Minutes of the Island County Board of Health

Monday July 21, 2003

Members Present: Commissioners: Mike Shelton, Mac McDowell, William J. Byrd; Barbara Saugen, WGH Commissioner; Mayor Patty Cohen, Oak Harbor, Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary to the Board

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Absent: Captain Susan B. Herrold, NC USN (Naval Hospital Oak Harbor)

Call to Order: Commissioner Mac McDowell called this regular scheduled meeting of the Island County Board of Health to order at 1:19 p.m.

There were no changes to the agenda.

Minutes: Commissioner Mike Shelton moved that the minutes for the June 16, 2003 meeting be approved as written. Mayor Patty Cohen seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

There was no Public Input or Comments.

Issues:

• Health Services Director Tim McDonald distributed a letter addressed to Mr. Peter Borden, President, Whidbey General Hospital Board of Directors, concerning the Potential Loss of Whidbey General Hospital Dental Clinic. (See attachment) Commissioner Mac McDowell suggested a slight revision but was in agreement with the content. Mr. McDonald then gave a brief outline of the reasons the dental clinic was started in the fall of 1996, stating that the need is still there and that the clinic had played a significant role in the decrease in the number of children found with tooth decay in the recent screening of more than 700 3^rd grade children conducted by the Smile Project. The scheduled clinic closure is anticipated to be only an interim situation until additional funding and/or volunteer providers can be located. Commissioner Byrd asked if closure of the Dental Clinic was based on financial concerns. Hospital Commissioner Barbara Saugen stated that the current dentist’s leaving with no identified replacement has a great deal to do with the closure, and yes, financial concerns are the foremost reason for the present closure. The clinic operated at a loss of $48,000 and $74,000 for the last two years respectively. More discussion ensued with the understanding that financial viability of the clinic is basic to its reopening. Mr. McDonald commented that the hospital administration must take a leadership role in keeping this particularly important clinic available to the low-income residents of the community, and that a long-term plan for the clinic’s operation needs to be implemented.
  
  

Contracts:

• Since there were 12 contracts to consider, Commissioner Mac McDowell asked for conversation on the contracts. The only contract for which any comments were made was Contract #12, (Department of Ecology-Site Hazard Assessment) Contract No.: G0200037 Amendment No. 1, Contract Amount $80,000; amendment amount: $0. There was a brief discussion regarding this particular contract.
  
  

The other Contract Numbers and amounts:
1. 20958, amendment #6; contract amount: $93,574; amendment amount: $5,538
2. HD-08-03; contract amount: $15,000
3. HD-13-02, amendment #1; contract amount: $3,000; amendment amount: $1,500
4. HD-07C-97; amendment #4; contract amount: $7,000; amendment amount: $0
5. 0363-29794; contract amount: $6,916
6. 0263-07975, amendment #2; contract amount: $151,671; amendment amount: $86,424
7. N10792, amendment#2; contract amount: $36,500; amendment amount: $21,000
8. HD-07-03; contract amount: $15,950
9. 0269-12830, amendment #1; contract amount: Fee for Service; amendment amount: Fee For Service
10. C08679, amendment #4; contract amount: $628,430; amendment amount: $66,126
11. 20872, amendment #7; contract amount: $81,539; amendment amount: $4,534

• Commissioner Mike Shelton moved that all contracts be approved. Mayor Patty Cohen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Health Department Report:

Health Services Director Tim McDonald said there was no report. The dry weather we have is drying up the puddles so this is preventing mosquito problems. Quick rains that create puddles will be a good habitat for breeding mosquitoes, however.

Adjourn: There being no further business, Commissioner Mac McDowell adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Board of Health will be August 18, 2003 at the usual time and location.

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

Minutes approved this 18^th day of August 2003.

ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

Mac McDowell, Chairman