10.10.22 BOH MinutesLEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
October 10, 2022
1:30 P.M. ,
The Board of Health for Lewis County Washington met in regular session on Monday, October 10, 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. Javier Mejia addressed the Zoom guidelines. COMMISSIONER GROSE moved to approve minutes
from the regular meeting on September 12, 2022 COMMISSIONER SWOPE seconded. Motion carried 3 -0.
ATTENDEES:
County Staff:
Community:
Meja Handlen
Sue Kennedy
Elizabeth Rohr 360 880 6919
John Abplanalp
Lee Napier
Isabel Vander Stoep (The Chronicle)
Dr. Joseph Wiley
Nic Scott
clkennedy
Marylynne Kostick
Meredith Jones
Guest
Javier Mejia
Kirsten Wecker
Guest
Tailor Arrington
Vicki Thormahlen
Guest
Erik Martin
Gaelon Spradley
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Meredith Jones provided a presentation regarding the Lewis County water lab services. The following
highlights were included:
• Bacteria the water lab commonly tests for
• Examples of positive samples and documents sent to public when contamination is detected
• How contamination occurs
• Nitrate contaminates / analysis
• Routine / Investigative water quality testing
• Average number of samples brought to the lab in the last 3 years
• Average number of positive samples in the last 3 years (bacteria and Nitrate)
• Flood Response
• Staff certification / laboratory requirements and workload
CONSENT AGENDA
None
PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE
Public Health & Social Services (DHSS) Advisory Board Recommendations
• Elizabeth Rohr presented the recommendations to fill the homeless / housing vacancy. Patty Howard
and Teresa Ekdahl- Johnson were the top two applications the board voted on to be presented to the
BOH
BOH Minutes 10/10/2022 Fags 1 of 2
• Gaelon Spradley noted the ranking of the two recommended applications from the Advisory Board;
Patty Howard being the first choice and Teresa Ekdahl- Johnson the second choice
Group discussion took place regarding the submitted applications and qualifications
Commissioner GROSE made a motion to appoint Teresa Ekdahl - Johnson to fill the homeless/ housing
vacancy on the PHSS Advisory Board Commissioner SWOPE seconded. Approved 3 -0.
Meja Handlen had nothing new to report for the Public Health Department update
Dr. Joseph Wiley provided a COVID-19 and Health Officer Update, including the following highlights:
• Briefly provided a COVID-19 update
• Increase in positive cases but due to home testing these numbers are inaccurate
• Decrease in hospitalizations with COVID-19 in Lewis County
• No deaths to report
• There has been 1 outbreak in a congregate setting, same as last report
• The ending of the Emergency Proclamation, October 31, 2022 and the impacts on the community
• Fentanyl forms and Halloween candy — encouraged caution to parents
• Availability of Narcan in school districts and training to administer for school staff
• Role in regulating the needle exchange program - provided information
• Spoke at the "Senior fall (not the season) prevention" event
• Visited the Suboxone clinic and briefly described the treatment process at this facility
• Provided a brief Monkeypox update - vaccination information and treatment information
• Noted that he is averaging 10 -12 hours weekly serving the community
Commissioner Grose moved to adjourn. Commissioner Pollock seconded, Commissioner Pollock adjourned.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m., on Monday, October 10, 2022. The
next public meeting will be held on Monday, November 14, 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:
Arrington Clerk of the 4ard
BOARD OF HEALTH
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
F. Lee Grose, Member
BOH Minutes 10/10/2022 Page 2 of 2