03.14.22 BOH MinutesLEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 14, 2022
1:30 p.m.
The Board of Health for Lewis County Washington met in regular session on Monday, March 14, 2022, at 1:30
p.m. COMMISSIONERS SEAN SWOPE, F. LEE GROSE, AND LINDSEY R. POLLOCK, DVM,
attended. CHAIR POLLOCK determined a quorum, called the meeting to order, and proceeded with the flag
salute. The ZOOM guidelines were addressed by Tailor Arrington.
Doug Carey
Steve Wohld
Austin Majors
Marylynne Kostick
Becky Butler
Laura Coppock
Justia Madrigal
Tom Stanton
Sue Kennedy
Semere Huckleberry
Alison Puckett
Dr. Alan Melnick
Lara McRea
Sara Baumgartner
Jared Wenzelburger (The Chronicle)
Isabel Vander Stoep (The Chronicle)
(360) 520 -2038
Brandon Svenson — Winlock
Marcia Manley
"Kristi"
Jeff Johnson
Pat Saldana
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Rust — Toledo
"Sara"
"Chris"
Greg Rohr
Christina Riley
Jennifer Polley
Dr. Joey Laske
Brandon Svenson- Winlock — spoke about the Health Officer and advocated for local representation and that
contracted time be spent on local issues such as drug use, nutritional use, and the amount of trash throughout the
county.
Kelsi Hamilton- Chehalis — advocated for local representation when selecting a new Health Officer by stating the
individual selected should live in Lewis County.
Gaelon Spradley — represented the Valley View Health Center. Valley View has benefitted from the current health
officers who have represented Lewis County; he explained the importance of patient collaboration with the Health
Department and felt the collaboration is clear and working.
Chris Rust- Toledo — Expressed support for retaining a highly skilled Health Officer who can also provide a
regional view to public health issues. Worried that the phrase "local control" translates to a political perspective
and not a public health perspective. Interested in alignment across counties, encourages Board of Health to retain
current Health Officer.
Greg Rohr- Toledo — Advocated for local representation and referenced the bill passed by legislature establishing
comprehensive public health districts.
Guest presentation from Gaelon Spradley — Valley View — Had nothing further to discuss provided all information
during public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
BOH Minutes 03/14/2022 l=' =i,t, 1 3
ATTENDEES:
County Staff:
Community:
JP Anderson
Tailor Arrington
Leah Daarud
Kathy Watson
Dr. Steven Krager
Lindsey Shankle
Rebekah
"Lacey"
John Abplanalp
Jonathan Meyer
Nic Scott (KELA)
"RK"
Erik Martin
Heidi Palmer
Chronews
Rachel Anderson
Doug Carey
Steve Wohld
Austin Majors
Marylynne Kostick
Becky Butler
Laura Coppock
Justia Madrigal
Tom Stanton
Sue Kennedy
Semere Huckleberry
Alison Puckett
Dr. Alan Melnick
Lara McRea
Sara Baumgartner
Jared Wenzelburger (The Chronicle)
Isabel Vander Stoep (The Chronicle)
(360) 520 -2038
Brandon Svenson — Winlock
Marcia Manley
"Kristi"
Jeff Johnson
Pat Saldana
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Rust — Toledo
"Sara"
"Chris"
Greg Rohr
Christina Riley
Jennifer Polley
Dr. Joey Laske
Brandon Svenson- Winlock — spoke about the Health Officer and advocated for local representation and that
contracted time be spent on local issues such as drug use, nutritional use, and the amount of trash throughout the
county.
Kelsi Hamilton- Chehalis — advocated for local representation when selecting a new Health Officer by stating the
individual selected should live in Lewis County.
Gaelon Spradley — represented the Valley View Health Center. Valley View has benefitted from the current health
officers who have represented Lewis County; he explained the importance of patient collaboration with the Health
Department and felt the collaboration is clear and working.
Chris Rust- Toledo — Expressed support for retaining a highly skilled Health Officer who can also provide a
regional view to public health issues. Worried that the phrase "local control" translates to a political perspective
and not a public health perspective. Interested in alignment across counties, encourages Board of Health to retain
current Health Officer.
Greg Rohr- Toledo — Advocated for local representation and referenced the bill passed by legislature establishing
comprehensive public health districts.
Guest presentation from Gaelon Spradley — Valley View — Had nothing further to discuss provided all information
during public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
BOH Minutes 03/14/2022 l=' =i,t, 1 3
Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve the consent items, Commissioner Grose seconded.
H. Res #031422.1 Amendment 92 to the Consolidated Contract, #CLH31017, between Lewis County
and Washington State Department of Health.
Adds $1, 366, 626 for a total of $3,792,503
John Abplanalp briefly explained the background of this funding. This amendment is accounting for funds we
were expecting to receive from last year, because the contract ended in December these funds needed to be
allocated and rolled -over as an amendment to a new contract. The new funding on this amendment is for the $4,
487 for the Breast Feeding Peer Counselor program. The rest of the funding was anticipated.
Commissioner Pollock called for a vote on the listed consent items. Motion approved 3 -0.
PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE
JP provided a Public Health update, including the following highlights:
Announced a new Environmental Health Manager — Kirsten Wicker starting April 11 "
Hopes to announce a new Code Enforcement Manager later this week
Continue to search for an Animal Shelter Manager
Dr. Steve Krager provided a Health Officer update, including the following highlights:
• Briefly provided an update on the Omicron variant. There has been significant reduction in case rates,
hospitalization rates, and in death rates.
• Compared Delta case peaks and Omicron case peaks.
• Mask mandate was lifted as of March 12, 2022. Still encourages COVID positive patients to reach out
to their provider for treatments, as they are widely available.
• Provided information on overdose rates in Lewis County and Washington State. Overdose deaths have
significantly increased in 2020 and 2021. Any opioid, synthetic opioids, and psychostimulants were
involved in a substantial proportion of overdose deaths.
Dr. Alan Melnick provided brief information regarding a supervised injection site proposed in Seattle.
COMMISSIONER SWOPE moved to approve the Minutes from February 14, 2022, COMMISSIONER
GROSE seconded. Motion carried 3 -0.
Health Officer Contract:
Commissioner Swope moved to terminate the Health Officer contract, Commissioner Grose seconded.
Commissioner Grose felt that following proper procedure to hire qualified applicants is important. Also
advocated for local representation for this position. Any applicants for this position need their Masters of Public
Health (MPH) degree or well on their way to achieving this degree.
Group discussion took place regarding proper procedures moving forward, of those topics included
• Requirement for qualifications (RFQ)
• Proper contract termination
Motion carried 2 -1
Commissioner Swope moved to adjourn. Commissioner Grose seconded, Commissioner Pollock adjourned.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:13 p.m., on Monday,
BOH Minutes 03/14/2022 Page 2 of 3
March 14, 2022. The next public meeting will be held on Monday, April 18, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
Please note that minutes from the Board of Health meetings are not verbatim. A tape of this meeting is available.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF HEALTH
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Lindsey R^. 11ock,JDVM, Chair
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$bSe z%
F. Lee Grose, Member
BOH Minutes 03/14/2022 Page 3 of 3