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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board - Minutes - 9/8/2020Bayfield County Health Department 117 East Sixth Street - P.O. Box 403 - Washburn, WI 54891 Phone: 715/373-6109 Fax: 715/373-6307 Sara Wartman, BSN, RN, CLS Director / Health Officer BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING Tuesday, September 8, 2020 – 5:00 PM Present: Fred Strand, Jeremy Oswald, Mary Dougherty, David Zepczyk, Terri Kramolis, Deb Dryer (5:03), Ellen Braddock, Tom Snilsberg, Elaine Kopp (5:03) Staff: Amy Jarecki, Sara Wartman 1. Call the Meeting to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairman Oswald. Roll Call was done as this meeting was being held remotely. 2. Approval August 11, 2020, Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the August 11, 2020 meeting minutes was made by Strand; motion seconded by Snilsberg. Motion carried. 3. Public Comment: Public comment was allowed at 5:30 by Chairman Oswald. Joanne Cirillo, City of Bayfield resident, business owner and City of Bayfield council member spoke on behalf of the Public Health Order Restriction on Public Gatherings. Cirillo was in favor of the order, however, felt that the number is still too high. Cirillo also expressed concern over the number of local events still being planned and what that could mean for the area. 4. Situational Update for COVID-19: Health Director, Sara Wartman, shared that Bayfield County experienced increases in COVID-19 cases at the end of June and throughout July, with an average of new cases every-other-day in August. In June, most cases were associated with travel out of the area or to large gatherings; however, in August, the majority of new cases were attributed to community spread or spread from a family member who was positive. There may be a chance to have another testing event in the near future, which will be planned jointly with Emergency Management. 5. Discussion on Upcoming 140 Review: As required by Wisconsin State Statute 251.20(1), each local health department is required to go through a formal 140 Review Process with the State of Wisconsin- Department of Health Services at least every five years. During 2020, our 140 review was postponed due to the COVID-19 response. However, an abbreviated 140 Review is scheduled for Fall 2020. This review process is part of verifying level of public health services available to a community and also influences the level of funding that a health department is allotted from the State of Wisconsin. 6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2019 Health Department Annual Report: Bayfield County Health Department completes annual reports as required by Bayfield County Health Department 117 East Sixth Street - P.O. Box 403 - Washburn, WI 54891 Phone: 715/373-6109 Fax: 715/373-6307 Sara Wartman, BSN, RN, CLS Director / Health Officer Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 251.06(3)(h). The department uses the annual report as a means to track progress of identified program outcomes and health priorities. A motion to add Terri Kramolis’s name to the list of 2019 County Board members and to pass report on to the full County Board was made by Kramolis; motion seconded by Dryer. Motion carried. 7. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding WIC Supplemental Funding Grant Resolution: The Bayfield County Health Department has received a grant in the amount of $5,010.00 (Five Thousand Ten Dollars) to purchase medical supplies and to upgrade the bathroom. A motion to accept this budget change and forward onto the County Board was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Snilsberg. Motion carried. 8. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding WIC Supplemental Funding Grant 2 Resolution: The Bayfield County Health Department has received a grant in the amount of $4,900.00 (Four Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars) to purchase items that would help while working remotely due to COVID-19. A motion to accept this budget change and forward onto the County Board was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Strand. Motion carried 9. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Additional Funding Grant Resolution: The Bayfield County Health Department has received a grant in the amount of $2,400.00 (Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars) to help offset the funding decrease to the initial grant funding and offset the cost of items needed to work remotely. A motion to accept this budget change and forward onto the County Board was made by Snilsberg; motion seconded by Kopp. Motion carried. 10. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Public Health Order of the Public Health Officer of Bayfield County Imposing a Countywide Restriction on Public Gatherings to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19: Wartman discussed the public health order restricting public gatherings in public and private settings in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the fall of 2020. Dougherty expressed her concern over the restriction number being too low, but is in favor of monitoring the activity and allowing Wartman as Health Director to modify the number as necessary. Jeff Silbert, Bayfield County Board Member, concurred with Dougherty and voiced his opinion on the number being too low. A motion to support the order as written, encourage continued monitoring and support the adjustment of the order by the Health Department as needed was made by Dougherty; motion was seconded by Strand. Motion carried. 11. Update on Health Department Programs and Services: There is continued diversion of staff time towards COVID-19 response. Some public health services have resumed as staffing and program guidelines have allowed, while others remain on hold for now. The Taylor County well water sampling program has begun while the sampling in Bayfield County and Washburn County is pretty much finished for the season. Wartman is looking at doing a COVID-19 testing site in Washburn as one in the city has not yet been done. The Health Department has been working on COVID-19 planning with the local schools. Bayfield County Health Department 117 East Sixth Street - P.O. Box 403 - Washburn, WI 54891 Phone: 715/373-6109 Fax: 715/373-6307 Sara Wartman, BSN, RN, CLS Director / Health Officer 12. Update on Health Department Staffing: There is a new full time Public Health Nurse starting in one week. He will start with working on communicable disease investigation and move onto assisting with giving flu shots. The WIC office hired a registered dietician who will be working strictly remotely. 13. Discussion Regarding COVID-19 Local Response and Planning: The Bayfield County COVID-19 Response Plan is still under development. The Health Department has continued to work with the Bayfield Count school districts in developing local metrics or guidelines for when to look at virtual school or when in-person classroom setting would be considered lower risk. There has been a color-coded guideline for decision making that is flexible enough for schools and Public Health to use in various situations. Wartman shared the different tools being used to deliver metrics. 14. Discussion Regarding Upcoming Flu Clinics: Mass pandemic plans are being updated per state requirement. Flu vaccine delivery is scheduled to begin sometime this week. Flu clinic plans include drive-up vaccinations or possibly an outdoor tent set up. Wartman is looking to meet with local EMS providers to see if they could possibly assist with flu clinics this fall. The number of flu clinics this fall will be reduced not only to reduce exposure to COVID-19, but also because of limited staff availability. 15. Other Issues or Concerns: None. 16. Next Meeting Date: Next meeting set for Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 5:00 pm, remotely. 17. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Jarecki Amy Jarecki, Office Manager