Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board - Minutes - 3/9/2021Bayfield 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, March 9, 2021 – 5:00 PM Present: Fred Strand, Jeremy Oswald, Elaine Kopp, David Zepczyk, Terri Kramolis, Ellen Braddock, Deb Dryer, Mary Dougherty Absent: Tom Snilsberg Staff: Amy Jarecki, Sara Wartman 1. Call the Meeting to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chairman Oswald. 2. Approval August 13, 2019, Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the December 8, 2020 meeting minutes was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Kramolis. Motion carried. 3. Public Comment: None. 4. Situational Update for COVID-19 & Vaccination Clinics: Health Director Sara Wartman shared the updated Covid Vaccine Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. The data shows that Bayfield County is doing well with vaccinating the community members who are eligible at this time. Over half of the over 65 years of age population in Bayfield County has received at least one dose of the vaccine, with close to 35% of those residents completing the vaccine series. Bayfield County has been working with Douglas County and Ashland County, as well as Red Cliff to vaccinate community residents. There is a partnership with the Washburn EMS and the Bayfield County Sheriff Reserve Officers to provide assistance at the community clinics. Bayfield County has hired more staff to assist in providing the Covid vaccine clinics; some are retired nurses or physicians, which has allowed Health Department staff to continue providing other services to the community while being able to hold vaccine clinics each week. The Health Department has been using the vacant St. Louis school building to hold Covid clinics. Bayfield County educators have started to be vaccinated as they are now eligible. 5. Discussion Regarding COVID-19 Response and Planning: Bayfield County has gone from high Covid disease activity to medium disease activity per the State of Wisconsin. Wartman shared that there have been new cases in the county, but no outbreaks lately. New Covid cases are being fielded to the state response team which allows our staff time to finish year-end reporting. The big push on the vaccine front is still going to be the 65 and over age range, with some possible vaccine hesitancy in the 20 and over age range. Our staff is preparing to continue with Covid vaccine clinics possibly through the month of June, with expectation of the pharmacies and medical 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 clinics taking the lead at that time. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has put out new guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated and wish to gather in small groups. The quarantine period has also changed for those who are fully vaccinated. If the state repeals the mask mandate state-wide, Wartman shared that there is a local mask mandate ready to roll out. The CDC has been recommending double masking if possible, as the safest way to mask. 6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding HCET Virtual Learning Grant Resolution: The Bayfield County Health Department has received grant funding in the amount of $400.00 (Four hundred dollars) from Health Care Education and Training, Inc to attend virtual learning opportunities, such as the National Reproductive Health Conference. A motion to recommend the resolution to the full County Board for approval was made by Strand; motion seconded by Kramolis. Motion carried. 7. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding ETF Employee Award Grant Resolution: The Bayfield County Health Department has received a block grant in the amount of $1,000.00 (One Thousand Dollars) from the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds to offer virtual fitness classes to employees and their spouses via Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams. A motion to recommend the resolution to the full County Board for approval was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Kramolis. Motion carried. 8. Update on Health Department Programs and Services: A summer intern was granted to the Health Department by NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) to assist with beach monitoring. There is a need for a temporary part-time summer intern to assist with tourist rooming houses and getting caught up on inspections. The water lab continues to offer testing for nitrate and bacteria. The PNCC (Prenatal Care Coordination) and Reproductive Health programs have not had many clients due to the pandemic. Once the staff is fully vaccinated, they will look at in-home visits in the future. AODA (alcohol and other drug awareness) community events have been put on hold and the drug lock boxes are being given out at Covid vaccine clinics. There is an intern through UW-Madison developing an online platform for the Narcan program. The infrastructure grant is not being offered in 2021 due to the pandemic, however it could possibly be on the table in 2022. 9. Update on Health Department Staffing: The Health Department will be losing a full-time RN at the end of March; Wartman is already looking at a replacement. There have been 15 (Fifteen) new limited term employees brought on board to assist with the Covid vaccine clinics, both in vaccinating and clerical work. One full time intern and one part-time intern is planned for the summer months. 10. Discussion Regarding 2021 Programming and Grant Outlook: No confirmed Covid vaccine funds to date. No new grants have been sought after as the department is trying to work on getting the usual programs back up and running. 11. Other Issues or Concerns: Wartman shared that she will be out of office for one week; there are chain-of-command plans set up if there is an event that needs immediate attention. 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. Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 13th, 2021, 5:00 pm, remotely via Teams. 13. Adjourn: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kopp; motion seconded by Braddock. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Jarecki Amy Jarecki, Office Manager