HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-18-minutes-board-of-healthKittitas County
Public Health
p a r t m e n t
To Protect and Promote the Health and the Environment of the People of Kittitas County
KITTITAS COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH (BOH)
Meeting Minutes
May 18, 2023
Commissioners' Auditorium
10:00am
Present
Board of Health (BOH): Brett Wachsmith, Cory Wright, Laura Osiadacz, Dede Utley, John Asriel M.D., James
Donaldson
Public Health: Candi Blackford, Jesse Cox, Chelsey Loeffers, Marie Marchand, Kasey Knutson, Erin Moore, Cambron
Walker, MacKenzie Carter, Lianne Bradshaw, Kate Johnson, Audi Martinez, Dora Beukelman, Whitney Wheelock,
Mark Larson M.D. (arrived late)
Meeting called to order at 10:00am
Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the April 20, 2023 Board of Health meeting minutes as presented.
Motion 05-01: Motion to approve the April 120, 2023, meeting minutes as presented. Brett Wachsmith moved to
approve the April 20, 2023, meeting minutes as presented. John Asriel, M.D., second. All approved. Motion 05-01
carried to approve the April 20, 2023, meeting minutes as presented.
Public comment open at 10:01 am
Public Comment done at 10:01 am
Department Updates
Director/Administrative Officer Reports
Chelsey Loeffers reported on the following:
Staff Updates
+ Erin Moore celebrates 15 years at KCPHD.
• KCPHD has a new intern, Sara Anderson is a KVH emergency department nurse and doctoral student at
WSU. She will be working with our Mental Health Programs Coordinator Marie Marchand to adapt a
youth suicide prevention curriculum and prepare to pilot it in a local school this fall.
• The department will welcome a new office aid Jon Isitt. Gabby was not able to continue with us.
Departmental updates
• Marie Marchand brought the two funding proposals to the 1/10th board for Comprehensive's Crisis Case
Management Program at the Emergency Department and Behavioral Health Court.
o Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended to BOCC to fund both programs at current
operating levels through December 2023, then programs could participate in RFP process.
o Recommendation was brought to BOCC on 5/8, BOCC approved by resolution.
o KCPHD is processing contracts to begin July 1, 2023.
o Next 1/10th board meeting will be in June and will to establish bylaws, and July meeting will focus
on RFP. Hope to bring RFP for approval to August BOH.
FPHS update
• FPHS Steering Committee met May 9th and decision making on proposals began but were not complete.
• Final decisions will be June 1.
0 Based on approved proposals the following will receive funding:
o EH Supervisor funding support to offset the need for supervisor to be conducting inspections or
billing to administration to pay for position time. Allows supervisor to focus on supervision of
programs, policy, workforce development, administrator tasks.
o Funding to support childhood immunization outreach and education.
o EM funding will be approved but negotiating at what level.
o Thanked leadership staff for participating in SME groups.
• Final proposals for FPHS funding will be provided at the June BOH
NASH leadership training
• The department is looking into leadership training in collaboration with Grant, Chelan/Douglas, and
Okanogan Health Districts. The training emphasizes leadership development skills, team building
internally and with regional partners. Training is paid for through FPHS.
Program Updates
Chelsey Loeffers attended the LBOH and leadership training in Blaine.
o Presentation from CDC on PH law and risk communication
o Region will be inviting CDC to provide training locally in the fall.
Environmental Health
o Five staff attended the annual Washington State Environmental Health Association (WSEAHA)
Conference.
• Jesse participated on a WSEAHA panel highlighting our EH FPHS work and how is
supported the transition from a specialist to generalist model.
o Dan Suggs received his Designer's License- Congratulations.
Health Promotion
o Rebekah Moon was invited to present at the Washington State Environmental Health Association
conference by the Washington State DOH team to present on her Clean Air Room project that
she has worked on over the last year. She presented two times during the conference along with
Seattle King County and Pierce County. She did an amazing job representing Kittitas County
Public Health.
Health Officer Report
Mark Larson M.D gave a brief update on COVID-19.
• Reducing masking in public and health care offices.
• Federal Emergency Declaration removed this last week.
• Still to report positive COVID tests/outbreaks to state.
• Oregon has made COVID no longer a reportable condition- Washington State Health Officers may make
the same recommendation.
• Still have antivirals for those who are in need- soon patients will have to pay for this or insurance
companies will need to be billed.
• It is unknown how much COVID there is currently due to home testing and no mandatory reporting
measures.
• Working on communicable disease wastewater tracking. Will attend a conference in June.
Dr. Larson also reported that the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory has stated that Loneliness has become an
epidemic in U.S. and will send the report to the BOH.
Dr. Larson reported on the new drug xylazine that is now being mixed with fentanyl. Xylazine is not reactive to
Narcan. The issue is on the rise and the drug could be a factor in possible increase in overdose deaths. Governor
Jay Inslee announced a new law that would make drug possession a gross misdemeanor in the hopes that help
could be sought for those being charged with those kinds of possessions. Dr. Larson also noted that Narcan could
be available over the counter soon. This could be a good thing as it will be accessible to the public, but with this
change comes a fee and not all will be able to afford this. Insurance companies will not pay for something that is
over the counter and could be a barrier in the future.
CHA CHIP Update
Chesley Loeffers introduced Mackenzie Carter and Lianne Bradshaw and acknowledged their hard work and the
importance of the work for the community.
Ms. Carter and Ms. Bradshaw presented the following update on the Community Health Assessment and
Community Health Improvement Plan:
• What is CHA/CHIP.
• Kittitas County 2023 CHA/CHIP timeline.
• Identified Topics and prioritization of topics.
• Top 3 Strategic Issues: Mental Health and Substance Use+ Behavioral Health, Healthcare, Family Support.
• What is the Action Cycle: planning, implementation, evaluation.
• Responsibilities: KCHN and KCPHD responsibilities divided and collaborative.
• Use of the CHA/CHIP and drivers of local health work.
Resolution to approve ame ciment to the Board of Health Bylaws
After some discussion was had by the board it was decided to hold off on this agenda item until June or July.
Request ioint_BOH/BOCC Public Hearing to consider Kittitas_ County Water Code
Jesse Cox requested a joint BOH/BOCC Public Hearing on Thursday June 15th at 10:00 am to consider changes to
the Kittitas County Water Code.
05-02: Motion 05-02 to request a joint BOH/BOCC Public Hearing to consider changes to the Kittitas County Water
Code. Brett Wachsmith moved to approve a joint BOH/BOCC Public Hearing to consider changes to the Kittitas
County Water Code. James Donaldson second. All approved. Motion 05-02 carried to approve a joint BOH/BOCC
Public Hearing to consider changes to the Kittitas County Water Code.
Meeting concluded at 11:13 am
Chelsey LoeYerswifeaKr
Kittitas County Public Health
wb'Ow
Candi Blackford, Clerk of the Board of Health