HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-24-minutes-ph-study-sessionPublic Health Study Session (WEB EX)
June 24, 2020
10:00am
Commissioners Conference Room
Attendees
Commissioners: Brett Wachsmith, Cory Wright, Laura Osiadacz
Public Health: Candi Blackford, Tristen Lamb, Katie Odiaga, Mark Larson
Department Staffing update/requests
Tristen Lamb introduced Marie Betts, Infection Prevention Specialist and Disease Investigator, who has
been with the health department since Mid-May and initially joined Public Health as an intern before
leaving to go to grad school to earn her Master’s in Public Health, Biosecurity, Disaster Preparedness
and Epidemiology. Ms. Betts has stepped into a challenging position but has adapted well.
Two retirements next year. Rina Rowan, PH Fiscal Analyst and Tim Roth, PH Nurse. Working internally to
see what must be done and what can be absorbed. The department is working to come up with
solutions to these positions.
Ms. Lamb also noted that PH no longer has a Water Resources Program Coordinator. The department
still has a Water Resource Technician, Samantha Cox, who works at the front desk. Ms. Cox will be
working with the Public Works Water Resource Program Manger and they are working out the details of
a proposed transition in the upcoming months.
Department Business
COVID Updates
Tristen Lamb reviewed the Kittitas County Community Impact Dashboard and discussed new case
numbers to date. The department is working on doing daily contacts to those touched by COVID
patients. Ms. Lamb also showed the board on the Washington State Phase and Risk assessment page
that was currently not up to date. The board asked questions about Yakima cases being transferred to
our local hospital and Ms. Lamb followed up noting that we are watching the situation in Yakima as it
impacts our County and gave definition for the key metrics for hospital beds available and how this is
being tracked. Laura Osiadacz asked about resources being used to assist Yakima County. Ms. Lamb
responded noting that the o resources (i.e. case and contact staff time) being utilized to help Yakima
County is when there is a positive patient who touches Kittitas County (such as works in Kittitas County)
so that we can make sure that those patients are recovered before they come back to work in Kittitas
County.
Ms. Lamb noted that CARES funding budget updates to be sent to Commissioners every other Thursday
through August and more frequently as needed. Cory Wright thanked Ms. Lamb for her leadership
during this difficult time. Mr. Wright knows that it has been very stressful, rough, and lots of good
discussions and stated that she was valued. Mr. Wright also noted that Ms. Lamb is advocating for this
county and the difficult line to walk, but he knows she is out there fighting for the community.
Other Business
Ms. Lamb had a brief discussion about opening the department doors when county is ready to do so and
discussed the concerns about mental health and physical safety of the staff. This is still on the table and
no decision has been made yet. Ms. Lamb also discussed the possibility of changing the hours of the
department with the possibility of closing the department during the lunch hour. This item may come to
the Commissioners later.
Meeting adjourned at 10:24am
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Brett Wachsmith, BOCC Chair
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Candi Blackford, Clerk