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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF KITTITAS
STATE OF WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN
KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND GRANT COUNTY HEALTH
DISTRIC T FOR SHARED EPIDEMIOLOGY SERVICES
RESOLUTION No. 2026-cfr\
WHEREAS, Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) is responsible for
protecting and promoting the health of Kittitas County residents, including
conducting disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations, and data
analysis; and
WHEREAS, Washington State law, including RCW 39.34, authorizes local government
entities to enter interlocal agreements to cooperatively provide
govefflmental services in a more efficient and effective manner; and
WHEREAS, Kittitas County has collaborated with Grant County Health District to
support shared epidemiology capacity in order to strengthen public health
preparedness, response, and routine surveillance activities; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Interlocal Agreement for Shared Epidemiology Services
establishes the terms and conditions under which participating
jurisdictions will share staffing, costs, and responsibilities related to
epidemiologY services; and
WHEREAS, adoption of this Interlocal Agreement will support continuity of
epidemiologic services, efficient use of limited public health resources,
and improved regional coordination; and
WHEREAS, the Interlocal Agreement has been reviewed by staff and legal counsel and
is recommended for aPProval.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Board of County Commissioners,
approves the Interlocal Agreement Between Kittitas County Public Health and Grant
iounty Health District for Shared Epidemiology Services as presented.
ADoPTED tnsdauv"r Affi [ 2026.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ABSENT
cory Wright, Chair
ATTEST Vice-Chair
oard County Commissioner
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INTERTOCAL AGREEMENT
Between
KITTITAS COUNTY
and
GRANT COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT
SHARED EPIDEMIOLOGY SERVICES
This lnterlocal Agreement (hereinafter the "Agreement") is entered into by and between Kittitas
County, a municipal corporation of the State of Washington, by and through its Public Health
Department ("KCPHD"), and Grant County Health District ("GCHD"), for the services of a qualified
Epidemiologist ("Shared Epidemiologist").
WHEREAS, the parties are public agencies as defined in the lnterlocalCooperation Act (RCW
39.34), and wish to enter into this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of said Act, which allows public
agencies to cooperate on a basis of mutual advantage to provide services and facilities in an optimized
manner to address the needs of local communities; and
WHEREAS, the Foundational Public Health Services ('FPHS") Steering Committee of Washington
State, using the appropriations of the Washington State Legislature, has provided Foundational Public
Health Services funding to KCPHD; and
WHEREAS, the FPHS Steering Committee has stipulated that such funding is to be used to
support the employment of a qualified epidemiologist, whose services are to be shared between KCPHD
and GCHD; and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to utilize said funding for its intended purpose, and to delineate the
respective rights and obligations of each party with respect to this cooperative endeavor, and
WHEREAS, the governing body of each party to this Agreement has approved such party's
involvement in the cooperative interlocal activities as described herein; and
WHEREAS; it is mutually beneficial for the parties to enter into this Agreement at this time;
NOW, THEREFORE, Kittitas County Public Health Department and Grant County Health District hereby
agree as follows:
L Purpose. The purpose of this Agreement is to outline how the services of the Shared
Epidemiologist will be shared between the parties to strengthen regional public health capacity;
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for
enhance surveillance, data analysis, and response capabilities; and support coordinated public
health practices across both jurisdictions. The parties agree that the Shared Epidemiologist's full
time equivalent (FTE) will be shared between the parties as follows: 600/oto GCHD, and 40% to
KCPHD.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be from the last date of signature and shall continue
until this Agreement is terminated by either party as provided herein. This Agreement may be
reviewed annually in January of each year, for performance, funding, and operational needs.
3. Responsibilities of the Parties.
a. Kittitas Countv's Responsibilities
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lnterlocal Agreement
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ilt
serve as the employer of record and manage payroll, benefits, and HR functions
Provide administrative supervision of the shared Epidemiologist through the
Deputy Director of KCPHD or designee.
Provide primary equipment, software, access to applicable systems, and central
services support such as legal and information technology (lT) for KCpHD
matters.
lnitiate and approve training and professional development requests.
b. Grant Countv Health District's Responsibilities:
i. Provide Shared Epidemiologist with workplan for GCHD tasks.
ii. Provide programmatic input and priorities through the GCHD Administrator or
designee.
iii. Provide access to legal and lT support services for GCHD matters.
iv. Ensure the Shared Epidemiologist has:
o Secure access to GCHD databases and systems
o Access to GCHD policies and confidentiality requirements
v. Host the Shared Epidemiologist in Grant County at least one (1) day per week, with
additional in-person time as needed.
vi. Participate in onboarding, orientation, and cross-training.
vii. Supply Shared Epidemiologist with key card access to GCHD buildings.
c. Joint Responsibilities of the Parties
Share decision-making authority regarding:
o Priorities
o Workload balance
ilt.
o Performanceevaluation
Coordinate weekly check ins between leadership to provide updates and
maintain regular communication regarding the Shared Epidemiologist projects
and priorities.
Conduct monthly coordination meetings between leadership to review:
o Workload
o Deliverables
o Upcoming priorities
Confer jointly to resolve conflicting priorities.
Conduct a joint annual performance evaluation of the Shared Epidemiologist.
Require weekly written reports from the Shared Epidemiologist covering:
o Projects and progress
o Meetings and trainings
o Barriers, recommendations, and support needs
Use official communication channels consistent with jurisdiction policies and
com munication matrices.
Ensure secure access to required databases and shared systems.
Coordinate between lT departments to ensure:
o Compatibility
o Cybersecurity
o Compliance with standards
Host shared analytic tools on mutually agreed-upon platforms.
ln the event of turnover, collaborate on recruitment, onboarding, and interim
coverage.
For the Shared Epidemiologist Responsibilities, please refer to the Shared Epidemiologist Scope of Work
(Appendix A).
4. Points of Contact. The parties' addresses and points of contact for any notices to be delivered
under this Agreement are as follows:
KITTITAS COUNTY GRANT COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT
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IV
vi
vii.
viii
ix.
X.
xi.
507 N Nanum Street, Suite 102
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Chelsey Loeffers
Director
Kittitas County Public Health Department
Chelsey. loeffe rs@co, kittitas.wa. us
s09-962-7515
1038 W lvy Ave Suite 1
Moses Lake WA 98837
Theresa Adkinson
Administrator
Grant County Health District
TAd kinson @gra nthea lth.o rg
509-793-3520
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5. Budeet and Pavment. KCPHD manages the Foundational Public Health Services funding
allocated by The FPHS Steering Committee for shared epidemiology capacity. Any costs
associated with the Shared Epidemiologist beyond the allocated funding shall be shared equally
between the parties as set forth in a budget agreed to by both Parties. This includes, but is not
limited to, travel, training, and equipment costs.
6. Administration. For the purposes of RCW 39.34.030(4)(a), the points of contact as listed in
section 4. above shall be the administrators of this Agreement. No separate legal or
administrative entity is created by this Agreement. No joint budget or financing method is
created by this Agreement; each party will manage its own financing and budgeting processes
hereunder. This Agreement will be posted online or filed with the county auditor as required by
RCW 39.34.040.
7. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written agreement of
the parties. Additionally, this Agreement may be terminated unilaterally at any time by either
party with ninety (90) days' written notice to the other party. Termination of this Agreement by
any means provided herein shall not excuse either party's performance of its obligations
hereunder through the effective date of termination.
8. Modification. The parties may modify the terms of this Agreement through one or more formal
written amendments, signed by both parties.
9. Notices. Written notices required or permitted to be provided by one party to the other party
under this Agreement may be provided by personal delivery, legal courier service, or certified
mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested. Notice may be provided by regular first
class mail if simultaneous notice is provided by email. Notices given by a party shall be provided
to the other party's point of contact as listed in Section 4. of this Agreement.
10. lnsurance. Each party hereto shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain
insurance coverage adequate to cover its activities under this Agreement, but at a minimum
must maintain (1) Commercial General Liability insurance coverage with limits not less than
S1,000,000 per occurrence, for all covered losses, and S3,000,000 general aggregate, with
S1,000,000 products and completed operations aggregate and 51,000,000 personaland
advertising injury, each offense; and (2)CommercialAutomobile Liability lnsurance coverage for
owned, non-owned, hired, and leased vehicles, with limits not less than $1,000,000 combined
single limit. Each party will provide the other party, prior to the commencement of activities
under this Agreement, a certificate of insurance evidencing its applicable insurance policies.
11. Propertv. The parties do not anticipate acquiring jointly owned personalor real property under
this Agreement. Any personal property of a party used in the performance of this Agreement in
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the possession of the other party shall be returned to the owner promptly upon completion of
each task for which such personal property was utilized.
12. Records. Each party shall preserve and maintain its records relating to this Agreement for six (5)
years after termination or expiration of the Agreement. Such records shall be subject to
inspection, review and audit by either party, the Washington State Auditor's Office, or any other
entity as required by law. Each party will diligently respond to requests for public records it
receives under the Washington State Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. lf Kittitas County fails to
comply with the Washington State Public Records Act or any other applicable records retention
or disclosure laws, and as a result, liability attaches to GCHD due to the parties' cooperation and
association hereunder or due to the sharing of records and/or databases hereunder, then
Kittitas County shall indemnify GCHD for the full amount of any resulting damages awarded
against GCHD. lf GCHD fails to comply with the Washington State Public Records Act or any
other applicable records retention or disclosure laws, and as a result, liability attaches to Kittitas
County due to the parties' cooperation and association hereunder or due to the sharing of
records and/or databases hereunder, then GCHD shall indemnify Kittitas County for the full
amount of any resulting damages awarded against Kittitas County.
13. lndemnification. Each party will be responsible for its own acts and/or omissions in its
performance under this Agreement, and the acts and/or omissions of its employees, agents,
officials, and registered volunteers. Neither party shall be responsible to the other party for the
acts or omissions of persons or entities not a party to this Agreement. The parties agree to
maintain a consolidated defense to claims made against them and to reserve all indemnity
claims against each other until after liability to the claimant and damages, if any, are
adjudicated. lf any claim is resolved by voluntary settlement and the parties cannot agree upon
apportionment of damages and defense costs, they shall submit apportionment to binding
arbitration. The indemnification obligations of the parties shall not be limited in any way by the
Washington State lndustrial lnsurance Act, RCW Title 51, or by application of any other
workmen's compensation act, disability benefit act or other employee benefit act. Each party
hereby expressly waives any immunity afforded by such acts to the extent required by its
obligations to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party. A party's waiver of
immunity does not extend to claims made by its employees directly against the party as
employer. The foregoing indemnification obligations of the parties are a material inducement
to enter into this Agreement and have been mutually negotiated. Notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary in this Agreement, for purposes of indemnification and liability
hereunder GCHD shall indemnify and hold harmless Kittitas County from any and all claims,
demands, lawsuits (including attorneys' fees and costs), damages and liability arising out of the
performance of the Shared Epidemiologist when the Shared Epidemiologist is acting on behalf of
or performing services for GCHD, as provided herein.
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L4. lndeoendent Capacitv. Each party to this Agreement shall act in an independent capacity and
not as an agent or representative of the other party. The employees or agents of each party
who are engaged in the performance of this Agreement shall continue to be the employees or
agents of that party, and shall not be considered for any purpose to be the employees or agents
of the other party, except in regard to the Shared Epidemiologist, as described herein. GCHD
shall not be obligated to pay the Shared Epidemiologist and the Shared Epidemiologist shall not
be entitled to any benefits accorded to GCHD employees by virtue of the services provided
under this Agreement.
15. Severabilitv. lf any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not
affect the other provisions of this Agreement that can be given effect without the invalid
provision, if such remainder is consistent with applicable law and with the fundamental purpose
of this Agreement, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be
severable.
16. Waiver. The waiver by a party of any default or breach of this Agreement, or the failure of a
party to enforce any provision hereof or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall not be
deemed to waive any prior or subsequent breach or default, the enforcement of any provision
hereof, or the exercise of any right or privilege hereunder, unless otherwise stated in a signed
writing by the party granting such waiver.
17. Disputes. ln the event of a dispute between the parties relating to this Agreement, the parties
agree to make a good faith attempt to resolve such dispute informally, prior to the
commencement of any legal action or arbitration.
1.8. Governine Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington.
19. Force Maieure. ln the event of a forced delay in performance by a party of its obligations under
this Agreement, due to causes beyond that party's reasonable control, including but not limited
to natural disasters, epidemics, embargoes, war, insurrection, riots, or strikes, such party's time
for performance under this Agreement shall be extended for the period of the forced delay.
20. Entire Aereement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and
supersedes any and all other agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, oral or
written, express or implied, relating to the subject matter hereof.
lN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by and on behalf of the parties through their
authorized representatives, effective as of the latest date written below.
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GRANT COUNTY HEATTH DISTRICT
4lH)">.r-r,
Signature
Printed Name
Date
Tit
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY
Cory Wright, Chairman
trman
sstoner
Clerk of the
ABSENT
h,
Laura CZ,
Date: O q Izl lYto
Attest: t
SEAL
7
lnterlocal Agreement
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APPENDIX A- Shared Epidemiologist Scope of Work
The Shared Epidemiologist's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Broad -Ongoing, high-level areas of responsibility that define the Shared Epidemiologist's core work
o Conduct surveillance, data analysis, and epidemiologic investigations for communicable and
non-communica ble diseases.o Develop and maintain data collection tools and analytic databases for disease surveillance.r Design and produce visualizations and reports for leadership, staff, and community partners.. Support the Community Health Assessment (CHA)and Community Health lmpiovement Plan
(CHIP) through data analysis and indicator monitoring.o Provide technical assistance to staff on epidemiologic methods, data interpretation, and data
visualization.o Contribute data and analyses to grant applications and required performance reporting.o Create and maintain policies, procedures, and guidelines around data usage and data
best practices.
r Maintain data sharing agreements.r Assist the Communicable Disease team with outbreaks, as needed.r Collaborate with emergency response staff on preparedness exercises and training.
Specific -Concrete, topic-based, or time-limited deliverables.
o Provide regular respiratory season trend reports (interval determined by jurisdiction).
o Work with each jurisdiction's Child Fatality Review (CFR) team to summarize
data, identify trends, and identify opportunities for local systems-level prevention strategies.o Collaborate with harm reduction programs to develop surveillance systems, analyze overdose
and substance use trends, and provide insights to inform local prevention strategies.o Monitor and analyze zoonotic disease trends and provide regular reports to staffo Provide data to staff on county vaccination rates to inform focused ou to im
vaccination rates.
o Provide social media content to communications staff, as requested
Cross-Jurisdictional or Collaborative-Work requiring coordination, consisten
across both counties.
r Coordinate outbreak detection, response, and after-action analyses across ons.r Assist in developing protocols to make opioid overdoses reportable in both Kittitas and Grant
Counties, including the creation of surveillance and communication systems.. Work with Local Emergency Response Coordinator and Communicable Disease Team to create
an lnfectious Disease Emergency Response Plan (IDER) for both jurisdictions.
r Maintain and align data sharing agreements and data use policies between jurisdictions.
o Share data products, analyses, and key findings that promote consistent understanding and
messaging across the two local health jurisdictions.
r Other duties as assigned.
The Shared Epidemiologist will participate regularly in the following meetings:
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Grant County Health District
o lnfection Control meeting with Grant County Hospitals, currently consisting of:
o Samaritan Hospital - 3'd Tuesday every quarter
o Columbia Basin Hospital - 1't Thursday every quarter
r Board of Health (as needed)-monthly
o Grant County Health Officer Meeting- weekly
o All Staff - bi-monthly
o PHEP Team - bi-monthly
o Division Huddles-weekly (remote participation)
o All=staff huddles- weekly (remote participation)
o l&R Division meetings as needed
o CHIP Steering committee - bi-weekly
Kittitas County Public Health Department
o KVH check in- 1't and 3'd Monday of each month
o KCPHD CD check in- weekly
o PHldivision meeting- monthly
. Board of Health (as needed)- quarterly
Regional
r Epi Consortium - Accountable Communities of Health call only
r Region 7 Healthcare Alliance
Washington State
o WSALPHO Assessment Committee- monthly meeting
o DOH CD EPI call-monthly
o DOH Wastewater Epi- monthly
o One Health Annual Meeting (CWU)
National
o NAACHO Assessment Workgroup
lf attending virtually, the Shared Epidemiologist's web camera must always be on, unless previously
approved.
This is not a comprehensive list and other meeting attendance may
be required as determined by jurisdiction leadership.
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