Island County Board of Health
Monday July 15, 2002

 

Members Present: Commissioners, Mac McDowell; William F. Thorn; Barbara Saugen, WGH Commissioner; Captain Donald Jensen, MC, USN (Ex-Officio Member); Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary, Board of Health.

 

Absent Commissioner Mike Shelton

 

Commissioner Mac McDowell called this regularly scheduled meeting of the Island County Board of Health to order at 4:30 p.m.

 

Agenda:  There were no additions or changes to the agenda.  .

 

Minutes:  Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that the minutes from the June 17, 2002 meeting be approved as written.  Commissioner Patty Cohen seconded.  The minutes were approved for all to sign on behalf of the Board.

 

There was no input from the public.

 

Environmental Health Assessment Team (EHAT) issues:
Health Services Director Tim McDonald outlined the Environmental Health Assessment Team (EHAT) Selection Process.          (See attachment)

 

Commissioner Barbara Saugen asked if the number of EHAT board members had been determined. Mr. McDonald stipulated that 21 was the Steering Committee’s goal for EHAT board membership. Commissioner Thorn said that the BOH should be involved in helping the Steering Committee whittle down to the 21 members.  Commissioner Mac McDowell emphasized the need to see the list of names prior to the whittling process. Further discussion ensued. Health Services Director McDonald then asked if any BoH member would like to serve on the interview committee, and Commissioner Saugen volunteered to do so. Commissioner Patty Cohen nominated Commissioner Saugen to be part of the EHAT Interview Team. Commissioner Bill Thorn seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

The EHAT Board Member selection process is outlined as follows:

·         EHAT Steering Committee receives and reviews applications

·         Members of the Board of Health review the list applicants (for information only)

·         Steering Committee agrees on who to interview based on a matrix completed by each applicant

·         Applicants are interviewed by the Interview Committee (a Steering Committee member, an EHAT Staff member, and one Board of Health member)

·         Board of Health receives the list of recommended EHAT Board Members

·         Board of Health appoints members to the Environmental Health Assessment Team (EHAT) Board

·         EHAT Board Members are notified of their appointment

 

Contracts:

·         Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that Skagit/Islands Head Start Contract No. HD-07-02 for the amount of $1550 be approved.  Commissioner Patty Cohen seconded.  The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign on behalf of the board.

 

·         Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that Passport-DSHS Contract No. 20872(5) (amendment amount $9,572, Contract amount $67,937) be approved.  Commissioner Patty Cohen seconded.  The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign on behalf of the board.

 

 

 

·         Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that CPS/Public Health Nurse-Child Abuse Prevention-DSHS Contract No. 20958(4)  be approved (amendment amount $10,912 which extends our contract for Child Abuse Prevention Services{Karen} for another 6 months @ current level of funding- Contract amount $77,500). Commissioner Barbara Saugen seconded.  The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign on behalf of the board.

 

·         Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that Alternative Response-DSHS Contract No. 23952(3) (amendment amount $3098-extends contract same level of funding - Contract amount $31,264) be approved. Commissioner Patty Cohen seconded.  The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign on behalf of the board.

 

·         Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that Coupeville School Nursing Services-NW Educational Service District #189 Contract No. HD-10-01 (amendment amount $1,630 to provide additional nursing services for the current school year) be approved. The service district is only requesting an initial change to the original contract, increasing the award amount for a total contract amount of $12,840. Commissioner Patty Cohen seconded.  The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign on behalf of the board.

 

·         Commission Bill Thorn moved that ABCD-WA Dental Service Foundation Contract No. HD-08-02 in the amount of $1800 be approved (extends ABCD Program for another 12 months at a reduced funding level, based on planned reductions over their 3 year commitment of funds.  We are reducing Mary Jane’s role to accommodate the reductions). Commissioner Barbara Saugen seconded.  After a brief discussion the motion passed for the Commissioner’s to sign on behalf of the board.

 

Health Department Report:

Health Services Director Tim McDonald presented the Health Department report:

 

·         Supply of childhood vaccines is now adequate. (Prevnar supply is low) Td vaccine supply is now normal.

 

·         June 8th and 9th Boy and Girl Scouts, mainly from the South Whidbey, attended a Scouting function in Blaine — about 90 to 100 adults and children. Eleven were from Snohomish and three were from Jefferson County.  Approximately 65 of those people became ill the following Monday evening with a diarrheal illness that lasted 12 to 48 hours. Two were hospitalized for hydration. Stool samples obtained from four of the individuals were found to be positive for a Norwalk-like virus. (See attachment) A questionnaire was developed and all who attended were interviewed to ascertain the infection source, looking for a food or water related illnesses.  There was no conclusive data, but state epidemiologists determined it was probably contracted in a hot tub from a child that was ill already.  Health Department staff members worked with Whidbey General Hospital and the SW Schools to counter the outbreak, spending over 200 hours in assisting the schools.  The SW Staff did a terrific job thwarting the spread of the disease.

 

·         Commissioner Patty Cohen asked about the Oak Harbor Middle School air quality issues and the Health Departments role, if any, in the closing of the school.  Mr. McDonald noted the following facts:

• the Health Department provides annual inspection of schools and prompt consultation when issues are identified. The Health Department was not consulted on this matter before the closure was effected.

• the decision to close the school was not based on scientific evidence, but upon an emotionally driven ultimatum from the teaching staff, thinking there was a significant “mold” problem in the school.

• a problem with basic cleanliness was determined as causal… a very heavy accumulation of particulate matter (dust) was found in the classrooms… with a preponderance of fiberglass fibers from ceiling tile.

 

Dr. Case explained how the HEPA filters, installed in each classroom at the beginning of the school year upon the recommendation by a Northwest Air Pollution Authority representative, may only have aggravated the situation in the classroom, in that such filters cannot clean a ‘dirty’ room, but can only keep an already clean room clean. This factor was clearly explained to the School Board and audience by an air pollution consultant when discussing the results of the school’s recent investigation of this matter.

 

Commissioner Mac McDowell iterated that the School District should know that the Island County Health Officer is a resource for the schools regarding Public Health. Further discussion ensued with no action being taken.

 

There being no further business, Commissioner McDowell adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Board of Health will reconvene Monday, August 19th at 4:30 p.m.

 

 

Submitted:  Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary to the Board

 

Minutes approved this 19h day of August 2002.

 

ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

Mike Shelton, Chairman