Island County Board of
Health
Monday, October 18,
2004
Members
Present: Commissioners: Mike Shelton, Mac McDowell, William J.
Byrd; Members: Barbara Saugen, WGH
Commissioner; Mayor Patty Cohen, Oak Harbor, Roger S. Case, MD, Executive
Secretary to the Board; Ex-Officio
Member: Captain Susan B. Herrold,
Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor.
Absent: No Members absent.
Call to
Order: Commissioner Bill Byrd called this
regularly scheduled session of the Island County Board of Health to order at
1:18 p.m.
Agenda: There were no additions to the
agenda.
Minutes: Commissioner Mac McDowell moved that the
minutes for the September 20, 2004 meeting be approved as written. Commissioner Mike Shelton seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign
on behalf of the Board.
New
Business
CHAB Appointments: Commissioner Barbara Saugen advised the Board members of two highly qualified student candidates for the Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB), and moved that the Board approve the following applicants to these positions:
Sean Parshall, Coupeville High School Junior – Student Member
Robbert Sadesky, Coupeville High School Junior – Student Member
Mayor Cohen seconded and the motion was unanimously approved for appointment as recommended to the positions noted.
Human Service Cutbacks/The Impacts on our Community – Jackie Henderson, Human Services Director reported to the Board that she has never seen money as tight as it is now. “The State of Washington is relying heavily on Federal funding for local programs which means that Federal rules apply. Complying with the data collection and required reports causes administrative costs to go through the roof. Low pay and onerous amounts of paperwork is causing a staffing crisis, especially in the Substance Abuse and Developmental Disabilities areas.”
“Mental Health programs, too, are dependent on Federal Medicaid money. Clients must be on Medicare in order to obtain most services. With tightening rules, even the hospital crisis line is moving towards serving only Medicaid eligible clients. Millage money that has been historically used for County programs such as mental health professionals in the schools must now be used only for Medicaid clients.”
“Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment is being seriously impacted by the closure of inpatient treatment beds causing an average wait of 6-months. Also, DASA is passing more and more administrative duties onto the Counties, decreasing funds and counseling available for direct care.”
“Division of Developmental Disabilities is also relying more and more on Federal funds. Those already in the system were able to get a Medicaid waiver and we are directed to provide them with everything that they need. But under current rules fewer people are now eligible for services.”
Vin Sherman, Health Department Environmental Health Specialist, presented an overview of the Health Department’s written Staff Report. Following that overview, Larry Kwarsick, representing Gene and Sally Bigger in their application, addressed the Board on behalf of Gene and Sally Bigger. Mr. Kwarsick advised that the five water systems that could potentially serve this property had been contacted and all had declined to provide service. He also reported that there is limited opportunity to relocate a potential well due to the locations of existing septic fields.
Cynthia Miller, owner of the adjoining property to the west of the Bigger’s lot, read a letter to the Board. She related that she and her husband want to protect their own property development rights. They currently occupy a 1-bedroom cabin and have not yet pursued their building options. They want the right to preserve the current well sanitation area since their future septic options are limited. She reiterated that they are trying to maintain future development options. (Of note, the Miller’s current grandfathered well-site protection radius impacts the Bigger’s property to an almost similar degree that the Bigger’s waiver request would impact the Millers… and in the same radius area protection zone.)
Commissioner Shelton suggested that the Biggers and Millers strike an agreement to decommission both of their wells if public water becomes available. Ms. Miller said that they would be willing to consider that. The Millers want any agreement tied to the land title and not to an individual owner.
Mr. Zintars Zamelis, owner of the adjoining property to the east of the Bigger property, told the Board that he is being asked to provide something without anything in return. He related having signed a prior letter refusing an easement onto his property. His property has a “hand-dug” well dug in 1946 though 1948 that currently meets his needs. He stated his willingness to negotiate around the prospect of a community water line becoming available.
Larry Kwarsick asked, on behalf of the Biggers, that the Board act on their waiver request. They think that this would ensure agreements with adjacent property owners.
Commissioner Shelton would like to see more discussion between the neighbors. The Board entertained the idea of approving the waiver subject to the 3 parties agreeing to easements and to decommissioning their wells if public water becomes available in the future. Gene Bigger asked for some kind of closing date so that an agreement will be “time certain”. Commissioner McDowell said his approval would have to be subject to the easements being acceptable to all three parties and he would not agree unless that happens. He wants the three parties to come to some kind of agreement. The Millers want professional/legal help in writing any agreement and were not comfortable agreeing to anything informally today. Mr. Zamelis concurs with the Millers. Larry Kwarsick says the Biggers are willing to have an attorney draw up an agreement for all parties.
Commissioner Shelton moved that the Board approve the well waiver that has been requested subject to an agreement between the Bigger, Miller and Zamelis families. Mayor Cohen seconded the motion. Commissioner McDowell opined that a date limitation is necessary in the event an agreement is not negotiated among the three parties, and moved to amend the motion to add that if there is no agreement between the three parties, the Biggers can come back to the Board in 60 days. Mayor Cohen seconded the motion to amend. The amended motion then passed unanimously.
Contracts:
Department of Health-Consolidated Contract
Contract No. C08679, Amendment 13
Contract Amount: $1,058,581
Amendment Amount: $18,869
Commissioner Mike Shelton moved that Department of Health/Consolidated Contract – Contract No. C08679, Amendment 13 (Contract Amount $1,058,581, Amendment Amount $18,869) be approved. Mayor Cohen seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.
Report from the Health Department:
Tim McDonald, Health Services Director, updated the Board on the global and local status of the flu vaccine. He let the Board know that all local providers had been canvassed for what they had received and what they needed. Mr. McDonald relayed that all doses potentially received would be focused at high-risk individuals. In order to administer vaccine to high-risk persons, 8,500 doses would be needed. The Health Department is guessing that it might get 1,250 doses. If the 1,250 doses do come, the Health Department will retain 100 doses and complete vaccinating in the elderly care facilities. The remainder will all go to our community health providers who will be asked to administer the vaccine according to the CDC priorities. Mr. McDonald handed out the CDC guidelines to the Board and made some suggestions on strategies for individuals to prevent getting the flu.
Public Input or Comments:
There were no public comments.
Adjourn:
There being no further business, Commissioner Byrd adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Board of Health meeting will be on November 15, 2004.
Submitted: Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary to the Board
Minutes approved this 15th day of November 2004.
William J. Byrd, Chairman