HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-15-minutes-board-of-healthKittitas County
Public Health
To Protect and Promote the Health and the Environment of the People of Kittitas County
KITTITAS COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH (BOH)
Meeting Minutes
September 15,2022
Commissioners' Auditorium and WebEx
10:00a m
Present
Board of Health (BOH): Dede Utley, Cory Wright, Brett Wachsmith, John Asriel M.D
Absent: Laura Osiadacz, James Donaldson
Public Health: Katie Odiaga, Whitney Wheelock, Erin Moore, Kasey Knutson, Chelsey Loeffers, Candi Blackford,
Kate Johnson, Mark Larson M.D., Lianne Bradshaw, Marie Betts, Mackenzie Carter
Meeting called to order at 10:00am
Intrnductiont
Introductions were made.
Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the August 18, 2022 Board of Health meeting minutes as presented.
Motion 09-01: Motion to approve the August 18, 2022, Board of Health meeting minutes as presented. Dede
Utley moved to approve the August 18, 2022, Board of Health meeting minutes as presented. John Asriel
second. All approved. Motion 09-01 carried to the August 18, 2022, Board of Health meeting minutes as
presented.
Public Comment Open 10:01 am
Public Comment Closed 10:01 am
Department Updates
Appoint Acting Health Officer via Resolution
Chelsey Loeffers stepped the podium and reviewed that the current resolution is out of date. This was last updated
in 2005. The resolution would allow Grant County, Chelan Douglas County, and Okanogan County health officers to
provide backup coverage when ours is out.
09-02: Motion to approve the Board of Health Resolution 2022-005 Appointing an Acting Health Officer. Cory
Wright moved to approve the Board of Health Resolution 2022-005 Appointing an Acting Health Officer. John
Asriel second. All Approved. Motion 09-02 Carried to approve the Board of Health Resolution 2022-005 Appointing
an Acting Health Officer.
Administrative Officer Update
Chelsey Loeffers updated the following:
• Updated the new department hours as of October 1, 2022, will be 8:00am- 4:00pm, Monday- Friday.
• No significant fee changes, so there is no update at today's meeting on fees.
• Governor Inslee to end COVID-19 State of Emergency on October 31, 2022.
o No impact to COVID -19 funding
o End of vaccine requirements in health care settings
o Mask mandate for health care settings will remain in place
o State DOH is working on a matrix defining what changes and what does not
• Attended the BOH annual orientation in Spokane put on by WSALPHO.
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The health department will host a flu clinic on October 21, 2022, for pediatrics.
Full budget review next month.
Health Officer Update
Mark Larson discussed the great work Kate Johnson, Whitney Wheelock, and the rest of the communicable disease
team is currently doing. COVID-19 continues to spread and deaths from COVID are still happening, mostly in older
adults. The bivalent vaccine is out. Pfizer is out for ages 12 and up and Moderna is out for ages 18 and up. The
health department will start with nursing homes for vaccine distribution.
Monkey Pox Virus numbers are flattening out due to education, outreach, vaccination, and treatment. Dr.Larson
also gave a brief update on the following:
• Possible increase in influenza activity this year.
• Polio outbreaks are occurring in New York.
• Noro-virus outbreak on the Pacific Crest Trail.
■ Discussion about systems that are available to use to determine air quality during fire seasons and what
one to use. He also discussed the air quality index numbers and when to reduce outside activities.
• The hospital has recently had to send a mental health patient to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma because
Children's Hospital was full.
• Discussed regional medical officer position.
Fee Update Report
Erin Moore updated the board on a couple of the environmental health fees:
• Removal of redesign submittal fees
• Addition of Homeowner design of Pressure and alternative (already have homeowner gravity)
No questions from the board.
Department Finance Report
Katie Odiaga reviewed the half year update:
• April -June 2022 Revenue and expenses
• Revenue
• Expenses
No questions from the board.
Other Business
Community Health Assessment progress presentation
Lianne Bradshaw reviewed a presentation on the Community Heath Assessment process the department is currently
working through. Ms. Bradshaw reviewed the following:
What is the Community Health Assessment
o Aims to describe the health of the community
o Looks at health status, community health needs, resources, and epidemiologic and other studies
of current local health problems
o Identifies populations and areas that have better or worse health outcomes
o Helps measure how well a public health system is functioning
o Informs community decision-making and prioritization of health outcomes
o Part of an ongoing broader community health improvement process (CHIP)
• What is the Community Health Improvement Plan
o Uses CHA data to identify priority issues, develop and implement strategies for action, and
establish accountability to ensure measurable health improvement
o Action plan to address health issue identified in the CHA
o Requires collaboration with multiples organizations/stakeholders
■ Who are the community partners
• The Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Framework
■ The four assessments
o Community Health Status Assessment
o Community Themes and Strengths Assessment
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o Forces of Change
o Local Public Health System Assessment
Current work the department is doing
Upcoming work the department will do
Timeline
COVID-19 Health Equity Coalitionpresentation
Mackenzie Carter presented the Mini Grant Project COVID-19 Heath Equity Coalition process. Ms. Carter reviewed
the Social Determinants of Health and what contributes to these. Ms. Carter reviewed the project process that
started in October of 2021 and ended with the applications submitted and chosen by June 2022. There were a total
of twenty one applications received and six were rejected as they were deemed unallowable due to the meeting
grant requirements. This made fifteen applications scorable. The Health Equity Coalition scored the applications.
They were ranked and weighted, followed by group discussion. The following applicants were awarded:
• APOYO- $22,500.00
• Gallery One $25,000.00
• Kittitas County Early Learning Coalition $18,915.00
• Thorp School District $12,500.00
• Ellensburg School District $21,085.00
Board of Health Member Updates
• Dede Utley noted the following:
o KVH continues to have staff shortages and the toll it is taking on KVH.
o KVH continuing to have struggles with transferring patients due to other facilities having staff
shortages and lack of beds available.
o Transportation to other facilities with road construction takes EMS out of service for great
lengths of time.
o Attended a round table discussion at Central Washington University about suicide in rural
communities.
Cory Wright discussed the following:
o Kit -Com (911) organization is struggling with revenue issues.
o The county will be working with the city and community partners to work on planning for
continued growth in Kittitas County.
o BOCC will be pursuing a BOCC Executive Advisory Committee to review how the County
Commissioners handle workloads. The board will be appointing the members next week and will
be facilitated by the Washington Association of Counties. The committee will be made up of:
■ Commissioner
• 2 elected
■ 2 Department heads
• Finance
• 3 Citizens
• John Asriel updated the members on the Croton plant and uses.
Meeting concluded at 10:53 am
Bre achsmith, Board of Health Member
Che#sey L ffers, rector
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*Candickford, Clerk of the Board of Health