Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board - Minutes - 4/13/2021Bayfield 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, April 13, 2021 – 5:00 PM Present: Fred Strand, Jeremy Oswald, Tom Snilsberg, David Zepczyk, Terri Kramolis, Ellen Braddock, Deb Dryer (out at 5:40 p.m.), Mary Dougherty Absent: Elaine Kopp 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. 2. Approval April 13, 2020, Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the April 13, 2020 meeting minutes was made by Strand; motion seconded by Snilsberg. Motion carried. 3. Public Comment: None. 4. Situational Update for COVID-19 & Vaccination Clinics: Health Director Sara Wartman shared that the numbers of positive Covid-19 cases has gone up to a high level after being at a low level. There seems to be an uphill trend in cases even with more residents being vaccinated. Bayfield County is one of the top vaccinators in the state, with Door County being number one. Wartman shared data on vaccination numbers for the county. There has been a shift in the vaccination clinics due to the on- hold status of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine. Along with the support of our Medical Director, Dr. Deb Dryer, Wartman had made the decision to cancel all J&J vaccine appointments until further notice. There was notice of six (6) women around the United States having a blood clot within two (2) weeks of being vaccinated with J&J. The Health Department is looking at demobilizing vaccine clinics towards the end of April. The number of residents looking to receive a vaccine is steadily going down. Dr. Dryer informed the Board that there is now an area resident who has been diagnosed with the same blood clot after having received the J&J vaccine. Wartman informed the Board that there have been residents who recently presented symptoms of Covid-19 after having been partially vaccinated. She is concerned about Covid-19 variants being in the area. The positive cases range in ages from one (1) years old to ninety (90) years old in Bayfield County, with the majority of cases being school aged children and young adults. 5. Discussion Regarding COVID-19 Response and Planning: Wartman informed the Board that even though the State has repealed the statewide Mask Mandate, Bayfield County, along with Ashland County, has issued a strong recommendation for mask wearing, but no face mask mandate. There are currently no restrictions on sporting 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 events or spectators at sporting events. There is also no limit on public gatherings. Strand voiced his support on the mask recommendation. 6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Mask Mandate Resolution: There is currently no mask mandate as it is not able to be enforced with our current staff number. A motion to create an advisory for mask wearing and send it on to the full County Board was made by Braddock; motion seconded by Dougherty. Motion carried with a vote of six (6) to one (1). 7. 2020 Annual Report: Wartman will have the 2020 annual report ready for Board of Health review in the June meeting. The report will then pass on to the full County Board. 8. 2021-2025 Strategic Plan: Wartman shared an update on the upcoming strategic planning meeting. 9. Update Regarding CHA/CHIP: The Community Health Assessment and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHA/CHIP) are done every 3 (three) to 5 (five) years. This is a partnership with Ashland County Health Department and Memorial Medical Center. Wartman is looking at having an intern assist with the survey process. This process will allow area residents to have a voice on which programs/funding projects they would like the Health Departments to focus on. 10. Upcoming 2021 140 Review: The state will review the Health Department’s programs to determine the level of grant funding. There was an abbreviated version in the fall of 2020, but will be the full review in 2021. 11. Review of 1st Quarter Budget: The grant revenue from the state is slow in being reimbursed, which is why there is a big gap between expenses and revenues. Also, with the majority of staff working on Covid-19 instead of the regular programs, that has bumped up the amount of expenses not reimbursed in the first quarter as there was no grant covering those expenses. Wartman talked about the infrastructure grant that is available this year for local communities. Board of Health member Terri Kramolis expressed interest in being on the committee this year. County Board member Jeff Silbert expressed interest in being on the committee, as he has served in past years. 12. Update on Health Department Programs and Services: Health Department staff is trying to resume work on regular programs and step away from working on Covid- 19. Plans are being made for the beach monitoring program for summer, possibly using an intern. Restaurant inspections are getting caught up for the year. Tick disease prevention outreach is resuming. Community blood drives are being held through the Employee Wellness program. 13. Update on Health Department Staffing: The full time RN position that was left open last month has been filled by one of the LTE (limited term employee) RN’s that was hired last fall to assist with Covid-19. Ashley Smith, RN will be working 2½ (two and a half) days per week. There is also a need for another part time RN as we are trying to fill what was a full time position. 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 14. Other Issues or Concerns: Board of Health member David Zepczyk expressed his willingness to meet in person for the next Board of Health meeting. Wartman gave the option of meeting in person for the next meeting. 15. Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 5:00 pm, in the Bayfield County EOC and remotely via Teams. 16. Adjourn: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kramolis; motion seconded by Braddock. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Jarecki Amy Jarecki, Office Manager