Island County Board of Health

Monday, November 18, 2002

 

 

Members Present:  Commissioners: Mac McDowell, William F. Thorn, Mike Shelton; Captain Donald Jensen, MC, USN (Ex-Officio Member); Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary to the Board

 

Absent:  Barbara Saugen, WGH Commissioner; Mayor Patty Cohen, Oak Harbor

 

Commissioner Mike Shelton called this regularly scheduled meeting of the Island County Board of Health to order at 1:15 p.m.

 

Agenda:  Roger Case asked that discussion of the change of January and February’s meeting dates be added to the agenda.

 

Minutes:  Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that the minutes from the October 21, 2002 meeting be approved as written.  Commissioner Mac McDowell seconded.  The minutes were approved for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

 

There was no input from the public.

 

Advisory Reports:

 

  1. The Opportunity Council gave no report.
  2. Dave Macys presented the Community Health Advisory Board’s report. (See attachment)  He outlined:

·         Communities’ Progress in taking on the Four Identified Priority Health Issues

·         Task Force for the CY 2004 Health Department Budget Review

·         Keeping the community informed by use of media and other means.

·         Linda Lee Martin Health Hero of Island County Award Program

·         Membership Issues

·         Environmental Health Assessment Team Progress

  1. Human Services Director Jackie Henderson presented the Advisory Reports for:

·         Mental Health Advisory Board, for which she commented there was little positive news. She described a tightening of eligibility for Mental Health care such that many people with mental health problems now find themselves thrown into the legal system. She noted that money is available from the RSN to do training and that we will use it locally to provide training for Law Enforcement and First Responder personnel.  She described all schools as being short of Mental Health guidance personnel, and that Community Mental Health will now become a part of Compass Mental Health.

·         Substance Abuse Advisory Board- This segment of the Human Service division will take the biggest cut financially, and will by March be completely out of money for supporting youth programs.  The health department is initiating an RFP for treatment services for the next biennium; the Ropes Course is closing January 1; and we anticipate even more cuts. Central Whidbey has received money from “Safe and Drug Free Communities”. And were the grantee selected in the state of Washington for this round of funding.

·         Developmental Disabilities will now be under DSHS Division of Aging and Long Term Care. Toddler Learning Center is contracted for 37 clients, but now has more than 60 plus clients. DDD has also tightened up its eligibility requirements, and many people will find themselves no longer eligible for service.

 Commissioner Thorn asked if NAS has interest in Ropes Course. Captain Jenson said that some groups at the Base have used the facilities, and that he will follow up with an inquiry into this possibility.

 

  1. Kathleen McLaughlin presented the advisory report for the IC-SPH&S Network although the program no longer has a formal Director following her having resigned the position to become the manager of Good Cheer of Langley. She said there is a “wait and see attitude” concerning rehiring for the position, and that the Network may contract for the service. There is real concern whether the Network will continue to be funded this next Biennium. She hopes that Stanwood will continue to work with the Oak Harbor and Coupeville Network personnel in the event the activity becomes disjointed.  Ms McLaughlin thanked Commissioner Thorn for giving her the opportunity to report on the Island County/Stanwood Community Public Health and Safety Network.
  2. No report was given for the water Conservancy Board.
  3. A brief report of the Environmental Health Assessment Team’s progress was given by David Macys in the absence of Tom Baxter, President of the EHAT. A separate quarterly report will be established in the future.

 

Contracts:

Commissioner Bill Thorn moved that DOH-Consolidated Contract No. C08645 (9) (Amendment amount $2875) be approved for a total contract amount of $889,517.  Commissioner Mac McDowell seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

 

Report from the Health Department:

  1. Tim McDonald, Health Services Director distributed a Washington State Department of Agriculture News Release concerning West Nile virus found in Washington area horse (actually stabled in Island County near Coupeville). He reiterated that we would have to address the problem of mosquito abatement and control this next spring and summer, especially with the conflicting issue of wetland development being promulgated by Ecology. The latter agency is studying the situation regarding retention ponds, etc., and the State Environmental Health group is lobbying Ecology for some suitable resolution to these conflicting positions.

  2. In the Matter of Revision of the Environmental Health Service Fee schedule of the Island County Health Department, Keith Higman presented Resolution HD-19-02.

Recognition was made of the Public in attendance to speak to the issue. Mr. Steve Hallen, owner of a local food establishment stated that fees are high enough. He said that 87% of his gross profits go to salary. He expressed concern about everything going up –  insurances wages, etc. He believes that the county should cut labor instead of raising fees. And “why is a grocery store’s fees so much less than a restaurant?” He would like to see the proposed 8.7 % fee increase go away. Mr. McDonald replied that the Health Department will make personnel cuts July 1, 2003 and that he anticipates more staff reductions in 2004. The fees reflect the present workload and the work involved in the programs.

 

Larry Gabelein, a septic installer voiced his disagreement with the raise in septic fees. Commissioner Mike Shelton acknowledged that the septic fees are indeed too high. “Everything is going up, but people involved say that continuing the service is more important than the rise in fees.” Mr. Gabelein said that he was concerned about the possibility of raising fees again next year.  Commissioner Shelton stated that Island County gets a maximum of 1% rise in revenue each year, and that the Board is just trying to keep the health department in business.

Commissioner Bill Thorn then moved that In the Matter of Revision of the Environmental Health Service Fee Schedule of the Island County Health Department, Resolution HD-19-02, C-99-02 be approved.  Commissioner Mac McDowell seconded. The motion passed for the Commissioners to sign.

 

 

  1. Commissioner Mike Shelton presented the proposed change of BOH meeting dates for the Months of January and February 2003.  Commissioner Mac McDowell moved that the BOH meet on January 13 and February 10 at 1:15 p.m.  Commissioner Bill Thorn seconded.  The dates were approved for the BOH to meet in Special Session on these dates.  

 

There being no further business, Commissioner Mike Shelton adjourned the meeting at 2:10 p.m.  The next regularly scheduled Board of Health will reconvene Monday, December 16th, 2002 at 1:15 p.m.

 

 

 

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

 

Minutes approved this 16th day of December 2002

 

ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

Mike Shelton, Chairman