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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board - Minutes - 2/16/2015 BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING Bayfield County Annex Building – EOC Monday, February 16, 2015, 4:00 PM Present: John Bennett, Wayne Williams, Beth Meyers, Fred Strand Absent: Elaine Kopp, Deb Dryer, Harold Maki Staff: Terri Kramolis, Cathy Moore, Michelle Dale Others: Ken Jardine, Dee Kittleson, and Bayfield County & community residents 1. Call the Meeting to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm by Chairperson Meyers. 2. Approval of December 22, 2014 Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes of the December 22, 2014 meeting as presented was made by Bennett; motion seconded by Williams. Motion carried. 3. Adoption of Agenda: A motion to adopt the agenda as presented was made by Bennett; motion seconded by Strand. Motion carried with addition of a public comment section. Public Comment: Jim Zorn lives near the CAFO site. He wants the health board’s support in suggesting a moratorium go to Full County Board to explore more restrictive measures to monitor or prevent the CAFO. Dr. John Stewart is a professor at Northland College. As a scientist, he knows CAFO’s are a threat to public health. He would like the Health Board to recommend a moratorium to the County Board of Supervisors. Ellen Braddock Joined the meeting at this time. 4. Discussion and Possible Action of the 2014 Health Department Year End Resolution: The Board reviewed a resolution to amend the 2014 budget to account for the increase in the revenue and expense lines. The Health Board approved forwarding the resolution on to the County Board for approval and adoption. Motion to forward the resolution to the County Board for approval was made by Bennett; motion seconded by Braddock. Motion carried. 5. CAFO Discussion: The Health Department has been working to gather information about the potential public health implications related to the CAFO that will be coming to Bayfield County. Michelle Dale RS is our point of contact for the CAFO issue. Michelle gave a background on her education. She presented a summary on four areas of public health concern. Michelle’s information and presentation was taken from the National Association of Local Boards of Health addressing Understanding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Their Impact on Communities. Groundwater that is contaminated with nitrates can cause a variety of health problems including various forms of cancer. Other counties have suggested that we do baseline testing of bacteria and nitrates, and to monitor the wells for groundwater quality. Not just for wells in the area of the CAFO but also in the area where the manure will be spread. Ammonia from this manure that gets into the surface water can cause many adverse effects for aquatic life. The air contaminants can cause respiratory issues. Michelle verbalized that the health department does not have expertise in this area nor will we have enforcement power. The health department will be receiving complaints. It is only in the health realm that we have any role in response. We need to develop a work plan and calculate the cost involved. Early estimates of anticipated costs are between $2,000 to get a rough baseline, to best practice level of $5,000 - $8,000 for nitrate sampling. Meyers thought a minimum of $10,000 should be allowed for this. A well head protection program should be initiated to decrease ground water contamination in the areas where manure application will occur. It is extremely important for the Board of Health to be proactive. Based on recommendations and issues identified the BOH directed the health department to develop a work plan and budget and have this ready for review at the next BOH meeting. Strand would like the information on the CAFO forwarded to the Full County Board. Strand made a motion based upon the presentation and on the information in the Understanding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Their Impact on Communities’ by the National Association of Local Boards of Health, I move to send this report to the County Board with a recommendation based on public health issues identified in the report that the Board passes a moratorium in Livestock Facilities Licensing in Bayfield County; motion seconded by Braddock. Motion carried. 6. Fourth Quarter Budget Review: This is not the final for 2014. The majority of the 2014 expenses have been paid but we are still waiting for payments from several grants and also from Medicare. This is only informational. 7. TB Update: This is only informational for the Health Board. Bayfield County is a TB dispensary under contract with the State of Wisconsin. Communicable disease follow-up is mandated. Our role is to do case identification, acquire medications for the client and send testing samples to the state. Those who are positive are quarantined. The cost of the medications comes out of our budget, but we are partially reimbursed by the State. 8. Wisconsin Health Report: The Board of Health members were given the University of Wisconsin Population Health Report. The information in this report shows how the programs and services the Health Department delivers impacts the residents and community in Bayfield County. They grade the health in Wisconsin along with the length of life and the quality of life. Wisconsin dropped in its overall health rating. We need to look at opportunities to increase our rating. They look at social and physical environment. Many factors are taken into account in calculating the grade. These reports help direct us in the type of grants we write for that will address the issues identified. 9. HealthSpace Inspection Program: HealthSpace is the inspection program used by the Wisconsin Department of Health. Our sanitarians use this program. Inspection records are now on-line. People can look up the entity and see how they are rated. 10. Wisconsin Well Women Program (WWWP) Update: The State of Wisconsin is continuing to transition the WWWP program out of county structure. Our funding for the program will end June 30, 2015. This program allowed and paid for women to be tested for breast and cervical cancer. If they tested positive for cancer they could get Medical Assistance and be treated. The State is looking for a county to case manage for all counties in our area. No one has stepped up to do this. The State originally planned for a clinical entity to take over but that has not happened. Terri suggested we not take this on. It would be case managing hundreds of woman. 11. Next Meeting Date: Monday, April 20, 2015 at 4:00 pm in the EOC unless we decide we need to meet sooner. 12. Other Issues: None. 13. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 5:41 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Cathy Moore, Office Manager