. The use of Soil Conservation Service, on a consultation basis, can be charged to the County's in kind contribution to these grants, David Goldsmith reported. The 205j grant is a 60% State and 40% County match. Commissioner Dennison asked if a Shellfish Protection District has been explored? David Stalheim is looking into this matter. The scope of work for the PUD's Referendum 39 grant has been established and they plan to look at a managed system approach to community sewer service in the Quilcene area. Nursinq Contract with School Districts: These contracts are being reviewed and a meeting is planned with the School District Superintendents to define what the Health Department should, will, and can do for the schools and what this work will cost the schools. On-site Sewaqe Manaaement Contracts: Kala Point: Randy Durant will arrange a preliminary meeting with one of the Commissioners, the Assessor, and Treasurer to discuss the first bills that have been received on the Kala Point Management Contracts. Chairman Brown will meet with Randy and the other noted elected officials on this matter. Update - Site Evaluation Unacceptability: Lot 79, Acre Tracts; D. Schultze: A site inspection was made by the this property on February 11 at 3:00 p.m. The soil logs were and no water table was noted on this date. Irondale Board on reviewed Commissioner Dennison advised that his main concern is a question of definition. The Schultze's are saying that the soil type that the Corps of Engineers reported is different than that reported by the Health Department. Randy Durant advised that the soil type is site specific. The texture of the soil doesn't change, Commissioner Brown added, only how the soil is compacted and what formation it has, the kind of materials do not change. The soil that the Army Corps of Engineers reported were in the fill that was put on this site are the same, but how they are compacted on this site is different. Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 5 All of the different factors that have an effect on the make up of the soil, also have an effect on how the soils interact with the natural water table and how they will effect a septic systems operation, Commissioner Dennison added. What is in those holes right now, in terms of soil type, density, and other factors, is what has to be dealt with right now. The effect of the tidal action on this location is a question that needs to have special attention. Randy Durant reported that this was an initial concern due to the high water table, the location of the property and the permeable soil. On his 1:45 p.m., January 10, 1986 site inspection, Randy reported, there was water in two of the holes. The high tide that day was 9.1 feet at 2:15 p.m. Mrs. Schultze added that there was only a cupful of water in the hole on this date. The concern is not just for the normal high water table problems on this site, Commissioner Dennison noted. The water in these holes could be from tidal pressure. If this is a tidal water problem, it doesn't matter if there is cupful of water or the hole is full, the indication is that there is a movement of water through the soil, from the bay and that would not be a good situation in which to install a septic tank and it would certainly not protect the water quality of the bay if a septic tank was installed in this instance. Randy Durant then explained the requirements for the installation of a septic system on Type 1 excessively permeable soils, as maximizing separation and using a better form of treatment. Commissioner Pitts added that a solution to this problem is needed now and a potential problem should not be passed on to a new owner of this property by the approval of this site evaluation. Mrs. Schultze asked if restrictions could be placed on the site evaluation, such as requirement that fine sand be put in the trenches and that there is no excavation be performed that would in anyway alter the proposed drainfield area? This proposal was discussed and Randy Durant reported that this request was originally for two sites and not even one site was approved. The original suggestion was that the property owner may want to provide additional soil logs (should be done in December and January) and contact a licensed engineer to attempt to design a mound system for this property which would then be reviewed by the permit process. The Board concurred that if the Schultze's would have a qualified engineer develop the engineering for a mound system on this site and make a permit application, the Board would consider the application. They can not give any assurance that this permit would be approved but they would have to have reason not to approve such an application for an engineered system for this site. The engineer would have to prove that the hydrologic concerns can be addressed to the Health Department's satisfaction. Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 6 Randy Durant will provide Mrs. Schultze with the names of qualified engineers who have designed mound systems for use in Jefferson County. Commissioner Dennison moved to deny the variance requested by Mr. & Mrs. Schul tze. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion. In regard to the suggestion that Randy Durant make contact with the State to look at this site to do an analysis of the soil, Commissioner Brown added that he doesn't really need to know anymore about the soils, he is more concerned about the water table and if, in fact, a mound system can be engineered to get the necessary separation from the water table. It would be an exercise in futility to have the State look at the soils. Waiver request public restrooms, Jefferson County Ordinance No. 2 77, Sec. 4-lAO; Showhouse Bakerv: Commissioner Dennison excused himself from this determination because of his association with the Bread and Roses Bakery in Port Townsend. Chairman Brown read the waiver request from owners of the Showhouse Bakery, Chris Hertel and Connie Miller. The owners advised that only single service items are provided for eating at the counter which has seating for four. Mr. Hertel and Ms. Miller were both present at the meeting. The waiver request is to not provide public rest rooms when seating is proivded in the food establishment. The Bakery currently only has one restroom, but the access to that restroom is through the food service area, to which public access is not allowed by the Health Department. In the past, Randy Durant reported, a waiver of the public restroom requirement has been given, but only when a Public Restroom is in close proximity (Elevated Ice Cream Company), or one public restroom was required only, but these establishments did not have the restroom located in such a way that the public would have to go through the food service area. If this waiver is approved (allowing seating), Randy advised, that it must be realized that a precedent is being set. The State regulation only requires restrooms for employees. David Goldsmith added that there is a different need in the City of Port Townsend, which has public restroom facilities available, than there is in the County where there are no public restrooms. Randy Durant reported that there is no health problem with limiting the restroom to "Employees Only", we already do that, and that the variance is being requested to allow the addition of the four seats since the 1980 variance was issued on the basis of no seating being allowed. Commissioner Pitts asked the owners if limiting the restroom use to the employees only would have an adverse effect on their business? They indicated that it would not have an adverse effect on their business. Commissioner Pitts moved to allow the Showhouse Bakery to maintain an "Employees Only" restroom and granted a variance to allow the seating area to include four seats. Chairman Brown seconded the motion. Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 7 Update Edsal Short Plat: Commissioner Pitts reported that every site on this short plat that the Board inspected on February 11, 1986 contained water, even though it hadn't rained for 10 days prior to this date. Nothing was seen during this inspection to alter Randy's original position that these sites did not meet the requirements of the State or County for on-site sewage disposal. Mr. Ed Haycock of Port Ludlow Realty advised that he was not present to argue about the findings, but the County has set up a situation for his client where he has invested $25,0000 in that property and can not sell it as he chooses. The County approved a short plat on this property and the buyer relied on this short plat approval to allow him to sell the property as buildable sites. Mr. Haycock advised that his client is willing to do whatever is necessary to make this property buildable. Discussion of the process and the specific information that the Health Department needs before a septic system can be designed for a piece of property then ensued. The notice to potential purchasers that is on the face of the short plat, and it's meaning was also discussed. Commissioner Pitts outlined the options, as given to the owners in a letter, and the Real Estate representatives who visited the site are: 1) off site system on another area, 2) tying into the local sewer system and 3) find a site that is suitable for an engineered, alternative (mound) system. Since the first two options are not possible, only the third option is usable. There are no absolute guarantees that a site is suitable for on-site sewage systems, Commissioner Dennison added. Even if a mound system is designed, there is still no guarantee that it will be approved for a site. If guarantees are wanted that the County will have to either quit allowing short plats or go through a process that is much more involved than the current process and the person who short plats will have to pay for the cost of the process. If a mound system can be engineered and they meet the State requirements then these lots can be built upon. Randy Durant reminded Mr. Haycock of the first statement on the face of the plat which says "Approval of this subdivision does not constitute approval of each lot for on-site sewage disposal." Commissioner Brown reminded Mr. Haycock that the Realtors were opposed to the County doing away with the site evaluation. A site evaluation it is not a guarantee. More information would be needed before it could be used to guarantee any sort of approval and this can not be done for a site and be valid for an undetermined amount of time. Too many things can happen to a piece of property over the years to be able guarantee it's acceptability for on-site sewage disposal. A site evaluation has to be used for just what it is intended, which is to be an indicator that on-site sewage can be placed somewhere on a piece of property at a given time. Health Board Minutes: February 19, 1986 Page 8 The soils in the puget Sound area, it must be remembered, Commissioner Pitts advised, are not particularly quality soils for on-site septic systems. The population is growing and the land is extremely expensive and there are greater demands being placed on this area, thus greater impacts on the environment. It is the responsibility of the County to put the warning that is printed in red on the site evaluation form and it is the responsibility of the realtor to point that warning out to a prospective buyer. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ./fA~ ~.) B. G. Brown, Chairman John L. Pitts, Member ,- ~ Sea Breeze Center, 1408 Sims Way Port Townsend, Wa. Inc. 98)68 Ii:r. Pandall M. Durant, R. S. Jefferson County Health Department 820 Sheridan St. Port Townsend, Wa. 98)68 RECEIVED JAN 1 3 '86 J(f-f-- Hf:JJ,( -,;;OVfv" D(pr. Dear Mr. Durant I Re: Sea Breeze Center, Inc. New Convenience Store Plans In response to your memo of January 10, 1986, we are in the process of accumulating the additional information you requested in Items #1 through #6 and will be forwarding them to you for further review and approval. With regards to Item #7, wherein our submitted plans did not meet the requirements of two rest rooms per Jefferson County Ordinance 2-77, Sec. 4.1.a., we respectfully request a waiver of this re- quirement and approval of a single restroom per the plans in your possession. This request is based on the following: 1. The proposed development is primarily a conventional convenience store and gasoline dispensing operation. 2. The "deli" type items provided will be strictly for take-out only. 3. There will be no "on premises" consumption. 4. No seating nor eating area for "on premises" consump- tion will be provided. 5. We project that revenues from "deli" type sales will be less than 10% of total revenues and thereby con- stitutes a minor part of the total project. 6. The convenience store/gasoline combination will be similar to a typical "7-11" store and almost identi- cal to the new "Jackpot" store in Hadlock, da., for which a similar waiver was approved. Based on all the foregoing, we would appreciate your favorable con- sideration of this request. Sincerely yours, ! ;P P 'y;/~v~~/~ S. F. N;~~omb, President Sea Breeze Center, Inc. SFN:ncn