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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board - Minutes - 2/13/2018BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING Tuesday, February 13, 2018 – 5:00 PM Bayfield County Annex Building EOC Present: Fred Strand, Jeremy Oswald, Ellen Braddock, Elaine Kopp, Jeff Silbert, Rachel Coughtry at 5:05 p.m. Absent: Deb Dryer Staff: Amy Jarecki, Sara Wartman, Tony Bondioli 1. Call the Meeting to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chairman Strand. 2. Approval of December 12, 2017 Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the December 12, 2017 minutes was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Silbert. Motion carried. 3. Public Comment: None. 4. Presentation on Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program Presentation by Tony Bondioli, RN, on the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant, highlighted local public health and community preparedness exercises including a community blood drive, influenza mass clinics for both community and school based and mass vaccine exercises in the schools. Community preparedness and community recovery are the two capabilities that will be focused on this year. All Health Department staff need to complete the required training which can be completed online or locally. Tony highlighted the main requirements of this grant, some of which are taking part in a preparedness exercise and drills, ensuring that all employees and any volunteers are properly trained, and submit the proposed, actual and end of year budgets by the required deadlines. Tony then shared the number of influenza vaccinations that were done in the schools during the 2017-2018 influenza season. This type of mass vaccination clinic is a way for our nurses and support staff to practice in the event an incident occurred and a large number of people needed to be vaccinated, the clinic would run smoothly. The role of the Health Department in an emergency incident was discussed by both Tony and Sara Wartman, Health Department Director. 5. Update on Local and Regional Influenza Sara Wartman shared information on the influenza epidemic of 1918, which claimed the lives of more people worldwide than World War I. While the current influenza season has not been as fatal, most of the United States is above baseline for influenza and influenza-like illness. Our region experienced an increase in hospitalizations due to influenza around January 1st. The peak of the influenza season has not yet been reached and per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the season can last well into March or April. Even though there have been 63 pediatric deaths nationwide due to influenza, Wisconsin has not had any as of February 3. As far as vaccination rates for influenza, this year we are at 33.6% immunized and last year at this time, we were at 33.2%. Immunization rate statewide this year is 35%; however, the Healthy People 2020 goal is 70%, so still way below average statewide. There is a huge drop in numbers of people immunized against influenza in the age 20-50 group. In Bayfield County, the percentage of those immunized in the age group 6 months to 18 years is 31%; 19-50 years of age is 13%; 51 years of age and older is 40%. Reasons to get vaccinated against influenza were discussed. Sara educated on the topic of flu versus the common cold. 6. Review 2017 Budget Amy Jarecki, office manager shared that she is still working on closing out the 2017 grant year and will have a full report on the 2017 budget ready for the next meeting in April. 7. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Adjustments to the 2017 Budget Grant budget adjustments for FY 2017 to account for increases/decreases in grant line items. These adjustments are for those line items that were either under budgeted or over budgeted when the 2017 budget was created. By adjusting these line items, the account will show that the expenses match the revenue. Motion to approve made by Braddock; motion was seconded by Coughtry. Motion carried. 8. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Amendments to the 2018 Budget Grant budget adjustments for FY 2018 to account for increases/decreases in federal and state grant funding. Motion to approve made by Oswald; motion was seconded by Silbert. Motion carried. 9. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Budget Resolution to Accept Increase in Grant Monies for the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Grant Additional funds were granted for the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Grant for FY 2017. The contract for this grant was held up by the state and was not received until the end of 2017. Motion to approve made by Kopp; motion was seconded by Oswald. Motion carried. 10. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Budget Resolution to Accept Chronic Disease Self-Management Grant Bayfield County Health Department has been awarded a $8,450 grant from the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to provide funding for staff to coordinate and implement two evidence-based health promotion programs, Living Well with Chronic Conditions and Healthy Living with Diabetes. These are programs that our department has already been offering to the residents of Bayfield County, but the monies will help offset staff time, mileage and trainings. Motion to approve was made by Oswald; motion was seconded by Silbert. Motion carried. 11. Update on Radon Information Center Letters of support from Ashland County, Iron County and Sawyer County have been received. Bayfield County would be the lead agency for a Northern Radon Information Center. We would provide education on radon in the area, training for contractors on radon mitigation and staff trainings for other Public Health agencies. Sara and Anne- Marie Coy, Environmental Health Sanitarian participated in a conference call with the Radon Program at the state level and it was recommended to start training in 2018 to ensure readiness by FY 2019. The goal is to become the Northern Radon Information Center in 2019. Two of the department staff are currently radon mitigation specialists. While being a Radon Information Center will bring in $8,000-$10,000 extra for the overall budget of the department, we believe that the program will benefit the residents of the northern counties. 12. Update on Local Public Health Authority Level Sara Wartman recommends pursuing designation for Bayfield County Health Department as a Level III health department in 2018 for implementation in FY 2019. Sara finished the Master’s Certificate of Public Health in December which means the Health Department can now apply for the Level III status once again. Once we are at the Level III, we will see an increase of 8-10% increase in grant revenue which will be reflected in FY 2019. 13. Other Issues: Sara gave an update on the Health Infrastructure Grant. Letters will be mailed out to each municipality informing them of the available grant. This grant is to promote healthy living within Bayfield County by providing matching funds to purchase such items as playground equipment and fitness equipment for walking trails. Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Administrator approached Sara with the idea of providing the influenza vaccination to all residents of Bayfield County, regardless of their health insurance coverage or lack of, at no cost. Reimbursement will still be sought from Wisconsin Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance companies that we are able to invoice. Cost of implementing the idea was discussed at length. The amount that is charged for inspection fees through the Environmental Health program was increased last year to match the amount the state was charging our department. Sara would like to explore the amount of time it takes our Sanitarians to complete an inspection and re-inspections to ensure that the charge is adequate for program sustainability. One reason for this issue is that our county is the second largest county in the state and our Sanitarians spend quite a bit of time traveling around the county doing inspections and re-inspections. Environmental Health is one of our biggest programs; there are three and one half (3 ½) full -time employees working in the program and we would like to ensure that the program is sustainable. 14. Next Meeting Date: The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 5:30 pm in the EOC. 15. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Jarecki Amy Jarecki, Office Manager